ACT Scores for Admission to Top Public Universities

If you're wondering if you have the ACT scores you'll need to get into one of the top public universities in the United States, here's a side-by-side comparison of scores for the middle 50% of applicants. If your scores fall within or above these ranges, you're on target for admission to one of these top colleges.

Realize, of course, that ACT scores are just one part of the application. It's possible to have scores above the averages presented here and still get rejected if other parts of your application are weak. Similarly, some students with scores significantly below the ranges listed here gain admission because they demonstrate other strengths.

Also, if you are an out-of-state applicant, you may need to have scores significantly higher than those shown here. Most state-funded universities give preference to in-state applicants.

To see a full profile of each college, click on the names in the chart below. You can also check out these other ACT charts:

• ACT scores for admission to Ivy League schools
• ACT scores for admission to top liberal arts colleges

2007-08 data from National Center for Educational Statistics