Before you read your score below
College admission is holistic. ACT score alone never guarantees or rules out admission — GPA, course rigor, essays, recommendations, and extracurriculars all matter, and a growing majority of US colleges are test-optional. The example schools below illustrate the typical admitted range for each tier; always check a specific school's published middle 50% range before treating any number as a hard cutoff.
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Every ACT score, 1 through 36
ACT 36
Perfect Score~99th percentile nationally
A 36 is a perfect composite — roughly 1 in every 10,000 test takers achieves it. There is no academic case any admissions committee can make against your testing profile. At this level, the ACT score itself is no longer a differentiator; what separates applicants is GPA, course rigor, essays, and extracurricular depth.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: Even at a perfect score, the most selective schools reject the large majority of applicants — holistic review still applies.
ACT 35
Exceptional~99th percentile nationally
A 35 sits in the top 1% nationally. You are now comfortably inside or above the middle 50% ACT range at every Ivy League school and every elite STEM institute. At this score, admission to the most selective schools is realistic but never guaranteed — these schools reject most applicants regardless of test score.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: Scores at this level rarely separate applicants at elite schools — your essays, recommendations, and activities carry the most weight from here.
ACT 34
Exceptional~98th percentile nationally
A 34 sits in the top 1% nationally. You are now comfortably inside or above the middle 50% ACT range at every Ivy League school and every elite STEM institute. At this score, admission to the most selective schools is realistic but never guaranteed — these schools reject most applicants regardless of test score.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: Scores at this level rarely separate applicants at elite schools — your essays, recommendations, and activities carry the most weight from here.
ACT 33
Highly Competitive~97th percentile nationally
A 33 places you in the top 3–4% of test takers. You're at or above the median for most Ivy League schools and a strong contender at nearly every top-20 national university. Many honors colleges and full-tuition merit scholarship programs at flagship state schools become realistic at this level.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: A 32–33 is often above the 75th percentile at many flagship state honors colleges — a strong lever for merit aid.
ACT 32
Highly Competitive~96th percentile nationally
A 32 places you in the top 3–4% of test takers. You're at or above the median for most Ivy League schools and a strong contender at nearly every top-20 national university. Many honors colleges and full-tuition merit scholarship programs at flagship state schools become realistic at this level.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: A 32–33 is often above the 75th percentile at many flagship state honors colleges — a strong lever for merit aid.
ACT 31
Very Competitive~95th percentile nationally
A 31 is roughly top 5–7% nationally. This is comfortably within range for most top-25 national universities and well above the median for most state flagships, where it often qualifies you for honors college admission and significant merit scholarships.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: At many public flagships, a 30+ moves you from "competitive" to "scholarship-eligible" — check each school's merit aid thresholds directly.
ACT 30
Very Competitive~93th percentile nationally
A 30 is roughly top 5–7% nationally. This is comfortably within range for most top-25 national universities and well above the median for most state flagships, where it often qualifies you for honors college admission and significant merit scholarships.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: At many public flagships, a 30+ moves you from "competitive" to "scholarship-eligible" — check each school's merit aid thresholds directly.
ACT 29
Competitive~91th percentile nationally
A 29 is top 9–12% nationally — a strong, above-average score that's competitive at most top-50 national universities and a solid match for the upper half of state flagship admitted ranges. It's also a common merit-scholarship cutoff at many public universities.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: This range is a sweet spot for "match" schools — strong odds at well-regarded universities without needing a perfect profile elsewhere.
ACT 28
Competitive~88th percentile nationally
A 28 is top 9–12% nationally — a strong, above-average score that's competitive at most top-50 national universities and a solid match for the upper half of state flagship admitted ranges. It's also a common merit-scholarship cutoff at many public universities.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: This range is a sweet spot for "match" schools — strong odds at well-regarded universities without needing a perfect profile elsewhere.
ACT 27
Above Average~85th percentile nationally
A 27 is top 15–18% nationally, clearly above the national average of 21. This score is solidly within range for most state flagship universities and many respected regional and private universities, and frequently qualifies for moderate merit scholarships.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: Many flagships publish their middle-50% ACT range online — a 26–27 typically lands you inside or near the bottom of that range at most.
ACT 26
Above Average~82th percentile nationally
A 26 is top 15–18% nationally, clearly above the national average of 21. This score is solidly within range for most state flagship universities and many respected regional and private universities, and frequently qualifies for moderate merit scholarships.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: Many flagships publish their middle-50% ACT range online — a 26–27 typically lands you inside or near the bottom of that range at most.
ACT 25
Solid~78th percentile nationally
A 25 is top 22–26% nationally and clearly above average. It's a reliable score for admission at the large majority of four-year public universities and many private universities, particularly those outside the most selective tier.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: At this range, your application is generally judged on overall academic record rather than the test score alone.
ACT 24
Solid~74th percentile nationally
A 24 is top 22–26% nationally and clearly above average. It's a reliable score for admission at the large majority of four-year public universities and many private universities, particularly those outside the most selective tier.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: At this range, your application is generally judged on overall academic record rather than the test score alone.
ACT 23
Average~69th percentile nationally
A 23 is at or near the national average (the average composite is 21). This score is sufficient for admission to most open and moderately selective four-year universities, though it falls below the middle 50% range at most flagship and selective schools.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: A retake with focused prep is often worthwhile here — a 3–4 point gain can shift you into a meaningfully more selective tier.
ACT 22
Average~63th percentile nationally
A 22 is at or near the national average (the average composite is 21). This score is sufficient for admission to most open and moderately selective four-year universities, though it falls below the middle 50% range at most flagship and selective schools.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: A retake with focused prep is often worthwhile here — a 3–4 point gain can shift you into a meaningfully more selective tier.
ACT 21
Average~57th percentile nationally
A 21 is at or near the national average (the average composite is 21). This score is sufficient for admission to most open and moderately selective four-year universities, though it falls below the middle 50% range at most flagship and selective schools.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: A retake with focused prep is often worthwhile here — a 3–4 point gain can shift you into a meaningfully more selective tier.
ACT 20
Below Average~51th percentile nationally
A 20 is below the national average and below the typical admitted range at most four-year universities, though it remains sufficient for many open-enrollment and less selective four-year schools, and for transfer pathways via community college.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: Most colleges in this band are test-optional — submitting essays, GPA, and a strong personal statement may matter more than the score itself.
ACT 19
Below Average~45th percentile nationally
A 19 is below the national average and below the typical admitted range at most four-year universities, though it remains sufficient for many open-enrollment and less selective four-year schools, and for transfer pathways via community college.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: Most colleges in this band are test-optional — submitting essays, GPA, and a strong personal statement may matter more than the score itself.
ACT 18
Below Average~38th percentile nationally
A 18 is below the national average and below the typical admitted range at most four-year universities, though it remains sufficient for many open-enrollment and less selective four-year schools, and for transfer pathways via community college.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: Most colleges in this band are test-optional — submitting essays, GPA, and a strong personal statement may matter more than the score itself.
ACT 17
Needs Improvement~32th percentile nationally
A 17 is well below the national average. Four-year university options narrow considerably at this level, but community colleges and open-admission schools remain accessible, often with guaranteed transfer pathways to four-year universities after building a strong GPA.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: Many colleges are now test-optional — if your GPA and essays are strong, you may be better off not submitting this score at all.
ACT 16
Needs Improvement~25th percentile nationally
A 16 is well below the national average. Four-year university options narrow considerably at this level, but community colleges and open-admission schools remain accessible, often with guaranteed transfer pathways to four-year universities after building a strong GPA.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: Many colleges are now test-optional — if your GPA and essays are strong, you may be better off not submitting this score at all.
ACT 15
Needs Improvement~19th percentile nationally
A 15 is well below the national average. Four-year university options narrow considerably at this level, but community colleges and open-admission schools remain accessible, often with guaranteed transfer pathways to four-year universities after building a strong GPA.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: Many colleges are now test-optional — if your GPA and essays are strong, you may be better off not submitting this score at all.
ACT 14
Needs Improvement~13th percentile nationally
A 14 is well below the national average. Four-year university options narrow considerably at this level, but community colleges and open-admission schools remain accessible, often with guaranteed transfer pathways to four-year universities after building a strong GPA.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: Many colleges are now test-optional — if your GPA and essays are strong, you may be better off not submitting this score at all.
ACT 13
Needs Improvement~9th percentile nationally
A 13 is well below the national average. Four-year university options narrow considerably at this level, but community colleges and open-admission schools remain accessible, often with guaranteed transfer pathways to four-year universities after building a strong GPA.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: Many colleges are now test-optional — if your GPA and essays are strong, you may be better off not submitting this score at all.
ACT 12
Consider Retesting~6th percentile nationally
A 12 is far below the national average. At this level, focus on community college pathways, test-optional four-year admission, and a retake after structured prep — ACT composite scores typically rise several points with 2–3 months of targeted practice.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: This score is unlikely to be submitted at all — most students in this range apply test-optional and retest before applying further.
ACT 11
Consider Retesting~3th percentile nationally
A 11 is far below the national average. At this level, focus on community college pathways, test-optional four-year admission, and a retake after structured prep — ACT composite scores typically rise several points with 2–3 months of targeted practice.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: This score is unlikely to be submitted at all — most students in this range apply test-optional and retest before applying further.
ACT 10
Consider Retesting~2th percentile nationally
A 10 is far below the national average. At this level, focus on community college pathways, test-optional four-year admission, and a retake after structured prep — ACT composite scores typically rise several points with 2–3 months of targeted practice.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: This score is unlikely to be submitted at all — most students in this range apply test-optional and retest before applying further.
ACT 9
Consider Retesting~1th percentile nationally
A 9 is far below the national average. At this level, focus on community college pathways, test-optional four-year admission, and a retake after structured prep — ACT composite scores typically rise several points with 2–3 months of targeted practice.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: This score is unlikely to be submitted at all — most students in this range apply test-optional and retest before applying further.
ACT 8
Consider Retesting~1th percentile nationally
A 8 is far below the national average. At this level, focus on community college pathways, test-optional four-year admission, and a retake after structured prep — ACT composite scores typically rise several points with 2–3 months of targeted practice.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: This score is unlikely to be submitted at all — most students in this range apply test-optional and retest before applying further.
ACT 7
Consider Retesting~1th percentile nationally
A 7 is far below the national average. At this level, focus on community college pathways, test-optional four-year admission, and a retake after structured prep — ACT composite scores typically rise several points with 2–3 months of targeted practice.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: This score is unlikely to be submitted at all — most students in this range apply test-optional and retest before applying further.
ACT 6
Consider Retesting~1th percentile nationally
A 6 is far below the national average. At this level, focus on community college pathways, test-optional four-year admission, and a retake after structured prep — ACT composite scores typically rise several points with 2–3 months of targeted practice.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: This score is unlikely to be submitted at all — most students in this range apply test-optional and retest before applying further.
ACT 5
Consider Retesting~1th percentile nationally
A 5 is far below the national average. At this level, focus on community college pathways, test-optional four-year admission, and a retake after structured prep — ACT composite scores typically rise several points with 2–3 months of targeted practice.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: This score is unlikely to be submitted at all — most students in this range apply test-optional and retest before applying further.
ACT 4
Consider Retesting~1th percentile nationally
A 4 is far below the national average. At this level, focus on community college pathways, test-optional four-year admission, and a retake after structured prep — ACT composite scores typically rise several points with 2–3 months of targeted practice.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: This score is unlikely to be submitted at all — most students in this range apply test-optional and retest before applying further.
ACT 3
Consider Retesting~1th percentile nationally
A 3 is far below the national average. At this level, focus on community college pathways, test-optional four-year admission, and a retake after structured prep — ACT composite scores typically rise several points with 2–3 months of targeted practice.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: This score is unlikely to be submitted at all — most students in this range apply test-optional and retest before applying further.
ACT 2
Consider Retesting~1th percentile nationally
A 2 is far below the national average. At this level, focus on community college pathways, test-optional four-year admission, and a retake after structured prep — ACT composite scores typically rise several points with 2–3 months of targeted practice.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: This score is unlikely to be submitted at all — most students in this range apply test-optional and retest before applying further.
ACT 1
Consider Retesting~1th percentile nationally
A 1 is far below the national average. At this level, focus on community college pathways, test-optional four-year admission, and a retake after structured prep — ACT composite scores typically rise several points with 2–3 months of targeted practice.
Example schools in this range
Strategy: This score is unlikely to be submitted at all — most students in this range apply test-optional and retest before applying further.
Don't know your composite yet?
Use the GradesNova ACT calculator to estimate your composite from your raw section scores, then come back to this page to see your tier.
ACT Score Calculator →Frequently asked questions
What colleges can I get into with my ACT score?
It depends on your composite score and the specific college's middle 50% admitted range. As a rough guide: 34–36 is competitive at Ivy League and elite STEM schools; 30–33 at top-30 national universities; 26–29 at most state flagships; 21–25 at the large majority of four-year universities; below 21 narrows options to open-enrollment and community colleges, though many schools are now test-optional.
Is a 24 ACT score good enough for a four-year college?
Yes. A 24 is approximately the 74th percentile nationally and is sufficient for admission to the large majority of four-year colleges and universities in the US, including many respected public universities.
Should I submit my ACT score if it is below average?
Not necessarily. The majority of US colleges and universities are now test-optional. If your ACT composite is below a school's middle 50% range but your GPA and coursework are strong, you can typically choose not to submit a score and be evaluated on the rest of your application instead.
How much does one ACT point matter for college admissions?
A single point rarely changes an admissions decision on its own, but moving across a tier boundary (for example from 29 to 30, or from 23 to 24) can shift which schools' middle 50% range you fall into, and can affect eligibility for specific merit scholarship thresholds, which are often set at exact score cutoffs.