What's the average ACT score for accepted students?

Hey guys, I've been trying to figure out where my ACT score stands in comparison to the average ACT score of accepted students for different colleges. How do I find accurate and up-to-date info on this? Any help would be appreciated!

Hello! To find accurate and up-to-date information on the average ACT scores of accepted students for different colleges, you have a few options.

1. College Websites: The most reliable source of information would be the college's official website. Look for the "admissions" or "prospective students" sections, where they often provide statistics on admitted students, including average test scores. If you can't find the information on their website, you can also try searching for the school's Common Data Set, which includes a wealth of admissions information - the easiest way to find this document is by googling "[x school] common data set," since it's usually quite buried on the school's actual website.

2. CollegeVine: You can check platforms like CollegeVine, where they provide detailed profiles for thousands of colleges, including average test scores of admitted students. CollegeVine navigates various official sources, such as the Common Data Set, IPEDS, and college admissions publications, to gather relevant and up-to-date information.

3. College Rankings and Directories: Annual college rankings and directories (ex: U.S. News & World Report or The Princeton Review) usually have information on the middle 50% ACT scores for each ranked school.

4. College Counselor or Admissions Office: Your high school counselor might have access to accepted students' average test scores, or they can guide you to look in the right places. Additionally, you could contact the college's admissions office directly, either via email or phone, and ask for the information you need.

While researching the average ACT scores, remember that colleges typically consider a range of other factors in the admissions process. So, having an ACT score close to or even above the average doesn't guarantee admission, and conversely, a score slightly below the average doesn't necessarily rule you out.

Finally, it is worth noting that many colleges are currently operating under test-optional policies, so submitting an ACT (or SAT) score actually isn't required. However, you're smart to still be thinking about targets, as there can still be instances where submitting a test score would be a good idea. For detailed guidance on how to navigate test-optional policies, check out this blog post from CollegeVine: https://blog.collegevine.com/does-test-optional-mean-test-optional

Good luck with your college search and admissions journey!