A good ACT score is about 24: that is the 80th percentile, so you scored as well as or better than 80% of test takers. A 24 is well above average, 28+ is roughly the top 10%, and 30+ is competitive for highly selective colleges. The national average composite was 19.4 for the Class of 2025, the most recent class ACT has reported.
Beyond that, a good score depends on where you want to go to college. Competitive admissions and scholarship money often require more. This guide breaks down ACT score ranges, percentiles, and college-tier expectations so you can set the right target for your goals.
Before you can decide whether your score is "good," you need to understand how the ACT scoring system works. Every ACT score falls on a scale from 1 to 36 — and your composite score is simply the average of your three core section scores.
The enhanced ACT has three core sections: English, Math, and Reading. Each section receives a score from 1 to 36. Your composite score is the average of those three section scores, rounded to the nearest whole number. For example, section scores of 28, 25, and 30 produce an average of 27.67, which rounds up to a composite of 28.
Science is optional. Online tests switched to this English, Math, and Reading composite in April 2025, and every ACT, online or paper, has used it since September 2025. If you take Science, you get a separate 1–36 Science score and a STEM score, but neither one changes your composite.
Here is how ACT composite scores generally break down into broad categories:
Enter your English, Math, and Reading scores to calculate your composite and see your approximate percentile ranking.
The national average gives you a baseline — but "average" and "good enough for your goals" are not the same thing.
The national average ACT composite for the Class of 2025 was 19.4, according to ACT.org. That is the most recent graduating class ACT has reported. The average has been declining in recent years: 20.3 for the Class of 2021, 19.8 in 2022, 19.5 in 2023, and 19.4 in both 2024 and 2025.
One factor behind the numbers: 69% of the Class of 2025 last took the ACT on a school day, through state and district testing programs. These programs bring in a broader pool of students, including many who might not otherwise choose to sit for the exam, which naturally pulls the average down. School-day testers averaged 17.8, while students who chose a weekend test date averaged 23.0.
Your percentile rank tells you the percentage of test takers who scored at or below your level. A score in the 75th percentile means you performed as well as or better than 75% of all students who took the ACT.
| Composite Score | Percentile Rank | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | 100th | Exceptional |
| 34–35 | 99th | Exceptional |
| 32–33 | 97th–98th | Exceptional |
| 30–31 | 94th–96th | Excellent |
| 28–29 | 91st–93rd | Excellent |
| 26–27 | 86th–89th | Above Average |
| 24–25 | 80th–83rd | Above Average |
| 22–23 | 72nd–77th | Above Average |
| 20–21 | 63rd–68th | Average |
| 18–19 | 52nd–58th | Average |
| 16–17 | 41st–47th | Below Average |
| 15 or below | 34th or below | Below Average |
A few benchmarks are especially useful when evaluating your score:
The definition of a "good ACT score for college" shifts dramatically depending on where you are applying. A score that earns admission at one school might not clear the first cut at another.
| College Tier | Typical ACT Range | Example Schools |
|---|---|---|
| Open Admission | No minimum–18 | Community colleges, many state colleges |
| Less Selective | 18–22 | Regional state universities |
| Moderately Selective | 22–26 | Mid-tier state flagships, larger private universities |
| Selective | 27–31 | Top public universities, competitive private colleges |
| Highly Selective | 32–34 | Top-25 national universities, elite liberal arts colleges |
| Most Selective (Ivy+) | 34–36 | Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Yale, Stanford, Caltech |
Community colleges and many state colleges have open-admission policies, meaning they accept all applicants who meet basic requirements. ACT scores in the 16–18 range are often sufficient, and many of these schools do not require ACT scores at all.
For moderately selective state flagships and mid-sized private universities, scores in the 21–26 range are typically competitive. A 24 or 25 puts you comfortably in the middle of the admitted student pool at schools like University of Arizona, Iowa State, or Oregon State.
Top public universities and competitive private colleges generally expect composite scores of 27–31. At this level, you are in the top 10% of all test takers. Schools like University of Michigan, University of Virginia, and Boston College typically have mid-50% ACT ranges in this band.
At the most selective schools, the bar rises to 32–36. Most Ivy League institutions report mid-50% ACT ranges of 33–36 for admitted students. Scoring 34 or above puts you in the 99th percentile — the top 1% nationally — and makes you competitive at schools like Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Yale, Stanford, and Caltech.
Many students take the ACT not just for admissions but to unlock merit-based financial aid. The score thresholds for scholarships are generally higher than the minimum scores needed for admission at the same school.
| ACT Score Range | Scholarship Level | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| 20–23 | Limited options | May qualify for small institutional grants when paired with strong GPA |
| 24–26 | Entry-level merit aid | Eligible for $1,000–$5,000 annual awards at many state schools |
| 27–29 | Competitive scholarships | Qualify for substantial merit awards at public and mid-tier private colleges |
| 30–32 | Major scholarships | Competitive for half-tuition to full-tuition awards at many universities |
| 33–36 | Top-tier scholarships | Competitive for full-ride and prestigious named scholarships |
Schools use scholarship money to attract their strongest applicants. That means the score needed to earn a merit award at a given school is almost always higher than the score needed to get in. A student who qualifies for admission with a 24 at a state flagship might need a 28 or higher to trigger any automatic scholarship at the same institution.
Worked Example
Setup: A student scores a 27 composite on their first ACT attempt and wants to qualify for a merit scholarship at their state flagship university, which offers automatic $5,000/year awards at 29+ and $10,000/year at 32+.
Instead of asking "what is a good ACT score?" in the abstract, the most productive approach is to reverse-engineer your target from your college list.
Worked Example
Setup: A student applying to three schools: University of Michigan (mid-50% ACT: 32–35), University of Wisconsin (mid-50%: 27–32), and Indiana University (mid-50%: 24–31).
Many colleges superscore the ACT, meaning they take your highest section score from each test date and combine them into a new composite. This is a significant advantage if you take the ACT more than once.
For example, a student who scored English 24, Math 28, Reading 26 on their first test and English 27, Math 26, Reading 24 on their second test would have a superscore composite of 27. That is because colleges would combine the best sections: English 27, Math 28, and Reading 26 — averaging to exactly 27. Science is not part of the superscore.
Select your ACT composite score range to see which college tiers it's competitive for and potential scholarship eligibility.
A 25 on the ACT places you in approximately the 83rd percentile, meaning you scored higher than 83% of test takers. This is an above-average score that makes you competitive for many state universities and can qualify you for entry-level merit scholarships at numerous institutions.
Most Ivy League schools have a mid-50% ACT range of 33–36 for admitted students. While there is no official minimum, scoring at or above 34 makes you competitive at schools like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. However, the ACT is just one factor in holistic admissions.
Yes, a 28 ACT score puts you in approximately the 91st percentile and makes you competitive for substantial merit-based scholarships at many public universities and mid-sized private colleges. Some schools offer automatic scholarship awards at this level, though amounts vary by institution.
The national average ACT composite score for the Class of 2025 was 19.4, the most recent class ACT has reported. This represents the mean score of all high school graduates who took the test. Scoring above 20 puts you above the national average, while a 21 places you in roughly the top third of test takers.
A 22 places you in the 72nd percentile, which is above average. Whether to retake depends on your target schools. If your colleges have mid-50% ranges above 25, retaking could strengthen your application. Many colleges also superscore, using your best section scores across multiple attempts.
You can take the ACT up to 12 times total. Many colleges accept superscored results, combining your highest section scores from multiple test dates into a new composite. Most students see improvement on a second or third attempt with focused preparation between tests.