ACT Cutoff 2023 - Minimum Score Requirement, University Wise Cutoff

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Aarushi Jain
Updated on Feb 09, 2023 4:09 PM IST

ACT cutoff is nothing but the minimum score set by an institution, which an applicant should fulfil in order to seek admission to various bachelor's programmes. While some may have a section-wise ACT cutoff, some may ask for the composite ACT score and some may even ask for both. 

Individual higher education institutions across the world accepting ACT scores set their own standard minimum ACT cutoff for international applicants applying for admission to undergraduate programmes. It is also to be noted that the ACT cutoff may vary from university to university, depending upon the field and the course that one chooses to study. That said, in general, top US universities accept an ACT cut-off score between 30 and 34.

ACT 2023 Cutoff

The ACT cut-off, as the name suggests, is the minimum score required by universities to enrol a prospective student in undergraduate courses. Inevitably, each university will specify the minimum ACT scores required for admission. Further, these scores will also vary from course to course, with more professional and in-demand courses often outlining a higher ACT cut-off.

Therefore, when shortlisting the different courses and universities as per your liking, make sure you go through the admission requirements and policies before you finalise your decision. Check the ACT cut-off along with any other test score cut-off and list them separately for future reference. Subsequently, apply for the appropriate standardised tests, prepare accordingly and secure at least the minimum score accepted for admissions.

ACT is one of the most widely-recognized standardized tests for admissions to top colleges in the USA and many other study-abroad destinations. Some of the popular colleges accepting ACT scores include the University of New Haven, University of Central Florida; the University of Illinois- Chicago; University of Massachusets (Boston), etc.

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ACT Section-wise and Composite Average Score

Each section of the ACT i.e English, Math, Reading, and Science is scored on a scale of 1 to 36 points and then the average score of all the four scores is taken which is known as the ACT Composite Score.

The ACT Composite score also ranges between 1 to 36. The section-wise good ACT average score one can score for admission in a good abroad institute is as follows: 

ACT Section

Average ACT Score

Science

21.0

Math

20.7

English

20.3

Reading

21.4

Composite

21.0

What is a Good ACT Score for You?

Many ACT candidates have this question in their mind, aboutwhat a good ACT score would be. In reality, there is no good ACT score as such and would entirely depend on the cutoff score set by the university that you wish to apply to. For instance, a 29 may get you into schools such as PennsylvaniaState University, Texas A&M University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and Baylor University, but usually, it is considered a low score.

On the contrary, a 29 could be a very high score if you are looking for admission to less popular schools such as CSU Northridge, University of Southern Indiana, and CSU Long Beach.

Hence, a good score on the ACT is all relative. A good score, however, helps you to find more merit scholarships and get into one of the top-ranked universities in the United States.

ACT Cutoff Score at Top Universities in the US

Here is the list of the some of the top institutes in the United States along with the ACT score needed for admission based on the previous few years' data:

Name of the University

Average Composite ACT Score

California Institute of Technology

36

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

35

Brown University

34

Carnegie Mellon University

34

Columbia University

34

Dartmouth University

34

Harvard University

34

Johns Hopkins University

34

Northwestern University

34

Princeton University

34

Rice University

34

Stanford University

34

University of Pennsylvania

34

Notre Dame University

34

Yale University

34

Amherst University

33

Boston College

33

Carleton

33

Emory

33

Georgetown

33

Florida State University

27-31

University of Florida 28-33

Hamilton

33

University of Georgia 27-32

Haverford

33

New College of Florida

25-33

University of North Georgia

21-26

Howard University

22-26

Illinois Wesleyan University

24-29

University of North CarolinaChapel Hill

27-33

Tufts University

33

University of MichiganAnn Arbor

31-34

University of TexasAustin

26-33

University of Miami

28-32

University of Tulsa

24-31

University of Hawaii at Manoa

20-26

John Brown University

23-29

Oklahoma State University

21-28

University of ColoradoBoulder

24-31

Louisiana State UniversityBaton Rouge

23-28

Central Michigan University

20-26

University of Michigan

33

Williams

33

Georgia Institute of Technology

30-34

Consult Experts About the Best Time to Take ACT!

FAQs on ACT Cut-offs

What is the maximum mark I can score in ACT?

The maximum marks one can score in the ACT is 36. However, as per latest statistics, out of 12.95 lakh students in the class of 2021 who took the ACT test, only 4,055 managed to get the highest possible ACT score, that is just 0.313% of the total test takers. Candidates who want to maximise their chances of getting a high score should be familiar with the ACT exam pattern, syllabus and test-prep material. 

Should I submit my ACT scores to a test-blind college?

Submitting your ACT score to a test-blind college, however high, would not help in your admissions. Test-blind colleges do not consider your test scores to offer admissions.

Should I submit my ACT scores to a test-flexible college?

Yes, you can certainly submit your ACT scores to a test-flexible college if you have already taken the test and your score is good enough.

Is ACT mandatory for admission to US colleges?

With many US colleges going test-optional, flexible or blind, ACT is no longer considered mandatory. It will, however, from one college to another.

Can I get into a US college with an ACT score of 16-17?

A number of US colleges accept an ACT score of 16-17. One may also apply to the colleges that have gone test-optional, flexible or blind.

What is the minimum passing score for ACT?

The minimum or lowest passing scoring for the ACT is 1.

Is there any option to get the ACT score cross-verified?

Yes, you can get the ACT score verified up to 12 months of the test date.

Is there a predefined cutoff for ACT?

Universities set their own minimum ACT requirements for admission purposes.

What is the ACT minimum score needed to apply for admissions at abroad universities?

There is no specific minimum ACT score defined for admissions at abroad universities. However, some universities set their own minimum ACT requirements for acceptance of admission.

What is the average ACT cutoff?

The average ACT score, at the 50th percentile, is 20.8.

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