What are your chances of acceptance?
Your chance of acceptance
Duke University
Loading…
UCLA
Loading…
+ add school
Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

Understanding High ACT Scores

Hi everyone, I hope you're all doing well! I'm studying for the ACT now and I'm trying to set some realistic goals. Could somebody please help me understand what is considered a high ACT score?

3 months ago

Sure, happy to clarify! In general, a "high" ACT score is considered to be one that is significantly above the national average. As of now, the average ACT score is around 20-21 out of a possible 36. So, anything in the mid to high 20s can be considered "above average."

However, if we're talking about top-tier colleges and universities, a "high" score typically falls into the 30-36 range. These institutions often have very competitive applicant pools, and their average admitted students' ACT scores are usually in the low 30s or even higher. For example, at a school like Harvard or Stanford, the middle 50% of accepted students typically score between 34-36 on the ACT.

Remember, though, that most colleges do not make acceptance decisions based solely on test scores. They also look at your grades, involvement in extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendations. So while a high ACT score can certainly be beneficial, it's just one piece of the larger picture. Good luck with your studies!

3 months ago

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.