A good ACT® score is one that falls within or above the middle 50% range of the colleges you’re targeting. There’s no single universal number. But scores range from 1 to 36, and the national average composite for the class of 2025 was 19.4.
For Enhanced ACT (a shorter version implemented since 2025 that rolled out statewide and districtwide in spring 2026), the composite score now averages English, math, and reading only. Science and writing are optional for this streamlined version and reported separately. While historical benchmarks still apply, it’s good for families to know how the scoring formula changed.
What is a good ACT score tier for top colleges? What about open admissions and automatic-merit scholarships? Read on for answers, including an up-to-date percentile table and how to set a target.
How ACT Scoring Works (Enhanced ACT, 2025–Present)
Each required section of the Enhanced ACT (English, math, and reading) is scored from 1 to 36. The test-taker’s ACT score is the average of those three scores, rounded to the nearest whole number.
As of September 2026, here’s how each section is scored:
- English: 40 operational questions (scored); 10 or more field test questions (unscored). Production of writing accounts for 38 to 43% of the score, knowledge of language accounts for 18 to 23%, and conventions of standard English is 38 to 43% of the score.
- Math: 41 operational questions (scored); four or more field test questions (unscored). Preparing for higher math (number and quantity, algebra, functions, geometry, statistics and probability) accounts for 80% of the score, and integrating essential skills is 20%.
- Reading: 27 operational questions; nine or more field test questions (unscored). Key ideas and details accounts for 44 to 52% of the score, craft and structure is 26 to 33%, and integration of knowledge and ideas is 19 to 26% of the score.
The scoring scale (1 to 36) hasn’t changed from the pre-2025 ACT format. Historical percentile benchmarks are still roughly comparable. But since the composite average no longer includes science, some students’ composites may shift slightly depending on which section was their strongest or weakest.
Get a more in-depth section-by-section breakdown of what’s on the ACT.
What About the Science Score?
The science test is scored from 1 to 36 as well. For this optional portion of the test, the score is reported separately and shows up as a supplemental score.
Students who take the science test will also get a STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) score. The STEM score is an average of the math and science scores.
The standalone science score and STEM score don’t affect the average of the core three (English, math, and reading). But some STEM-focused colleges still want to see it. Check the admissions testing policy for the schools your student is applying to.
As of September 2026, the science ACT add-on is $5 extra.
How Is the Writing Test Scored?
The writing test is also optional for the Enhanced ACT. Test-takers’ scores are the sum of their two domain scores. Each domain is scored on a scale of 1 to 6, so scores for this section range from 2 to 12.
Students who take this ACT test will get a writing test score and an ELA (English language arts) score.
As of September 2026, the ACT writing add-on is $25.
ACT Score Ranges — What the Numbers Mean
Here are the scoring ranges and approximate percentiles for tests taken from September 2026 through August 2027, based on the ACT’s most recent published percentile tables with data from the class of 2024/2025.
| Score Range | Approximate Percentile | Typical School Tier |
| Below Average (1–16) | 41st percentile or below | Below what most 4-year colleges expect |
| Average (17–20) | 47th–63rd percentile | Open-admission; less-selective 4-year schools |
| Above Average (21–26) | 68th–86th percentile (top 32–14%) | Many state universities; mid-range private schools |
| Excellent (27–31) | 89th–96th percentile (top 11–4%) | Selective universities; substantial merit scholarships |
| Exceptional (32–36) | 97th percentile and up (top 1–3%) | Most selective schools: Ivy League, Stanford, MIT, etc. |
Source: ACT Score National Ranks
ACT Score Expectations by College Tier
A good ACT score is different for everyone, and a national average may not be the thing to target. Look at it this way: You don’t need a “good” ACT score. You need the right one for the colleges you’re applying to.
It might be helpful to see a breakdown of ACT score expectations by different college tiers.
ACT score expectations for Ivy League and other top-20 schools range from 33 to 36:
- Stanford: 34–36
- Princeton: 34–35
- MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology): 34–35
- Duke: 34–35
- NYU (New York University): 34–35
- Harvard: 33–35
- Yale: 33–35
ACT expected score ranges for highly selective schools range from 29 to 35:
- UVA (University of Virginia): 32–35
- University of Michigan: 32–34
- Georgia Tech (Georgia Institute of Technology): 31–35
- UNC Chapel Hill (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill): 29–34
ACT score expectations for students applying to selective colleges range from 28 to 33:
- Ohio State University: 27–33
- Penn State (Pennsylvania State University): 28–32
- Clemson: 28–32
Expected score ranges for those applying to moderately selective schools range from 20 to 30:
- University of Alabama: 22–30
- Iowa State University: 1–28
- University of Kansas: 20–28
Open-admission schools don’t require a minimum ACT score for students who apply. But they may still collect scores. On average, these are often 17 or higher, but it varies:
- Utah Valley University: 18–25
- Weber State University: 18–24
- Fort Hays State University: 18–24
- MSU Denver (Metropolitan State University of Denver): 17–23
As of September 2026, these ranges are based on the schools’ latest published middle 50% ranges, mean, or stated minimum score for admissions.
Sources: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, Stanford, Duke, NYU, Michigan, UNC, Georgia Tech, UVA, Penn State, Ohio State, Clemson, Alabama, Iowa State, Kansas, ASU, UVU, Weber State, Fort Hays State, and MSU Denver latest common data set (CDS) and admissions statistics.
Is My ACT Score Good Enough for Scholarships?
Many schools offer automatic-merit scholarships tied to ACT score thresholds. Some stack it with a student’s GPA (grade point average), SAT® score, or AP® (advanced placement) courses for even higher awards.
For example, the University of Alabama is awarding its automatic-merit Presidential (full-tuition) scholarship to 2027 in-state freshmen with an ACT score of 30 or higher, a GPA of at least 3.5, and an SAT score between 1360 and 1600.
Alabama has several automatic-merit scholarship tiers, with yearly values starting from $4,000. For 2027 in-state freshmen with an ACT score of 25 or higher, an SAT score between 1200 and 1220, and a GPA of 3.0 to 3.49, the UA Recognition scholarship is $4,000 a year. (Automatic award amounts are different for out-of-state students, and Alabama doesn’t superscore for scholarships.)
Meanwhile, Weber State’s Presidential automatic-merit scholarship of $6,557 per year is awarded to in-state freshmen with an ACT score of 30 or higher, an SAT score of at least 1330, and a GPA of 3.2 and above, based on the school’s most recently published data.
Striving for a Higher ACT Score
Depending on where your student is applying, a higher ACT score can mean tens of thousands in scholarship dollars at a four-year school. Learning how to score 30+ on the ACT or aiming for a superscore of 25 or higher could very well be worthwhile.
Reported scholarship offers of C2 Education families average nearly eight times their investment in a C2 ACT prep program (class of 2025 data — not guaranteed and varies by student and institution).
Compare the ACT vs. SAT and get actionable SAT and ACT prep tips.
How to Set Your Target ACT Score
Remember, a good ACT score lands within or above the middle 50% of your target schools. So, what’s your target score?
Here’s how to set it:
- Step 1: Build your college list. Look up the middle 50% ACT score range for each school you’re applying to. The information is available in the school’s common data set (CDS) or stated minimum score on the admissions page.
- Step 2: Take an ACT diagnostic to see where you are now. This baseline practice exam is taken at the beginning of a test-prep program to gauge current academic strengths, weaknesses, and time-management skills. The gap between baseline and target tells students how much ACT prep they need and how early to start.
- Step 3: Factor in scholarships. Many automatic-merit scholarship thresholds are published on schools’ admissions pages. Hitting these targets can change the financial picture of attending a four-year college.
C2’s approach to ACT prep includes a free diagnostic test and consultation to map a baseline score, identify a target score, and build a personalized ACT study guide path from there.
What about registering for the test? See our step-by-step guide on how to register for the ACT.
Turn Your Target Into a Plan
Knowing what a good ACT score is for your student’s goals is the first step. Reaching it takes a plan.
At C2 Education, every ACT prep program starts with a free diagnostic assessment and consultation, then builds a personalized study plan — with expert tutors, a 3:1 small-group format, progress check-ins, and 59% of C2 class-of-2025 Ivy applicants admitted based on self-reported admissions decisions.
Book a free diagnostic or find a C2 ACT prep center near you to get started.
Read next: What SAT and ACT scores do I need?
FAQs
What is the average ACT score?
The national average composite ACT score for the class of 2025 was 19.4. Scores range from 1 to 36, now averaging English, math, and reading only for the new Enhanced ACT.
Is a 21 a good ACT score?
A score of 21 on the ACT is just above average, based on national ranks for high school graduates from the classes of 2024, 2025, and 2026. For ACTs taken from September 2026 through August 2027, this score would fall in the 68th to 86th percentile (top 32 to 14%).
What ACT score do I need for Ivy League?
ACT score expectations for Ivy League schools range from 33 to 36 based on each college’s latest published 50th percentile score ranges. These are subject to change, so check the CDS pages for the schools you’re applying to.
Can I superscore the ACT?
Yes, you can superscore the ACT if you take the test multiple times. This gives you a single composite score from the average of your highest individual section scores. That said, not all colleges accept superscores. Check the admissions guidelines for the schools you’re applying to to see if superscores are allowed and how multiple ACT attempts are reviewed.
How many times should I take the ACT?
There’s no exact ideal number of times to take the ACT, but many students take the test two or three times to maximize their score. This allows you to learn from your first try, use a targeted study plan, and possibly benefit from superscoring (if you’re applying to colleges that accept superscores).
Read next: Should your child take the ACT in the summer?
SAT® is a registered trademark of the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product. ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc. None of the trademark holders are affiliated with C2 Education or this website.
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