What is the average ACT score?

Hi guys! I just took my first ACT, and I'm not sure how good my score is. Could someone tell me what the average ACT score is, so I have a better idea of where I stand?

Hi there! The average ACT score can vary depending on the group you're comparing yourself to. Based on recent data, the national average ACT score is around 20.5-21.0 out of 36.

However, if you're wondering how your score compares to students applying to competitive colleges, the average scores at these institutions will be higher. At moderately selective schools, accepted students typically have an ACT score in the mid to upper 20s, while more selective schools look for scores above 30, and the most selective schools out there (Ivy League institutions and their peers) will want to see a score in the 33-36 range.

To gain a better understanding of where you stand, I recommend researching the average ACT scores for admitted students at the colleges you're interested in. Most schools provide this information on their websites or through their Common Data Set (which you can find by googling "[school] common data set" and then doing control + F for "ACT").

Remember that while your ACT score is important, colleges also consider other factors in your application, such as your GPA, extracurricular activities, and essays. So, keep your score in perspective and focus on presenting the best version of yourself in your application.

If you want to know how your application as a whole stacks up at a particular school, you can also check out CollegeVine's free chancing engine, which accounts for all quantifiable elements of your application, including not just test scores but also GPA, course rigor, and extracurriculars to give you personalized odds of acceptance at over 1,600 schools around the country: https://www.collegevine.com/admissions-calculator

This tool will also give you suggestions on how to improve your chances, whether by raising your ACT score slightly or some other step, like earning a leadership position in one of your extracurriculars. Good luck!