What Is a Good ACT Score? Ranges, Benchmarks, and How to Set Your Target

If you're preparing for the ACT, one of the first questions you'll probably ask is: what is a good ACT score? It's a fair question — and the answer isn't as simple as picking a single number. Your score depends on where you want to go, what scholarships you're chasing, and how competitive your target schools actually are. A "good" score for one student might fall short for another with bigger ambitions.

The ACT is scored on a scale from 1 to 36, and what is a good composite score for the ACT depends largely on percentile rankings. The national average hovers around 19–20, so anything above that puts you ahead of most test-takers. But selective colleges typically expect scores in the 30–34 range, and Ivy League schools often look for 34 or higher. Your composite score — the average of your four section scores — is the number admissions officers see first.

Understanding what is a good act score starts with knowing what schools actually want. Some state universities accept students with a 21 or 22, while competitive programs won't look twice at anything below 28. Throughout this guide, you'll find section-by-section breakdowns, real percentile data, and practical strategies to push your score into the range that matters for your goals. We'll cover everything from what makes a perfect score to whether a 19 or 24 is strong enough for your target list.

So what is a good composite score for the ACT in practical terms? Think of it this way — a composite of 24 puts you at roughly the 75th percentile, meaning you've outperformed three out of four test-takers. That's a solid score for many state schools and mid-tier private universities. But if you're eyeing a top-25 program, you'll need to aim closer to 32 or 33.

What are good ACT scores really comes down to context. A 21 composite might earn you a full ride at one school and a rejection letter at another. Admissions offices use ACT scores alongside GPA, extracurriculars, and essays — but your what is a good composite score for the act still carries significant weight in the initial screening process. Many scholarship programs have hard cutoffs at 25, 28, or 30.

Breaking it down by section helps too. The ACT has four scored sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science. Each gets a score from 1 to 36, and your composite is the average. Most students find one section easier than the others, so a lopsided profile — say, 30 in English but 22 in Math — is pretty common. Colleges generally care about the composite first, but some programs look at individual section scores for placement.

When students ask what is a good score on the ACT, they're usually comparing themselves to peers. Here's the reality: a score of 26 places you in the 83rd percentile. That's strong. A 30 puts you in the 93rd. And a 34? That's the 99th percentile — only about 1 in 100 test-takers reach that level. These numbers shift slightly each year, but the percentile bands stay remarkably consistent.

What's a good ACT score also depends on your major. STEM programs at competitive schools tend to weight Math and Science section scores more heavily. If you're applying to an engineering program, a 28 composite with a 32 in Math looks different than a 28 with a 24 in Math. Liberal arts programs, on the other hand, might care more about what are good act scores in English and Reading.

Geography matters too. In states where the ACT is mandatory — like Alabama, Kentucky, and Wisconsin — average scores tend to be lower because every student takes it, not just college-bound ones. In states where it's optional, the average skews higher since only motivated students sit for the exam. Keep this in mind when you're comparing yourself to national averages. Your percentile ranking relative to your state's test-taking population may look very different from the national picture, and some schools weigh this regional context during admissions review.

What is a perfect ACT score? It's a 36 composite — meaning you scored 36 on every single section. Fewer than 0.2% of test-takers pull this off in any given year. That's roughly 3,000 to 5,000 students out of about 1.4 million. It's rare, but it's not mythical. Students who earn a 36 typically prepare intensively for months and often take the test more than once.

What is a perfect score on the act exam in section terms? You'd need a 36 in English, Math, Reading, and Science individually. Missing even two or three questions across the entire test can drop you to a 35. The curve varies by test date — some administrations are more forgiving than others — but generally you can miss 0–1 questions per section and still get a 36. The Writing section, if you take it, is scored separately on a 2–12 scale and doesn't affect your composite.

Chasing a perfect score isn't necessary for most students. A 34 or 35 is viewed essentially the same way by admissions committees. The difference between a 35 and 36 almost never determines an admissions decision. Your energy is better spent strengthening weaker sections than obsessing over the last point or two at the top of the scale. That said, if you're already scoring 34–35 on practice tests consistently, a 36 is within reach — but don't let that pursuit delay your applications or steal time from other parts of your profile.

Is 19 a good ACT score? Honestly, it's right at the national average. That means about half of test-takers scored higher and half scored lower. For open-admission universities or community colleges, a 19 is perfectly fine. But for four-year schools with even moderate selectivity, you'd want to aim higher — a bump of just 3–4 points can open up significantly more options.

Is 20 a good ACT score? It's slightly above average, sitting at roughly the 53rd percentile. A 20 won't turn heads at competitive schools, but it meets admission requirements at many state universities. If you're in this range, the good news is that scores in the low 20s respond well to focused studying. Students who prep for 6–8 weeks often see gains of 3–5 points, which can push a 20 into competitive territory.

The key question — what is a good score on the act — really depends on your personal goals. A 19 or 20 is a starting point for many students, not a ceiling. With the right preparation strategies, most students can improve by at least 2–3 points, and high-motivation students regularly jump 5 or more points between their first and second attempts.

What is a good score on act test varies depending on who you ask, but data doesn't lie. A score of 25 places you at the 79th percentile — ahead of nearly four out of five test-takers. That's strong enough for admission to most non-elite universities and often qualifies you for merit scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 per year. Some schools offer automatic scholarship tiers based on ACT composite and GPA combinations.

What is considered a good act score in the eyes of college admissions? Most counselors agree that a 24–26 is "good," a 27–30 is "very good," and anything above 30 is "excellent." These categories aren't official ACT designations, but they accurately reflect how admissions officers generally view applicants in practice. A student with a 26 composite, strong GPA, and good extracurriculars has a competitive profile at hundreds of reputable schools across the country.

Scholarship cutoffs are where these numbers really matter. Many state university honors programs require a minimum ACT of 28–30. National Merit-level recognition starts around 32–33. And full-ride scholarships at mid-tier schools often kick in at 30 or above. Knowing these thresholds gives you a concrete target to study toward rather than vaguely trying to "do well."

Is a 26 on the act good? Absolutely — it puts you in the 83rd percentile, and it's a score that opens doors at a wide range of colleges. Most state flagship universities consider a 26 competitive for admission, and it often meets the threshold for departmental scholarships. If you're aiming for a top-25 school, you'd want to push higher, but for the majority of students, 26 is a genuinely strong result.

What is a good score for act when you factor in scholarships? That's where the picture shifts. Many scholarship programs use 28 as their floor, and some of the more generous awards start at 30. A student with a 26 might get admitted everywhere they apply but miss out on thousands of dollars in merit aid. That gap between 26 and 30 can literally be worth $20,000–$40,000 over four years. What's a good act score for you depends heavily on whether financial aid is part of your college equation.

Here's something most students overlook — section score imbalances. If your composite is 26 but your Math score is 22, engineering and STEM programs will notice. Similarly, a 26 composite with a 30 in Reading signals strong verbal skills that liberal arts programs love. Don't just chase the composite number; think about what your section profile says to admissions readers in your intended field of study.

Is 24 a good ACT score? Yes — it's in the 74th percentile, which means you've outscored nearly three-quarters of all test-takers. A 24 is strong enough for admission to the vast majority of four-year universities, and it puts you in the conversation for some merit-based financial aid. It's not a score that'll get you into Harvard, but it's one that opens plenty of solid doors.

Is 25 a good ACT score? Even better — you're at the 79th percentile now. The jump from 24 to 25 matters more than you'd think because several scholarship programs use 25 as a cutoff. That single point can mean the difference between paying full tuition and receiving $3,000–$5,000 per year in automatic merit aid. Students in the 24–25 range are well-positioned to push into the high 20s with focused preparation.

Both scores fall solidly in the "good" category by any reasonable standard. Where they become "great" is at schools that value holistic admissions — a 24 or 25 paired with strong grades, meaningful extracurriculars, and a compelling essay can compete with students who scored 28 or higher at many universities. The ACT is one piece of a larger puzzle, and a solid score removes it as a weakness in your application.

Is 23 a good act score? It sits at the 68th percentile — above average, and good enough for admission to many solid universities. You won't have trouble getting into most state schools with a 23, though more selective programs might want to see a higher number. The practical difference between a 23 and a 25 is about 10 percentile points, so a small amount of focused study could make a meaningful difference.

Is 26 a good act score? It's firmly in "very good" territory at the 83rd percentile. A 26 is competitive for most non-elite colleges, qualifies you for many merit scholarship programs, and signals to admissions that you have strong academic fundamentals. Students who score a 26 on their first attempt often reach 28–30 on a retake with proper preparation, which opens up even more financial aid opportunities.

The gap between these scores illustrates an important point: each point on the ACT matters more in the middle of the scale than at the extremes. Going from 23 to 26 — just three points — can move you from the 68th to the 83rd percentile. That's a 15-percentile-point jump, potentially worth thousands in scholarship money and access to more selective programs. Small improvements in this range pay disproportionate dividends.

What is considered a good score on act when you look at long-term trends? Over the past decade, the national average has drifted slightly downward, from around 21 to just under 20. This means that today's 24 is relatively stronger than a 24 from 2015 — percentile rankings have shifted upward for the same raw scores. If you're comparing your practice test scores to older data, keep this context in mind.

Is 28 a good act score? It's excellent — 90th percentile, meaning you outperformed 9 out of 10 test-takers. A 28 makes you competitive at the vast majority of American universities, including many top-50 schools. It's also the sweet spot for major scholarship programs: automatic merit awards at state flagships, competitive applications for private university aid, and eligibility for honors programs at almost every institution in the country.

Students who reach a 28 often wonder whether pushing to 30 or above is worth the effort. For most, the answer depends on their target schools. If you're applying to top-20 programs, yes — that extra push matters. But if your target list is primarily top-50 to top-100 schools, a 28 is already in the competitive range.

Spend your remaining energy on essays and extracurriculars rather than grinding for two more ACT points. Remember, admissions is holistic — a 28 with a standout personal essay and leadership experience beats a 32 with a bland application at most schools outside the top 10.