ACT Requirements for Colleges: Which Schools Need It and What Scores Matter
Learn about ACT requirements for colleges, what scores you need, and which schools still require testing. Updated for the 2026 admissions cycle.
Do Colleges Still Require the ACT?
ACT requirements for colleges have shifted dramatically since 2020. Some schools dropped testing mandates during COVID and never brought them back. Others reinstated requirements after seeing how test-optional policies affected their incoming class profiles. The result? A patchwork — and you've got to check each school individually before assuming anything about whether your scores matter.
So is the act required? Short answer: it depends on where you're applying. The majority of U.S. four-year colleges have gone test-optional or test-flexible, meaning they'll look at your ACT score if you send one but won't reject you for skipping it. That said, roughly 5% of colleges — including some highly selective ones — still mandate a score, and another chunk strongly recommends submitting if you've got a competitive number.
Here's where it gets tricky. Even at test-optional schools, submitting a strong ACT score can boost your odds. Admissions offices at places like the University of Georgia, Purdue, and Florida State have said publicly that submitted scores "help" applicants. So while the test might not be required on paper, it often carries weight behind the scenes — especially for merit scholarships where your GPA alone won't cut it.
The question isn't just whether is act required for college admission at a given school. It's whether sending your score gives you an edge. And for most students with a composite above the school's 50th percentile? The answer is almost always yes.
ACT Testing Facts You Should Know
What ACT Score Do You Actually Need?
Whether is act required for college or not at your target school, the score itself matters whenever you choose to submit. Most public universities set minimum thresholds — often around 18-21 for guaranteed admission — while selective private schools look for composites above 30. The average ACT score nationally hovers around 19.5, which means scoring a 25 already puts you above roughly 80% of test-takers.
You're also going to wonder how many act scores should i send. The ACT lets you choose which test dates to report through its Superscore and score choice options. Most colleges accept superscores — your highest section scores across multiple sittings combined into one composite. That means taking the test twice or even three times can genuinely improve your profile without any downside, since schools only see the dates you pick.
The specifics change from school to school, and from year to year. A 28 might've been competitive at UT Austin three years ago but could be on the lower end now as their applicant pool grows. Don't rely on published averages from 2023 — check each school's most recent Common Data Set (Section C) for current 25th/75th percentile scores. That's the real data, not the marketing number on their website.
One more thing. If you're applying to honors programs or specific competitive majors — nursing at Emory, engineering at Georgia Tech, business at Indiana — the score bar jumps significantly above the school's general admission average. A 30 composite might get you into the university but fall short for the program you actually want.
ACT vs SAT: Deciding Which Test to Take
Every U.S. college that accepts the ACT also accepts the SAT. No exceptions. So if you're asking whether how many act scores should i send or whether you should bother with the ACT at all, step back and figure out which test suits your strengths first. The ACT has a dedicated science section and gives you less time per question; the SAT leans heavier on reading comprehension and gives slightly more breathing room per item.
What act score is needed for college admission? That depends, but here's a useful benchmark: if your target school's 50th percentile ACT is 27, you'd want at least a 25 — and ideally a 29 or higher — to feel confident your score is helping rather than hurting your application. Is act needed for college at test-optional schools? Technically no. Practically? A strong score almost always helps.
Try both tests once. Seriously. Take a full-length proctored ACT practice test and a full SAT practice test under real timing conditions, then compare your percentile ranks. Some students — especially fast readers who like science — score noticeably higher on the ACT. Others find the SAT's pacing more comfortable. You won't know until you've tried both, and the difference can be 3-5 percentile points in either direction.
The timing question matters too. When to take act or sat? Most students benefit from taking their first real test in spring of junior year, giving them summer to prep and fall of senior year for a retake if needed. Don't wait until senior fall for your first attempt — that leaves zero margin for improvement.
ACT Score Ranges by College Type
Target composite: 33-36. Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, Stanford, and similar schools see median ACT scores of 34-35. A 33 gets your foot in the door. Below 32? Your extracurriculars and essays need to carry serious weight. These schools are test-optional but data shows ~65% of admitted students still submit scores.
Specific Schools: ACT Requirements That Surprise People
Do you have to take the sat and act? No — you never need both. Every college accepts either one, and no school requires you to submit both scores. But some students take both to see which produces a better result, then only send the higher-percentile test. That's a perfectly valid strategy, and admissions offices won't penalize you for it.
Does university of cincinnati require act scores? As of 2026, UC is test-optional for most programs. You can apply without submitting an ACT or SAT score. However, their College of Engineering and Applied Science has historically valued strong math scores, and submitting a 27+ composite with a 28+ math section can strengthen your application for competitive programs there.
What about LSU? What act score is needed for lsu depends on which admission pathway you're targeting. Louisiana residents with a 22 ACT and a 3.0 GPA typically qualify for automatic admission. Out-of-state applicants generally need a 24-25 composite. For LSU's Ogden Honors College, you're looking at a 30+ with a strong GPA to be competitive.
Auburn's another one people ask about constantly. What act score is needed for auburn? The middle 50% range for admitted freshmen sits around 25-31. A 25 composite with a 3.5+ GPA puts you in solid territory for general admission. Scholarship consideration starts ramping up above a 28, with full-tuition offers typically requiring 32+ alongside a strong academic record.
Understanding ACT Score Reports
The average of your four section scores (English, Math, Reading, Science), rounded to the nearest whole number on the 1-36 scale. This is the number colleges care about most.
Individual 1-36 scores for each of the four sections. Some programs weigh certain sections more heavily — engineering programs focus on math, for example.
Your highest section score from each test date combined into one composite. Over 90% of U.S. colleges now accept superscores, making multiple test attempts worthwhile.
ACT sets benchmark scores for each section indicating college readiness: English 18, Math 22, Reading 22, Science 23. Meeting all four signals you're prepared for first-year coursework.
ACT Scores and Scholarship Money
What act score is needed for scholarships? This is where the ACT really pays off — literally. Merit scholarships at state universities often have hard ACT cutoffs. A 30 composite at the University of Alabama can mean $28,000 per year in merit aid. At Ole Miss, a 27+ unlocks automatic scholarships. When to take act or sat becomes a financial question, not just an admissions one, because scholarship deadlines sometimes fall before regular application deadlines.
Is act needed for college scholarships specifically? Almost always yes, even at test-optional schools. Most merit scholarship programs still require a standardized test score as part of their criteria. Schools might let you in without an ACT, but they won't hand you $20,000 a year without some objective measure of academic ability. That's just the reality of how financial aid committees operate.
National scholarship programs — National Merit (SAT only), Coca-Cola Scholars, Gates Millennium — each have their own testing requirements. The ACT matters most for institutional scholarships, which represent the largest pool of merit-based aid available to undergraduates. A student scoring 32+ can realistically cobble together enough institutional merit aid to cover full tuition at many state schools, even as an out-of-state applicant.
Don't sleep on departmental scholarships either. Academic departments within universities sometimes offer their own awards, and these often weigh your section scores rather than your composite. A 35 in math with a 28 composite could win you an engineering department scholarship that someone with a 32 composite but a 30 in math wouldn't qualify for. Ask departments directly — these aren't always listed on the main financial aid page.
Submitting ACT Scores: Pros and Cons
- +Strong scores boost admission odds even at test-optional schools
- +Merit scholarships often require ACT scores — can save thousands annually
- +Superscoring lets you combine best sections across test dates
- +Demonstrates academic ability beyond GPA, especially for grade-inflated schools
- +Required for some honors programs and competitive majors
- +Gives admissions context if your transcript has a weak semester
- −Below-average scores can hurt applications at competitive schools
- −Test prep costs $200-$2,000+ depending on approach
- −Multiple test dates mean lost Saturdays and registration fees ($68 each)
- −Score reports cost $16 per school after the first four free sends
- −High-pressure testing environment doesn't suit every student
- −Test-optional schools may still use scores to place you in remedial courses
Is the ACT Mandatory? The Full Picture
Is the act mandatory for getting into college? For the vast majority of schools — no. Roughly 80% of four-year U.S. colleges are currently test-optional or test-free. But that number is misleading because it lumps together community colleges (which never required tests) with selective universities that temporarily dropped requirements. Among schools ranked in the top 100 nationally, mandatory testing is creeping back: MIT reinstated its requirement in 2022, Georgetown never dropped it, and the entire University of Tennessee system brought testing back for 2025.
What act score is needed for lsu and similar SEC schools? LSU wants a 22 minimum for in-state guaranteed admission. Georgia requires a similar range. Florida uses a holistic model but publicly states that a 29+ ACT puts you in the "strong" category. These aren't Ivy-level numbers — they're achievable with 4-6 weeks of focused preparation for most students who already have solid classroom fundamentals.
The schools where the ACT is genuinely mandatory tend to be either very selective (Georgetown, MIT) or large state systems that use test scores for automated admission decisions. If you're applying to a mid-tier private college or a small liberal arts school, odds are high they're test-optional and will stay that way. But always — always — verify on each school's admissions page for the current cycle. Policies change annually.
Worth knowing: some schools are "test-blind," meaning they won't look at your scores even if you submit them. The University of California system and Caltech are test-blind. Don't waste money sending scores to test-blind schools.
ACT College Application Checklist
What Makes a Good ACT Score for College Admissions?
What is a good act score for colleges? Context matters more than any single number. A 24 is "good" if you're targeting regional state universities — it puts you above the 74th percentile nationally and qualifies you for admission at hundreds of schools. But a 24 won't cut it at Vanderbilt (median: 34) or Rice (median: 34). Good is relative to where you're applying.
Should i take the sat and act? If you've got the time and budget for prep, yes — try both. About 25% of students score meaningfully higher on one test versus the other, and you won't know which suits you better without trying. The content overlap is significant (both test reading, writing, and math), so prepping for one gives you a head start on the other. Most students take one real sitting of each, then double down on whichever produced the stronger percentile.
What act score is needed for college admission at the most competitive level? For top-25 schools, the honest answer is 33-36. For top-50, you want 30+. For top-100, aim for 27+. Below 25, you're looking at less selective institutions — which isn't a bad thing, but your score limits your scholarship options at those schools too. Think of your ACT score as a floor, not a ceiling: it opens doors but doesn't guarantee anything on its own.
Here's what a lot of students miss. Your score's value changes based on your demographic profile, intended major, and the applicant pool for that cycle. A 30 from a rural first-generation student carries different weight than a 30 from a suburban private-school applicant. Admissions is contextual — your ACT score is one data point among many, but it's the most standardized one they've got.
Don't Skip the ACT Just Because It's Optional
Even at test-optional schools, submitting a strong ACT score (above the school's 50th percentile) improves your admission chances and unlocks merit scholarships. Over 60% of admitted students at test-optional schools still submit scores. If your composite is competitive for your target school — send it. If it's below the 25th percentile — leave it off and let your GPA, essays, and activities carry your application.
When to Take the ACT and SAT
When do you take the act and sat? Most college-bound students take their first standardized test in the spring of junior year — typically the April or June ACT date, or the March or May SAT date. That timeline gives you summer to prep for a retake and early fall of senior year for a final attempt before most application deadlines hit in November through January.
What act score is needed for auburn and similar schools with rolling admissions? The earlier you apply with a strong score, the better your chances. Auburn and many state schools review applications as they arrive, meaning spots — and scholarship dollars — get claimed on a first-come basis. Waiting until December to submit a 28 is less valuable than submitting that same 28 in September when the pool is less crowded.
If you're a sophomore considering early testing — don't. The ACT tests content you'll cover in junior-year math (especially trigonometry and some statistics), so taking it before you've finished those courses puts you at a disadvantage on 15-20% of the math section. The one exception is students who are a year ahead in math and have already completed precalculus by the end of sophomore year.
Planning matters. Should i take the sat and act in the same month? Bad idea. Space them at least 6 weeks apart so you can shift your prep focus between the two formats. Testing fatigue is real — back-to-back standardized tests in consecutive weekends leads to burnout and typically produces scores below your practice-test averages. Give yourself breathing room.
The ACT gives you four free score reports when you register. Use them for schools you're confident about. For others, wait until you see your score — you can send additional reports later for $16 each. Once sent, you can't take a score back, so only use free sends for safety schools or confirmed targets.
Taking Both Tests: SAT and ACT Strategy
When do you take the sat and act if you're planning to sit for both? Here's a practical approach: take the ACT in April of junior year and the SAT in May (or vice versa). That gives you one diagnostic result for each test by early summer. Whichever test produces a higher percentile ranking — that's the one you prep for over summer and retake in September or October of senior year. Don't waste time prepping for both simultaneously.
Can you take both the sat and act and submit different scores to different schools? Absolutely. Colleges don't care which test you took — a 30 ACT and a 1370 SAT are treated as roughly equivalent. Some students send their ACT to certain schools and their SAT to others, depending on which score looks stronger relative to each school's admitted student profile. That's smart strategy, not gaming the system.
The concordance table published by ACT and College Board maps scores between the two tests. A 30 ACT corresponds roughly to a 1360-1390 SAT. Use this table to compare your results objectively rather than guessing which score "feels" better. Percentile rank — not raw number — is what you should compare, since the scales are completely different.
One underrated benefit of taking both: it shows colleges you're serious about your academic profile. No admissions officer will penalize you for it. At worst, they ignore whichever score is lower. At best, seeing strong performance on both tests reinforces the narrative that you're a capable, prepared student who takes initiative. That's never a bad signal to send.
Timing Your ACT Around College Applications
When do you take act and sat relative to your application deadlines? Work backward from your earliest deadline. If your first Early Decision deadline is November 1, you need a test date no later than September — and ideally you'd have taken the test once before that for a baseline score. ACT scores are available 2-8 business days after the test date for multiple choice, with writing scores taking about two additional weeks.
When should you take sat and act for the first time? Spring of junior year remains the sweet spot for most students. You've completed most of the math content by then, you've had a full year of AP or honors coursework to build reading and writing stamina, and you still have multiple retake opportunities ahead of you. Taking the test in freshman or sophomore year mostly produces disappointing scores that can shake your confidence unnecessarily.
Registration deadlines matter. The ACT charges a $36 late fee if you register after the regular deadline — and some test centers fill up completely, leaving you with a 45-minute drive to a less convenient location. Register early, especially for popular dates like April and September when demand spikes because every junior and senior in the country has the same idea.
Final timing consideration: if you're an athlete hoping for NCAA eligibility, remember that the NCAA Eligibility Center has its own minimum ACT score requirements for Division I and II sports. These are lower than most college admission standards (a 17 combined in certain subject areas), but you still need an official score on file. Take the test early enough to meet NCAA deadlines, which can differ from your target school's admissions timeline.
ACT Questions and Answers
About the Author
Educational Psychologist & Academic Test Preparation Expert
Columbia University Teachers CollegeDr. Lisa Patel holds a Doctorate in Education from Columbia University Teachers College and has spent 17 years researching standardized test design and academic assessment. She has developed preparation programs for SAT, ACT, GRE, LSAT, UCAT, and numerous professional licensing exams, helping students of all backgrounds achieve their target scores.