ACT Percentile Chart (2025-2026 Estimates)
The following table shows the national percentile rank for each ACT Composite Score. Percentiles are based on the most recent ACT testing cohort data, which includes approximately 1.4 million test-takers.
| ACT Score | Percentile | Competitiveness |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | 100th | Perfect |
| 35 | 99th | Elite |
| 34 | 99th | Elite |
| 33 | 98th | Ivy League Avg |
| 32 | 97th | Highly Competitive |
| 31 | 95th | Highly Competitive |
| 30 | 93rd | Competitive |
| 29 | 90th | Competitive |
| 28 | 87th | Competitive |
| 27 | 84th | Good |
| 26 | 81st | Good |
| 25 | 77th | Above Average |
| 24 | 73rd | Above Average |
| 23 | 69th | Above Average |
| 22 | 64th | Average |
| 21 | 59th | Average |
| 20 | 54th | Average |
| 19 | 48th | Below Average |
| 18 | 42nd | Below Average |
What is a Good ACT Percentile?
The national average ACT score is roughly a 19-20, which falls near the 50th percentile. Whether your score is "good" depends entirely on your goals:
Top 10% (30-36)
Scores in this range make you a strong candidate for the most selective universities in the US, including Ivy League schools, Stanford, MIT, and top-20 programs. A 34+ puts you in the 99th percentile — elite territory.
Top 25% (25-29)
This is a solid range for state flagship universities, many private colleges, and merit scholarship consideration. A 27+ opens doors at schools like University of Michigan, UT Austin, and similar institutions.
Top 50% (20-24)
You are scoring above average nationally. This range is sufficient for admission to many four-year colleges and universities. Scores of 23-24 are particularly competitive at moderately selective schools.
Below 20
Below the national average. While this does not prevent college admission, it may limit options at four-year institutions. Community colleges and open-admission universities typically do not have minimum score requirements.
ACT Section Percentiles
Your ACT Composite score is the average of your four (or three, if skipping Science) section scores. But percentiles for individual sections can reveal important strengths and weaknesses:
- English: The average score is around 19. A 30+ puts you in the 90th+ percentile for this section. Students who read frequently tend to score highest here.
- Math: The average is approximately 19-20. Math percentiles tend to be slightly more compressed at the top — a 30 in Math is roughly the 90th percentile.
- Reading: Average around 20-21. This section tests reading speed and comprehension. Time management is critical since you have limited time per passage.
- Science: Average around 20. Despite its name, the ACT Science section is primarily a data interpretation and scientific reasoning test, not a test of science content knowledge.
If one section score is significantly lower than your others, improving it is the most efficient way to raise your Composite. For example, raising your weakest section by 3 points increases your Composite by approximately 1 point.
How ACT Percentiles Compare to SAT
If you have taken both tests, you can use the percentile to determine which score is relatively stronger:
- A 30 ACT (93rd percentile) is approximately equivalent to a 1360-1380 SAT.
- A 25 ACT (77th percentile) is approximately equivalent to a 1200-1220 SAT.
- A 20 ACT (54th percentile) is approximately equivalent to a 1030-1050 SAT.
Use the concordance tool above to find your exact SAT equivalent and compare percentiles directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average ACT score?
The national average ACT Composite score is approximately 19-20, which corresponds to roughly the 50th percentile. This means half of all ACT test-takers score above a 20 and half score below.
What ACT score do I need for Ivy League schools?
Most Ivy League schools have middle 50% ACT ranges of 33-36. Scoring a 34 or above (99th percentile) makes you competitive at any university in the country. A 33 (98th percentile) is still very strong for all Ivy League schools.
Is a 25 a good ACT score?
A 25 ACT is approximately the 77th percentile, meaning you scored higher than 77% of test-takers. This is above average and competitive for many state universities and four-year colleges, though it may be below the typical range for highly selective schools.