When your child receives their ACT score, the composite number alone does not tell the full story. A score of 24 means something very different for a student applying to UT Austin than it does for a student applying to a state school with an average composite of 20. Understanding ACT score percentiles is what turns a raw number into actionable information.
This guide covers the complete ACT score percentile chart for 2026, explains what each score range means for college admissions, lists the score ranges for major universities, and shows parents and students how to set a realistic target composite based on the schools on their list.
How ACT Score Percentiles Work
An ACT score percentile tells you what percentage of students scored at or below a given score. A composite of 22 at the 72nd percentile means 72 percent of recent high school graduates who took the ACT scored a 22 or lower. Your child scored higher than 72 percent of the testing population.
Percentiles are not the same as the score itself. A score of 30 is not at the 30th percentile. It is at the 94th percentile, meaning your child outperformed 94 percent of test takers. This distinction matters when evaluating where your child stands relative to applicants at their target schools.
The national average ACT composite score for the class of 2024 was 19.4. A score above 21 is above the national average. A score of 24 or higher puts a student in the top 20 percent of all test takers nationally.
ACT Score Percentile Chart 2026: Complete Table
The table below shows the national rank (percentile) for every ACT score from 36 to 10, across all five sections plus the composite. Data is from ACT.org, based on 2023-2025 graduates.
| Score | English | Math | Reading | Science | Composite %ile | What It Means |
| 36 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Perfect score |
| 35 | 99 | 99 | 98 | 99 | 99 | Top 1% nationally |
| 34 | 97 | 99 | 97 | 99 | 99 | Top 1-2% nationally |
| 33 | 96 | 98 | 95 | 98 | 98 | Top 2% nationally |
| 32 | 95 | 98 | 93 | 97 | 97 | Top 3% nationally |
| 31 | 94 | 97 | 91 | 96 | 96 | Top 4% nationally |
| 30 | 93 | 96 | 89 | 95 | 94 | Top 6% nationally |
| 29 | 91 | 94 | 87 | 93 | 92 | Top 8% nationally |
| 28 | 90 | 93 | 85 | 92 | 91 | Top 9% nationally |
| 27 | 88 | 91 | 83 | 91 | 88 | Top 12% nationally |
| 26 | 86 | 88 | 80 | 89 | 86 | Top 14% nationally |
| 25 | 84 | 85 | 78 | 86 | 83 | Top 17% nationally |
| 24 | 81 | 81 | 75 | 82 | 80 | Top 20% nationally |
| 23 | 77 | 77 | 71 | 76 | 76 | Top 24% nationally |
| 22 | 73 | 74 | 66 | 70 | 72 | Top 28% nationally |
| 21 | 69 | 71 | 60 | 65 | 68 | Top 32% nationally |
| 20 | 63 | 68 | 55 | 59 | 63 | Above national average |
| 19 | 58 | 64 | 50 | 53 | 57 | Near national average |
| 18 | 53 | 60 | 46 | 47 | 52 | Near national average |
| 17 | 49 | 53 | 41 | 40 | 46 | Below national average |
| 16 | 46 | 45 | 37 | 33 | 40 | Below national average |
| 15 | 40 | 32 | 32 | 26 | 34 | Below national average |
| 14 | 33 | 20 | 27 | 19 | 27 | Well below average |
| 13 | 27 | 10 | 21 | 14 | 20 | Well below average |
| 12 | 22 | 5 | 16 | 10 | 12 | Well below average |
| 11 | 17 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 5 | Well below average |
| 10 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | Well below average |
What ACT Score Ranges Mean in Practice
Percentiles are useful for understanding national standing, but what parents really need to know is what a given score means for specific college options. Here is how to interpret the four main score bands:
Score 28-36: Excellent (Top 9-10% nationally)
A composite of 28 or higher places a student in the top 9 percent of all ACT test takers nationally. This score range opens up admissions consideration at selective private universities and honors programs at public flagship schools.
- Competitive for Ivy League and highly selective schools: typically require 33-36
- Strong scholarship territory at most universities: many merit aid programs start at 28 or above
- Qualifies for honors college consideration at UT Austin, Texas A&M, and similar flagships
Score 22-27: Above Average (Top 12-28% nationally)
A composite of 22 to 27 is above the national average and competitive for a wide range of four-year colleges. This is where many strong students land on a first attempt, and where targeted preparation can produce meaningful scholarship improvements.
- Competitive for most public universities including University of Texas system schools, Georgia State, Florida State, and Oklahoma State
- Merit scholarship opportunities begin opening up at 24 and above at many schools
- A score in this range with a retake plan can move a student into the 28+ tier with 8 to 12 weeks of focused preparation
Score 18-21: Average (41-63rd percentile nationally)
A composite of 18 to 21 is near or slightly above the national average of 19.4. This range meets minimum requirements for most four-year colleges and provides admission to many schools with open or moderately selective admissions.
- Meets the minimum composite for most four-year college admission applications
- Below the mid-range for most public flagship universities in Texas, Georgia, Florida, and New York
- Significant room for improvement: a student in this range who brings the composite to 24 moves from the 63rd to the 80th percentile, a meaningful jump for scholarship eligibility
Score 17 and Below: Below Average
A composite below 17 falls below the national average and below the mid-range for most four-year colleges. Students in this range benefit most from a structured preparation program that identifies and addresses the specific sections pulling the composite down before retesting.
ACT Score Ranges for Major Universities
The table below shows the middle 50 percent score range (25th to 75th percentile) for admitted students at major universities. If your child’s composite falls within this range, they are in the competitive zone for that school. Above the 75th percentile is a strength. Below the 25th percentile is a stretch.
| University | ACT Range (Middle 50%) | Notes |
| Harvard University | 33-36 | Highly selective. ACT is one factor among many. |
| MIT | 35-36 | Top 1% score required to be competitive. |
| Columbia University | 34-36 | Acceptance rate under 4%. |
| Yale University | 33-35 | Holistic review. Strong scores required. |
| Duke University | 34-35 | Top 5% nationally required to be competitive. |
| UT Austin (competitive majors) | 31-35 | Business, Engineering, CS are most selective. |
| UT Austin (general) | 27-33 | Varies significantly by college and major. |
| Texas A&M University | 25-31 | Acceptance rate approximately 63%. Strong ACT helps for honors. |
| Baylor University | 25-31 | Merit scholarships start at 28 and increase significantly at 30+. |
| TCU | 26-31 | Scholarship opportunities begin at 27. |
| Rice University | 34-36 | Most selective school in Texas. Top 1-2% nationally. |
| University of Georgia | 28-33 | Strong public flagship. Honors College requires 32+. |
| Georgia Tech | 32-35 | Highly selective engineering and tech programs. |
| Emory University | 33-35 | Private research university. Top 5% range. |
| University of Florida | 28-33 | Top public university in Florida. Competitive for most majors. |
| Florida State University | 25-30 | Strong merit scholarships start at 29 for Florida residents. |
| University of Miami | 30-34 | Private. Selective. Scholarship opportunities at 30+. |
| NYU | 33-35 | Highly selective. Merit aid limited. |
| Fordham University | 28-32 | Jesuit university. Scholarship opportunities at 29+. |
| University of Oklahoma | 22-29 | Main state flagship. Merit scholarships start at 25. |
| Oklahoma State University | 21-27 | Strong program variety. Merit aid begins at 23. |
Score ranges are based on publicly reported data from university admissions offices and College Board profiles. Ranges shift slightly each year. Always check the admissions page of your target school directly for the most current data.
How to Set Your Child’s Target ACT Score
A target score is not a wish. It is the specific composite your child needs to reach to become a competitive applicant at the schools on their list, qualify for the scholarships they need, or both. Here is a simple four-step process:
Step 1: Build the college list. Identify three to five schools your child is seriously considering, including at least one reach, two matches, and one likely school.
Step 2: Find the middle 50 percent range for each school. Go to each school’s admissions page and find the 25th and 75th percentile ACT composites for admitted students. Your child’s target should be at or above the 75th percentile for their reach school and firmly within the middle 50 percent for their match schools.
Step 3: Take a full-length diagnostic. Register your child for an official ACT practice test. This produces the baseline composite and section scores that tell you exactly where the gap is and which sections are pulling the composite down.
Step 4: Calculate the preparation needed. The gap between the diagnostic score and the target score determines how much preparation is needed and over what timeframe. A 2-point gap can often be closed in 6 to 8 weeks. A 5-point gap typically requires 12 to 16 weeks of structured preparation.
To understand what a good ACT score means for your child’s specific grade level and goals, see our guide to what is a good ACT score, which covers score benchmarks by college tier and by state.
The Scholarship Impact: Why Each Point Matters
Many parents focus on whether a score is good enough for admission. Scholarships are where the financial stakes are highest, and score thresholds are more specific.
| ACT Score | Percentile | Scholarship Impact (Examples) |
| 36 | 100th | Perfect score. Maximum scholarship consideration at virtually every university. |
| 34-35 | 99th | National Merit consideration (via PSAT pathway). Full or near-full scholarships at many schools. |
| 31-33 | 96-98th | Presidential or top merit scholarships at Baylor, TCU, OU, OSU, and most regional universities. |
| 28-30 | 91-94th | Significant merit aid at most universities. Honors college eligibility at many flagship schools. |
| 25-27 | 83-88th | Merit scholarships begin at many schools. Range for competitive admission at most public flagships. |
| 22-24 | 72-80th | Some merit aid available. Competitive for general admission at state schools. |
| 18-21 | 52-68th | Minimal merit aid. Admission to most four-year colleges. Below competitive range for flagship scholarships. |
| Below 18 | Below 52nd | Limited scholarship eligibility. May require additional academic preparation. |
Scholarship thresholds are school-specific. A score of 28 might unlock a $5,000 annual scholarship at one school and $12,000 at another. Research the specific merit aid matrix at each school on your child’s list and use that as the practical target, not just the general admissions range.
What to Do If Your Child’s Score Is Below Their Target
A score below the target is not a final result. The ACT can be retaken, and improvement is consistent with the right preparation approach. Here is what the data shows:
- Students who retake the ACT improve their score approximately 57 percent of the time, according to ACT’s own research.
- The average improvement on a retake is approximately 2.9 composite points.
- Students who use structured preparation between retakes improve significantly more than those who retake without changing their preparation approach.
- Most colleges superscore the ACT, meaning they take the highest section score from each test date and combine them. A student who scores 24 Math and 28 English on one test date and 26 Math and 26 English on another would have a superscore of 27 English and 26 Math.
The most effective preparation approach after a first attempt is to identify specifically which section types are costing the most points, then build a targeted plan around those areas. Our ACT Full Program starts with a diagnostic that maps exactly which question types in each section are pulling the composite down, then builds the preparation plan around that data. For students with a test date within 6 weeks, our ACT Accelerated Program covers the highest-impact areas in a compressed timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average ACT score in 2026?
The national average ACT composite score for the class of 2024 was 19.4, with a standard deviation of 6.1. The mean section scores were: English 18.6, Math 19.0, Reading 20.1, Science 19.6. A composite of 21 or above is above the national average.
What ACT score is needed for a full scholarship?
There is no single answer because scholarship thresholds vary by school. At many regional universities, scores of 30 to 32 unlock near-full or full merit scholarships. At flagship schools like UT Austin and University of Georgia, the most competitive merit awards start at 33 and above. Research the specific merit aid schedule at each school on your child’s list.
Is a 24 a good ACT score?
A 24 is at the 80th percentile nationally, meaning your child scored higher than 80 percent of all test takers. It is a solid score that puts students in the competitive range for many four-year colleges and some merit scholarship programs. For selective schools and flagship honors programs, a 24 is typically below the competitive range.
Is a 28 a good ACT score?
A 28 is at the 91st percentile nationally. It is an excellent score that opens up admission consideration at many selective schools and strong merit scholarship opportunities at most universities. For the most selective schools like Ivy League institutions, a 28 is typically below the competitive range, but it is a strong score at the large majority of four-year colleges.
What percentile is a 30 on the ACT?
A composite of 30 is at the 94th percentile, meaning a student scoring 30 outperformed 94 percent of ACT test takers nationally. It is in the excellent range and competitive for admission at most selective universities.
How many students score above 30 on the ACT?
Based on the percentile data, approximately 6 percent of ACT test takers score a 30 or higher nationally. A score of 30 or above is genuinely rare among the general testing population.
Does a higher ACT score section percentile matter more than the composite?
For most general admissions purposes, the composite percentile is what colleges look at first. However, for specific programs, section scores matter. Engineering programs at Georgia Tech or UT Austin look closely at Math scores. English and Humanities programs may weight Reading and English section scores more heavily. For scholarship calculations, most schools use the composite.
How much can my child improve their ACT score?
The average improvement on a retake is approximately 2.9 composite points. With structured preparation targeting specific weak areas, improvements of 4 to 7 composite points are achievable for most students. The ceiling depends on the starting score and the preparation timeline available.
Ready to Close the Gap Between Your Child’s Current Score and Their Target?
Understanding your child’s ACT percentile is the starting point. Closing the gap between where they are and where they need to be is what preparation is for. At Blackmon Tutoring, every program starts with a diagnostic that maps the exact sections and question types pulling the composite down.
We offer ACT tutoring across the United States, including Georgia (Atlanta), New York, Texas (Dallas, Houston), Florida, Oklahoma, and many other states. Explore our ACT tutoring programs, or get a quote to build the right prep plan for your child’s target score and test date.
Every point on the ACT percentile chart represents real college options and real scholarship money. The preparation is worth it.
