ACT range breakdown per college?

I've been training hard for my ACT and I'm wondering if there is any info out there about the ACT score ranges colleges usually accept. It'd help me set a target score.

Indeed, understanding the ACT score ranges that different colleges usually accept can be a helpful guide when preparing for your test and setting personal targets. Although colleges rarely list official ACT 'cutoff' scores, they often publish the middle50% ACT score range of accepted students. This range generally means that25% of accepted students scored below that range, and25% scored above it.

Here are the 25th-75th percentile ACT ranges for a few select universities as of the2024-2025 admissions cycle:

- Harvard University: 33-35

- Stanford University: 34-35

- University of Chicago: 33-35

- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): 34-36

- University of Pennsylvania: 33-35

- Vanderbilt University: 33-35

- Dartmouth College: 32-35

- University of Notre Dame: 33-35

Remember, however, that meeting or exceeding this ACT range is not a guarantee of admission as colleges consider a lot more than just the ACT scores in their admissions process. Conversely, scoring below this range does not necessarily mean a rejection - there are always students who are accepted with scores below the25th percentile. These students likely had other strong aspects of their application that the college found appealing.

As you continue your preparation, I encourage you to also focus on other components of your college application, such as maintaining strong grades, participating in meaningful extracurricular activities, and working on robust college essays. The ACT is only one piece of the puzzle! Good luck with your preparations!