What's a Passing ACT Score?

I'm stressing a bit about my ACT scores. Could anyone tell me what is considered a 'passing score' on the ACT? Does the scoring scale vary depending on the university you're applying to?

The ACT is scored on a scale of 1 to 36, with 36 being the highest possible score. The national average ACT score is usually around 20.7, so you might consider that to be a "passing" score in a general sense. However, the score that you should be aiming for really depends on the universities you're interested in.

Each university has its own average ACT scores for admitted students. More selective universities tend to have higher average scores. For example, Ivy League colleges often have average ACT scores above 30. However, a less selective public university might have an average ACT score closer to the national average.

The higher your ACT score, the more competitive your application will be. A high score, especially one in the top 25% of scores for admitted students at your target school, can improve your chances of admission. But remember, your ACT score is just one factor in your application. Universities also heavily consider factors like your high school GPA, curriculum rigor, essays, extracurriculars, and more when making their admissions decisions.

While many schools have moved to test-optional policies, especially in light of the pandemic, providing a strong ACT or SAT score can still strengthen your application, particularly if your GPA is lower than the average accepted student's GPA at your target schools. Plus, don't forget, if your score isn't where it should be, you can always retake the ACT to aim for a higher score.

To have a sense of the score range you should be aiming for, I recommend researching the mid-50% ACT scores at the universities you're interested in. This is usually available on the school's admissions webpage. The mid-50% ACT scores represent the range in which 50% of an institution's admitted students scored. Aiming for a score within or above this range can increase your likelihood of receiving an acceptance letter.