The ACT is not universally required, but whether you need to take it depends on where you live, where you want to apply, and what scholarships you’re pursuing. Some states mandate the ACT for all high school students. A growing number of selective colleges are bringing back test requirements after years of pandemic-era flexibility. And certain scholarship programs won’t consider you without a score on file.
States That Require the ACT for All Students
Several states have built the ACT into their public education system as a statewide assessment, meaning every high school student takes it regardless of college plans. For the graduating class of 2024, nine states tested 100% of their graduates: Alabama, Arizona, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Wyoming. If you attend a public high school in one of these states, you will take the ACT as part of the school day, typically in your junior year, at no cost to you.
In these states, the ACT serves a dual purpose. It satisfies state accountability requirements for measuring student achievement, and it gives every student a college-ready score they can send to admissions offices. Even if you have no immediate college plans, you’ll walk away with an ACT score that remains valid for years.
Colleges Bringing Back Test Requirements
The test-optional wave that swept through higher education during COVID-19 is receding. Many colleges, both public and private, have reinstated ACT or SAT requirements after studying admissions outcomes during the optional years. As of now, at least 21 private and 42 public colleges require standardized test scores for admission, and that list is growing.
The shift is especially notable at elite universities. Every Ivy League school except Columbia now requires the ACT or SAT. Harvard, Stanford, Dartmouth, and Caltech have all returned to mandatory testing, citing research showing that standardized test scores are strong predictors of how well students perform in rigorous academic environments. Princeton is the latest to announce a return to required testing, effective for the 2027-2028 admissions cycle.
If you’re targeting selective schools, assume you need a strong ACT or SAT score. Even at colleges that remain test-optional, submitting a competitive score gives your application an edge that GPA alone may not provide.
Test-Optional Does Not Mean Tests Don’t Matter
Hundreds of colleges still label themselves test-optional, meaning you can apply without submitting an ACT or SAT score. But “optional” is doing a lot of work in that phrase. Admissions data consistently shows that applicants who submit strong scores are admitted at higher rates than those who don’t, particularly at competitive institutions. Admissions officers view a solid score as one more piece of evidence that you’re prepared for college-level work.
A smaller number of schools are test-blind, meaning they won’t look at scores even if you send them. These are less common and tend to be specific institutions or public university systems with their own admissions models. For most students applying broadly, having a score ready gives you the most flexibility.
Scholarships That Require ACT Scores
Even when a college doesn’t require the ACT for admission, scholarship money often depends on having a score. Many merit-based awards set minimum ACT composite thresholds as part of their eligibility criteria. For example, Air Force ROTC scholarships require a minimum composite of 26. Institutional awards at individual universities can set the bar even higher: the Chancellor’s Fellows program at the University of Illinois Chicago requires a 33 composite, while Florida A&M’s scholarships require a 27 composite along with a 27 in math.
State-funded scholarship programs in several states also factor in ACT scores when determining award levels. If you skip the test entirely, you could qualify for admission but miss out on thousands of dollars in merit aid. Before deciding not to test, check the scholarship requirements at every school on your list.
Honors Programs and Competitive Majors
Some universities that are test-optional for general admission still require ACT scores for specific programs. Honors programs are a common example. Shawnee State University’s Honors Program, for instance, requires a minimum ACT composite of 26 (or equivalent SAT score) alongside a 3.5 high school GPA. Competitive majors in fields like engineering and nursing sometimes set their own testing thresholds as well, separate from the university’s general admissions policy.
This creates a situation where you might get into the school without a test score but find yourself locked out of the program you actually want. If you’re interested in honors tracks or high-demand majors, check program-level requirements, not just the school’s overall admissions policy.
When You Should Take the ACT
The simplest advice: take it. The ACT costs around $68 with the writing section, and fee waivers are available for students from lower-income families. Having a score in hand keeps every door open, from selective admissions to merit scholarships to honors programs. You can always choose not to submit the score if it doesn’t help your application, but you can’t retroactively produce one if a deadline is approaching and you discover you need it.
Most students take the ACT for the first time in the spring of junior year, leaving time to retake it in the fall of senior year if needed. If your state administers the test during the school day, that junior-year sitting is built into your schedule automatically. If not, you’ll register through ACT’s website and choose a testing center near you. Scores typically arrive within two to four weeks.