Colleges publish a middle 50% ACT range for enrolled students who submitted scores—not a cutoff. Aim at or above the 75th percentile of your most selective school, and remember test-optional campuses only report the students who chose to send numbers. A 29 can be strong at one flagship and soft at another.
Typical middle 50% ACT composites
| College | ACT 25th–75th | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MIT | 35–36 | Required; among submitters |
| Harvard / peer Ivies | 33–36 | Most now required |
| Stanford | 34–35 | Required for recent cycles |
| NYU | 34–35 | Often test-optional |
| USC | 32–35 | Often test-optional |
| University of Michigan | 31–34 | Test-optional recently |
| Georgia Tech | 30–34 | Confirm current policy |
| University of Florida | 29–33 | Florida system required |
| UT Austin | 28–34 | Required |
| University of Georgia | 27–32 | USG required |
| Purdue | 27–34 | Expects scores |
| Ohio State | 27–32 | Confirm current policy |
| University of Alabama | 22–30 | Merit grids use scores |
Ivy-level detail: ACT scores for Ivy League and highly selective colleges. How to turn a list of 75ths into one study target: how to find your target ACT score.
How to read a range
If a college lists 27–32, about a quarter of submitting admits scored below 27 and a quarter scored above 32. Landing at 32 puts you in the stronger half on testing. Landing at 27 is still inside the admitted band, but the rest of the application has to carry more.
National percentiles are a different scale—a 28 is strong nationally and ordinary at Michigan. Pair this table with what is a good ACT score and ACT percentiles.
Test-optional ranges are inflated
When sending is optional, students with lower scores withhold them, so the published 25th percentile climbs. Compare your score to the range anyway, then use the submit-or-skip rule. Required schools (Florida, Georgia, UT Austin, many elites) report a fuller picture because almost everyone sends. Policy map: colleges that require SAT or ACT.
Scholarships use different numbers
Automatic merit at some publics (Alabama is the classic example) posts ACT grids that are not the same as the middle 50% for admission. Check the scholarship page, not only the CDS. Guide: ACT scholarships by score.
The bottom line
Steal the 75th percentile from every school you might actually attend, keep the highest one, and study to that. The table is a shortcut, not a substitute for this year's Common Data Set. Turn those ranges into likely / match / reach: how to build a college list with your ACT score.
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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.