Hey everyone, hope y'all are doing well. I just received my ACT score and it's a 26. I was wondering, where does that put me in the percentile ranking? And how good is this score considered for college applications? Thanks for your help!
Hello! A score of 26 on the ACT places you in about the 83rd percentile. What this means is that you did better than about 83 percent of the other test takers. It's a solid score. However, whether it is considered good or not largely depends on which colleges you plan on applying to.
If you're aiming for more prestigious and selective colleges (like those in the Ivy League), they generally prefer ACT scores that are in the 30s. For these institutions, a 26 might be considered a bit low.
However, a 26 is significantly above the average ACT score, which is around a 20. So, for many schools, especially state universities and less-selective private colleges, a 26 is considered a strong score.
Also, remember that your ACT score is just one part of your college application. Admissions offices also prioritize good grades in challenging courses, personal essays, letters of recommendation and extracurricular activities. So a lower or higher score can be balanced out by stronger or weaker areas in these other aspects.
But, in general, a 26 is a score that can open doors to many colleges. However, if you're setting your sights on more selective institutions you might want to consider retaking the test to aim for a higher score. Good luck!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.