What Is a Good ACT Score? Score Goals for Every College Type

What is a Good ACT Score? Ivy League: 34–36, top schools: 30–34, state flagships: 27–32, selective colleges: 24–28.

January 15, 2026

Quick Answer:

A good ACT score is 24 or higher. That puts you in the top 25% of all test-takers nationally. The national ACT average is 19.4, but what’s considered “good” depends on where you’re applying, since a 26 is excellent for most state schools yet below average at highly selective colleges like Duke.

How is the ACT Scored?

The ACT is scored on a scale of 1 to 36 for each section. As of spring 2025, the exam covers three core sections: English, Math, and Reading. Your composite score is the average of these three section scores, rounded to the nearest whole number.

The Science section is optional on the digital ACT and is being phased out as a required component on paper tests beginning in September 2025, though policies may vary by test center and college. If you take it, you will receive a separate Science score and a combined STEM score, but neither affects your composite. The Writing section also remains optional and is reported separately.

There is no penalty for wrong answers, so always attempt every question, even if you have to guess.

What is a Good ACT Score?

The national average composite score for the class of 2025 was 19.4, placing the average student at around the 50th percentile. A score of 24 or higher (the 75th percentile) is where most college admissions experts draw the line for “good.”

Score	Percentile	What It Means
34-36	98-99%+	Exceptional
30-33	93-97%	Strong
27-29	85-90%	Competitive
24-26	74-82%	Solid
20-23	53-70%	Average
Below 20	Below 50%	Below average

ACT Percentiles by Section

Section scores matter, especially for competitive or specialized programs. Here is how each section maps to percentile ranks:

Score	English	Math	Reading	Science	Composite
36	100	100	100	100	100
35	99	99	98	99	99
34	97	99	97	99	99
33	96	98	95	98	98
32	95	98	93	97	97
31	94	97	91	96	96
30	93	96	89	95	94
29	91	94	87	93	92
28	90	93	85	92	91
27	88	91	83	91	88
26	86	88	80	89	86
25	84	85	78	86	83
24	81	81	75	82	80
23	77	77	71	76	76

Source: Used for ACT tests taken September 2025 through August 2026

ACT Score Ranges by College Type

Ranges reflect the middle 50% of enrolled students who submitted ACT scores. At highly selective, test-optional schools, these ranges may skew high and can change by admissions cycle.

School	25th Percentile ACT	75th Percentile ACT	Selectivity Tier
Harvard University	34	36	Ivy / Elite
MIT	35	36	Ivy / Elite
Princeton University	34	35	Ivy / Elite
Yale University	33	35	Ivy / Elite
Stanford University	34	35	Ivy / Elite
Columbia University	34	35	Ivy / Elite
Duke University	34	35	Highly Selective
Johns Hopkins University	34	35	Highly Selective
Northwestern University	33	35	Highly Selective
Rice University	34	36	Highly Selective
University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)	31	34	Selective Public
UNC Chapel Hill	28	34	Selective Public
University of Florida	28	33	Selective Public
Ohio State University	27	32	Selective Public
Indiana University (Bloomington)	24	31	Moderately Selective

Policy Update As of the Fall 2026 admissions cycle, Harvard, Brown, Dartmouth, and Cornell have reinstated standardized test requirements. Always confirm requirements directly with each school, as admissions policies can change.

What is a Bad ACT Score?

A bad score is one that falls below the floor of your target schools. In absolute terms:

Scores below 16 place you in the bottom 35% and may close the door to many four-year programs.
Scores between 16 and 19 are below average nationally. Most four-year universities set a soft minimum around 18 to 20.
Scores below 13 are in the bottom 10% and typically limit options to open-admission or community colleges.

A score is only “bad” relative to your goals. A 19 is below average nationally but well above average at many open-admission universities. If you are below your target schools’ ranges, the answer is to prep and retake. Most students typically improve 2 to 3 points with focused preparation.

How ACT Scores Affect Scholarships

Test scores do not just affect admissions. They can unlock significant merit aid, separate from need-based financial aid.

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

A single point increase at the right threshold can unlock $4,000 to $8,000 in additional aid over four years.

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+

💡 Key Insight: In STEM admissions, colleges often look closely at Math performance. A 32 composite with a 28 Math score may be a concern for engineering programs, whereas a 30 composite with a 34 Math score can signal stronger preparation for technical coursework.

When Should You Take the ACT?

Timeline	Recommended Action
Sophomore spring	Take a timed diagnostic to set your baseline
Junior fall	First official attempt
Junior spring	Second attempt if needed
Senior summer	Final attempt before early decision deadlines

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average ACT score?

The national average is 19.4 (approximately 50th percentile).

What is considered a bad ACT score?

Scores below 16 fall in the bottom 35% and may limit four-year options. Any score below the 25th percentile of your target schools is a clear signal to prep and retake.

What ACT score guarantees scholarships?

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.

Is 25 a good ACT score?

Yes. A 25 is the 83th percentile which is better than 83% of test-takers. It is competitive for moderately selective schools and many state universities, and it typically qualifies for entry-level merit scholarships.

Should I retake if I scored 28?

If 28 falls below the 50th percentile at your target schools, yes. Most students improve 2 to 3 points with targeted, section-focused preparation.

Is the ACT worth taking if my schools are test-optional?

At test-optional schools, students who submit scores at or above the school’s median generally have higher admit rates than non-submitters. Do not submit if your score is below median, as it could work against you. UC schools are test-blind and will not consider scores either way.

Start With Your Baseline

The first step is knowing where you stand. Take a timed ACT practice test, identify your gap, and build a realistic timeline from there.

MentoMind offers ACT prep with 1,000+ practice test questions, 4 full-length adaptive tests, and skill tracking that shows exactly where to focus.

Students: Take a free diagnostic to see what score you need for your target schools.

For Tutors: Our dashboard gives you analytics to set goals and track every student’s progress toward their college-specific target.

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