Competitive ACT scores for Ivy League and similarly selective colleges typically sit in the low-to-mid 30s—often middle-50% ranges around 33–36—though many of these schools are test-optional and review the whole application. Treat published ranges as benchmarks for competitiveness, not guarantees or cutoffs.
What "Ivy-range" usually looks like
Across Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Penn, Brown, Dartmouth, and Cornell, recent enrolled or admitted ACT middle-50% bands for students who submitted scores commonly cluster near the top of the scale (often spanning roughly the low 30s through 36). Peer schools such as Stanford, MIT, Duke, and UChicago show similar patterns.
Practical takeaway: if you are aiming at this tier and choosing to submit, a Composite in the 33–36 zone is typically where scores look supportive rather than soft. A 31 can still appear in a holistic file with extraordinary strengths elsewhere, but it sits below most published mid-50% bands for score submitters.
Section balance still matters
A 35 Composite with Math 28 can raise questions for engineering or quantitative majors. Highly selective STEM programs often look closely at Math (and Science when submitted). Fix weak sections before you assume the Composite alone tells the story—see how to read an ACT score report.
How to set your personal target
Use the 75th-percentile method across every reach school on your list, not an average of all Ivies. Steps are in how to find your target ACT score. Broader college targeting is in what ACT score you need for college.
Scores are not the whole application
At this selectivity level, near-perfect testing is common among admits—and many strong testers are still denied. Grades, rigor, essays, recommendations, and activities carry enormous weight. Do not chase a 36 at the expense of senior-year grades or authentic extracurricular depth.
The bottom line
For Ivy and peer schools, submitted ACTs usually need to live in the mid-30s to look competitive. Confirm each school's latest range, protect section balance, and remember holistic review still decides the outcome.
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This article offers general ACT prep guidance. The ACT can change from year to year, including its format, scoring, policies, test dates, and fees, so always confirm the latest details on the official ACT website at act.org before you make decisions. ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc. thirty-six is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by ACT.