The average ACT composite score is 19.2 out of 36, based on ACT’s national norms derived from high school graduates in 2023, 2024, and 2025. That number sits right around the middle of the testing population: a score of 19 means you scored at or above 57% of test-takers, while a 20 puts you at the 63rd percentile. Understanding where the average falls helps you gauge your own performance and set realistic targets for college admissions.
What the Composite Score Means
The ACT has four sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science. Each is scored on a scale of 1 to 36, and your composite score is simply the average of those four section scores, rounded to the nearest whole number. So when we say the national average is 19.2, that reflects the typical combined performance across all four subjects.
The composite is the number colleges focus on most, though some programs care about individual section scores (an engineering school may weigh your math score more heavily, for example). When you see a school publish its ACT range, it’s almost always referring to the composite.
How Percentiles Work
Your percentile rank tells you what percentage of students scored at or below your score. A composite of 19 places you at the 57th percentile, meaning you outperformed 57% of test-takers. Bump that up one point to 20, and you jump to the 63rd percentile. The scale isn’t linear: gains at the top and bottom of the range represent larger percentile jumps than gains near the middle.
This matters because a score that looks modest on a 36-point scale can actually be quite competitive depending on where you’re applying. A 24 or 25, for instance, puts you well above average and within range for many solid universities. Meanwhile, reaching the low 30s places you in roughly the top 5% of all test-takers nationwide.
What Colleges Expect
The score you need depends entirely on the schools you’re targeting. College admissions offices typically publish the middle 50% range of ACT scores for their admitted or enrolled students. That range shows you the 25th to 75th percentile, meaning half of enrolled students scored within it.
At the most selective universities, the bar is high. Schools like Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and Princeton report middle-50% ranges of 34 to 36, meaning even the 25th-percentile student at those schools scored a 34. Getting into that territory requires near-perfect performance across all four sections.
Moderately selective schools have much wider and more accessible ranges. A university like the University of Alabama enrolls students in the 22 to 30 range. Others, like the University of Memphis, have a middle-50% band of 18 to 24, meaning a score right around the national average can put you squarely in contention. If your composite falls within or above a school’s published range, you’re in a competitive position for that institution, at least on the testing front.
Why State Averages Vary
You may see state-level averages that look dramatically different from the national figure, and the biggest reason is participation rates. In states where the ACT is required for all high school students (or offered for free during the school day), average scores tend to be lower because every student takes it, including those who aren’t college-bound. In states where few students take the ACT, the ones who do tend to be higher-achieving and applying to selective colleges, which pulls the average up.
This means you shouldn’t read too much into a state’s average score as a measure of educational quality. It’s primarily a reflection of who’s taking the test. Focus on the national percentile ranks when evaluating your own score, since those give you the most apples-to-apples comparison.
How to Use the Average as a Benchmark
If you’re scoring around 19 or 20, you’re performing at the national average. That’s a perfectly fine starting point, and it qualifies you for admission at hundreds of colleges. But if your target schools have higher ranges, you now know how far you need to go.
Small improvements on the ACT translate to meaningful percentile gains. Moving from a 19 to a 22 or 23 can shift you from the middle of the pack into the upper third. Most students who retake the ACT after focused preparation improve by 2 to 3 points, and some gain more. Identifying your weakest section and targeting it specifically tends to produce the biggest composite bump, since one section alone accounts for a quarter of your final score.
When setting a target score, look up the middle-50% range for each school on your list. Aiming for the 75th-percentile score at your top-choice school gives you a strong competitive position. Landing at or above the 25th-percentile score means you’re at least in the ballpark, though other parts of your application will need to carry more weight.