What Is A Good ACT Score? | The Princeton Review

A good ACT score isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s the score that aligns with your goals and opens doors to the colleges you're targeting.

With recent changes to the ACT starting in 2025, it's more important than ever to understand how the test is scored and what your numbers really mean for admissions and scholarships.

How is the ACT Scored? (Updated Format Starting 2025)

Beginning April 2025, U.S. students who take the ACT online will see a new, shorter format. These changes will also apply to paper testing starting in September 2025.

Composite Score

• English
• Math
• Reading

Optional Sections

• The Science section is now optional. If you take it, you’ll receive:
  • A separate Science score
  • A STEM score, calculated as the average of your Math and Science section scores
• Writing (the essay) remains optional and does not affect your Composite score. If taken, you'll receive:
  • A separate ELA score, which averages English, Reading, and Writing.

Note: Some international, accommodations-based, or special testing programs may transition to the online format on a different timeline. Always confirm your test format when registering.

What Else Has Changed?

• The test is shorter—now 125 minutes without Science or Writing, and 165 minutes with both.
• You'll answer fewer total questions—175 instead of 215.
• Math now offers four answer choices, not five.
• More time per question is built in, especially on Reading and English.

Even with these changes, ACT scores remain on a 1–36 scale, and they’re comparable to pre-2025 scores.

How ACT Scores Fit into College Admissions

While ACT scores are an important part of your application, they’re just one piece of the puzzle. Most colleges look at your entire profile—not just your test results.

Each of these items play a big role in your overall application:

• Your GPA
• The rigor of your high school coursework
• Essays and letters of recommendation
• Your extracurriculars, leadership roles, and personal story

And increasingly, many schools are test-optional. That means you’re not required to submit ACT scores—but a strong score can still help you stand out, especially at competitive institutions or when applying for scholarships.

When ACT Scores Still Matter (Even at Test-Optional Schools)

Even at test-optional schools, your ACT score can give you an edge. A strong ACT score can:

• Balance your application if your GPA is lower
• Strengthen merit aid eligibility
• Qualify you for honors programs or selective majors

If you're applying to test-optional schools and you’ve earned a score that falls within (or above) the college’s typical range, submit it. Your ACT score only strengthens your application.

Do 2025 ACT Changes Affect College Admissions?

No need to worry. Colleges are well aware of the format change, and because there's concordance between the old and new ACT, admissions offices will be able to easily compare all scores.

What is the Average ACT Score?

According to ACT.org, the average Composite score for the Class of 2024 was 19.4. Anything in the 21–26 range is considered above average for many schools.

What Counts as a Good ACT Score?

A “good” ACT score can mean different things depending on your goals.

Here’s how to define it:

• Above the national average: shows you're performing better than most test-takers.
• Within your target college’s score range: puts you in the competitive range for admission.

ACT Score Percentiles Explained

This table reflects how your ACT Composite score compares to other test-takers nationwide. Percentile ranks indicate the percentage of students who scored at or below a particular score. Note that percentiles can vary slightly each year.

Composite Score	Approx. Percentile	Classification	Interpretation
34–36	99th–100th	Exceptional	Top 1% of test-takers; highly competitive.
30–33	94th–98th	Excellent	Strong candidate for selective institutions.
26–29	85th–93rd	Above Average	Competitive for many public and private colleges.
22–25	64th–84th	Average to Good	Solid performance; meets many college benchmarks.
18–21	41st–63rd	Average	Close to national average; some improvement may help.
14–17	6th–40th	Below Average	May need to bolster other application areas.
13 and below	≤15th	Low	Consider significant preparation before retesting.

Most schools report the middle 50% range (25th–75th percentile) for admitted students. Notably, scoring 34+ lands you in the 99th percentile—top 1%.

ACT Score Ranges for Selective Colleges

School	ACT Composite Score (25th–75th percentile)	Acceptance Rate
Columbia University	34–36	4%
Harvard College	33–36	4%
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	34–36	5%
New York University	33–35	9%
Princeton University	34–35	5%
University of Pennsylvania	33–36	5%
Yale University	33–35	4%

Want to check a specific school? Use our College Search tool to look up ACT score ranges under the “Admissions” tab.

A Good ACT Score for YOUR Goals

How To Set Your Personal Target Score

1. Make a college list with reach, target, and likely schools.
2. Find their ACT score ranges (on the "Admissions" tab).
3. Set your target to be at or above your top schools’ 75th percentile.
4. Take a full-length ACT practice test to identify your starting point.
5. Make a prep plan to close the gap.

Need help building your strategy? Our expert college admissions counselors can help guide you with testing plans and matching your scores to schools.

Our college profiles report the middle 50% range of test scores for entering first-year students.

• Do your scores fall well within the range? That school could be a good match!
• Do your scores fall in the lower end of the school’s average range? Don’t be discouraged! Admission to that school is still possible with some ACT prep and a strong overall application.

Above and Below Average Scores: What They Mean

Above Average ACT Scores

• More college options
• Stronger eligibility for merit scholarships
• Greater access to honors programs and early registration
• Competitive edge at test-optional schools

Below Average ACT Scores

According to the ACT itself, many colleges won't accept a score below the 18–20 range. That doesn't mean you're out of options! Here's what you can do:

• Retake the ACT—especially if you’ve prepped since your last test.
• Strengthen your application with a high GPA, strong essays, and impressive extracurriculars.
• Look at test-optional schools, which don’t require ACT scores at all.

Retaking the ACT

Unless you scored a perfect 36, you can always improve. Your ACT score can help you qualify for college merit scholarships. Even if your dream school is test optional, you may want to consider taking the test for that reason.

Many students take the ACT more than once to improve their results. In fact, colleges typically consider your highest score, so retaking the test can be a smart move.

• Your score is below your target schools’ 25th percentile
• You didn’t prep much the first time
• You’ve improved in school since your last test
• You had test-day issues (stress, pacing, etc.)

Bonus: ACT’s superscoring policy allows colleges to consider your best scores across multiple test dates. That means one strong retake could boost your composite.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a minimum ACT score for college?

There’s no universal minimum ACT score for four-year colleges—but most schools have benchmarks or guidelines.

• Less selective or open-admission colleges may admit students with scores in the 16–18 range, especially when paired with a strong GPA or personal story.
• Many public universities look for scores above 18–20 as a baseline.
• Selective schools and state flagships often expect 21–24 or higher, with competitive programs requiring 28+.

Do I need a perfect score for scholarships?

No. Many—but not all—colleges begin offering merit aid to students with ACT scores in the mid-to-high 20s. The higher your score, the more opportunities you’ll have, but a perfect 36 isn’t required.

Are 2025 ACT scores equal to earlier ones?

Yes. Composite scores are still on the same 1–36 scale, and colleges treat them the same.

A good ACT score is personal. It’s the score that helps you reach your dream school, earn scholarships, or simply gain confidence.

Whatever your goal, we're here to help you reach it—with prep tools, practice tests, and expert advice.

Where Do You Stand?

Want to talk about your ACT scores in more detail and figure out what comes next? We can help. Our ACT experts will go over your personal score report and help you determine what the next step should be. Call us at 1-800-2REVIEW.

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