Quick Answer:
A good ACT score is 34 to 36 for Ivy League schools, 30 to 34 for highly selective universities, 28 to 32 for state flagships, and 24 to 28 for moderately selective schools. The national average is 19.4. Any score above 24 puts you in the top 25% nationally.
ACT Score Ranges and Percentiles
| Score | Percentile | Category | College Fit |
|---|---|---|---|
|
34-36 |
98-99%+ |
Exceptional |
Ivy League, MIT, Stanford |
|
30-33 |
93-97% |
Strong |
Michigan, Georgia Tech, NYU |
|
27-29 |
85-90% |
Competitive |
State flagships, selective privates |
|
24-26 |
74-82% |
Solid |
Most four-year universities |
|
20-23 |
53-70% |
Average |
Regional schools, less selective universities |
|
Below 20 |
Below 50% |
Below average |
Community colleges, open-admission schools |
A “good” score depends entirely on YOUR college list. A 26 is excellent for regional state schools but below average for Duke.
What ACT Score Do Different Colleges Require?
Ivy League and Elite Universities (34-36)
| School | Middle 50% ACT |
|---|---|
|
Harvard |
34-36 |
|
Yale |
33-35 |
|
Princeton |
33-35 |
|
MIT |
34-36 |
|
Stanford |
33-35 |
A 33 places you at the 25th percentile of admitted students which means 75% scored higher. Even perfect scores don’t guarantee admission at schools with single-digit acceptance rates.
📄 Policy update: Harvard, Brown, Dartmouth, and Cornell now require tests for fall 2026. The test-optional era is ending at elite schools.
Highly Selective Universities (30-34)
Michigan (31-34), Georgia Tech (32-35), NYU (32-35), and UVA (31-34) expect scores in this range. A 30 keeps you competitive but puts you toward the lower end.
⚠️ Important: All UC schools (UCLA, Berkeley) are test-blind. They do not consider ACT scores at all, even if submitted. If UCs are your primary targets, focus energy elsewhere.
State Flagships (27-32)
Ohio State (27-32), Penn State (25-30), Florida (28-33), UT Austin (27-33), and Wisconsin (27-32) fall in this range. A 29-30 is competitive at most flagships; 27-28 can still earn admission with strong GPAs.
🎓 Texas auto-admission: Top 6% of Texas high school classes get guaranteed UT Austin admission regardless of test scores.
Moderately Selective Schools (24-28)
Schools like Indiana, Arizona State, Colorado State, and Iowa State. A 25-26 is solidly competitive; 27-28 often qualifies for merit scholarships.
Minimum for College Admission (18-20)
Most four-year universities require 18-20 minimum. Community colleges accept any score.
How ACT Scores Affect Scholarships?
| ACT Score | Typical Annual Award |
|---|---|
|
ACT Score |
Typical Annual Award |
|
34-36 |
$10,000-$30,000+ (full tuition at many state schools) |
|
30-33 |
$5,000-$15,000 |
|
27-29 |
$2,000-$6,000 |
|
24-26 |
$1,000-$3,000 |
Real examples:
- Alabama: Full tuition + housing for 32 ACT with 3.5 GPA ($28,000+/year)
- Mississippi: $9,900/year for 30 ACT out-of-state
- Tennessee: Up to $32,000 total for 34-36 ACT
- Texas Tech: $4,000-$9,000/year for 30+ ACT
One point increase can mean $4,000-$8,000 over four years. This makes test prep investment worthwhile.
How Superscoring Works?
Many colleges combine your highest section scores from multiple test dates into a new composite.
ACT Superscore Example:
- Test 1: English 30, Math 28, Reading 29, Science 27 → Composite: 29
- Test 2: English 28, Math 32, Reading 28, Science 30 → Composite: 30
Superscore Calculation:
- English: 30
- Math: 32
- Reading: 29
- Science: 30
Superscore Average: (30 + 32 + 29 + 30) ÷ 4 = 30.25, which rounds to a 30 ACT superscore
✅ Schools that Superscore: Ohio State, Michigan, Duke, Yale, Stanford, Northwestern, Vanderbilt
❌ Schools that don’t: Harvard and Princeton use highest single sitting only. UC schools are test-blind.
If your targets Superscore, plan 2-3 attempts and focus preparation on weaker sections.
Do Section Scores Matter by Major?
For STEM programs, section scores can matter as much as composite.
| Major | Key Section | Target |
|---|---|---|
|
Engineering/CS |
Math |
32+ |
|
Pre-Med |
Science |
30+ |
|
Business |
Math |
28+ |
|
Humanities |
English/Reading |
30+ |
ACT to SAT Conversion Table
| ACT Score | SAT Score |
|---|---|
|
36 |
1570-1600 |
|
35 |
1530-1560 |
|
34 |
1490-1520 |
|
32 |
1420-1440 |
|
30 |
1360-1380 |
|
28 |
1300-1320 |
|
26 |
1230-1250 |
Most colleges accept both equally. Take practice tests of each and choose the format where you score higher.
When to Take the ACT?
| Timeline | Action |
|---|---|
|
Sophomore spring |
Diagnostic baseline |
|
Junior fall |
First official attempt |
|
Junior spring |
Second attempt if needed |
|
Senior fall |
Final attempt before early deadlines |
📢 2025 ACT Changes: In spring 2025, the ACT made the Science section optional, reduced total testing time to 125 minutes from 165, prohibited superscoring between the old and new formats, and left Science requirements up to individual colleges, requiring students to confirm each school’s policy.
How Tutors Should Set ACT Goals With Students?
Step 1: Baseline
Have students take a timed practice test. MentoMind’s diagnostic test provides section-by-section analysis.
Step 2: Gap analysis
Compare baseline to the 50th percentile at target schools. This gap determines timeline: 1-2 points = 4-6 weeks; 3-4 points = 2-3 months; 5+ points = 4-6 months.
Step 3: Section focus
If a student needs 30 but has 26 Math and 32 English, prioritize Math sessions. Track improvement by skill area.
MentoMind’s tutor dashboard shows exactly which skills need work before each test date.
What Tutors Should Tell Parents?
“Is [score] good enough?” → Show the middle 50% for target colleges. A 28 is above median for Ohio State but below 25th percentile for MIT. Context matters more than absolute numbers.
“How much scholarship money?” → Moving from 28 to 30 can mean $4,000-$8,000 more over four years. This often justifies continued preparation.
“Is ACT worth it if schools are test-optional?” → Students who submit scores at or above median have higher admit rates than non-submitters. Exception: UC schools are test-blind and genuinely don’t consider scores.
Frequently Asked Questions
The national average is 19.4 (approximately 50th percentile).
Scores below 18 are below average and may limit four-year options. Community colleges accept any score.
No score “guarantees” aid, but automatic merit typically starts at 24-26. Significant scholarships ($5,000+/year) usually require 28+. Full tuition often requires 32+ with a strong GPA.
Yes. A 25 is the 78th percentile which is better than 78% of test-takers. Competitive for moderately selective schools.
Approximately 93rd percentile. Competitive for state flagships and selective private colleges.
If 28 is below your target schools’ medians, yes. Most students improve 2-3 points with targeted preparation.
Two to three times is typical. More than three rarely yields significant improvement.
No. Elite schools reject thousands of perfect scorers annually. ACT is one component among GPA, essays, and extracurriculars.
Start With Your Baseline
The first step is knowing where you stand. Take a practice test, identify your gap, and build a realistic timeline.
MentoMind offers ACT prep with 1,000+ practice questions, 4 full-length adaptive tests, and skill tracking that shows exactly where to focus.
Students: Take a free diagnostic to see what’s needed for your target schools.
Tutors: MentoMind’s dashboard provides analytics to set goals and track progress toward college-specific targets.
Related readings:
