Average ACT Score

Each year, over 1 million high school students take the ACT exam. Higher scores on the test can give students an edge over other applicants or a higher chance of admission to competitive programs. Competitive test scores also increase students’ chances for scholarships.

Keep reading to learn more about average ACT scores, including average scores by year, state, race/ethnicity, and gender.

According to the 2023 ACT report, the average ACT score this year was 19.5.^{Note Reference [1]}

Scores largely depend on how you fared against other high school students in the country. For example, you would have needed a composite score of 33 or higher to have scored among the top 5% (the 95th percentile) of all test-takers.

Based on the composite scores, English and reading have higher average scores than math and science. For example, to score in the 95th percentile (or top 5%), you would need to score a 33 in English but only a 30 in math.

In 2023, the national average composite score (19.5) was the lowest since 1990.^{Note Reference [1], Note Reference [3]}

The ACT and SAT have many of the same components. For example, they are both approximately three hours in length. Both tests also cover reading, English (or language on the SAT), and math.

The two tests also have some key differences.

Based on the 2023 ACT report, women students outperformed men. Women earned an average composite score of 19.7, which is 0.3 points higher than men’s average composite score of 19.4.^{Note Reference [1]}

Five percent of test-takers selected “another gender” or “prefer not to respond.” This group had an average composite score of 18.2.^{Note Reference [1]}

The average composite score for all students, irrespective of race, has been on a downward trend for the past five years. This has not been true for all racial and ethnic groups, however. See the table below to understand how scores have changed within groups when broken down by race and ethnicity.

Ivy League students have some of the highest ACT score averages. To be in the middle 50% of admitted students, you need a near-perfect score. Even then, these colleges all have single-digit acceptance rates.

Note: Data based on most recent year available.

As of the 2022-2023 application cycle, standardized test scores are optional at all Ivy League colleges.

Below are average ACT composite scores for some popular colleges. Schools with higher acceptance rates tend to have lower ACT score averages.

Note: Data based on most recent year available.

The University of California schools eliminated their standardized test requirements in 2020 and no longer consider SAT and ACT test scores in making admissions decisions or awarding scholarships.^[12]

Both Brigham Young and Ohio State accept over half of their applicants, and both schools have average ACT composite scores ranging from the high 20s to the low 30s.

This is in contrast to colleges with acceptance rates lower than 5%, such as Stanford and MIT, both of which require near-perfect scores to be in the middle 50% of the class.