Colleges for 26 ACT Scores: Where You Fall in the Middle 50%
Of the 876 main-campus colleges that report ACT percentiles to College Scorecard, 414 have a score of 26 inside the middle 50% of their enrolled students. At 178 colleges, 26 is below the 25th percentile (a reach), and at 284 it is above the 75th percentile (above typical).
Those 414 typical colleges have a median net price of $21,643 and a median acceptance rate of 77%. By sector, 159 public and 254 private nonprofit; 394 report a test-optional policy.
Acceptance rates in this group run from 19% at Berea College to 100% at Western Colorado University, so a score inside the middle 50% says little about an admission decision. The lowest net price among them is $3,968 at Indiana University-Kokomo.
The states with the most of them are New York (36), Pennsylvania (22) and Texas (21). Test-optional colleges among them: 394. Because test-optional colleges often publish ranges that skew high, treat the middle 50% as a guide, not a cutoff.
-
Typical
414
Your score is within the school's middle 50%, from the 25th to the 75th percentile.
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Reach
178
Your score is below the school's 25th percentile.
-
Above typical
284
Your score is above the school's 75th percentile.
How the groups are defined
One rule sorts every college, using the 25th and 75th percentile scores in the College Scorecard data. We never say a college will admit a score; we only show where it falls.
- Who is counted
- College Scorecard describes these percentiles as the middle 50% of first-time students who enrolled in the fall of 2024; admitted students who did not enroll are not included. Colleges can only report scores for students who submitted them, and colleges that do not require tests often report mostly higher scorers, so their ranges tend to skew high.
- Reach. Your score is below the school's 25th percentile.
- Typical. Your score is within the school's middle 50%, from the 25th to the 75th percentile.
- Above typical. Your score is above the school's 75th percentile.
- ACT ranges are the composite 25th and 75th percentiles as reported, on the 1 to 36 scale.
- We do not convert between the SAT and the ACT. This page uses ACT scores only; the other test has its own pages.
- Test policy
- The test policy comes from the admissions field Scorecard calls ADMCON7. We tag a college as test-optional when it reports that tests are neither required nor recommended, or are considered only if submitted. Test-optional colleges among the 414 typical ones: 394.
- Left out: 1,480 of 2,356 main-campus colleges with missing or suppressed ACT percentiles. None had figures that contradict themselves (a 25th percentile above the 75th, or a value outside the test's valid range). 876 colleges are counted.
- Data periodTest score percentiles: fall 2024 entering class. Acceptance rate: fall 2024 applicants. Net price: average for students receiving aid, academic year 2023-24 (in-state price at public colleges).
- Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.
Read the full methodology Test-optional colleges and how to read SAT/ACT ranges
Typical: the middle 50% includes 26 (414)
Your score is within the school's middle 50%, from the 25th to the 75th percentile. Sorted by net price, lowest first; colleges with no reported net price come last. Showing 50 of 414.
| College | Middle 50% | Net price | Acceptance rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana University-Kokomo Kokomo, IN Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $3,968 · Acceptance rate: 86% | 21–27 | ||
| Indiana University-Northwest Gary, IN Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $5,130 · Acceptance rate: 73% | 18–26 | ||
| Berea College Berea, KY Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $6,106 · Acceptance rate: 19% | 23–28 | ||
| United States Merchant Marine Academy Kings Point, NY Public · 4-year Net price: $6,174 · Acceptance rate: 34% | 22–29 | ||
| University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Chickasha, OK Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $6,624 · Acceptance rate: 66% | 21–26 | ||
| New College of Florida Sarasota, FL Public · 4-year Net price: $7,195 · Acceptance rate: 73% | 21–26 | ||
| Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL Public · 4-year Net price: $8,752 · Acceptance rate: 66% | 21–26 | ||
| University of Minnesota-Morris Morris, MN Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $8,837 · Acceptance rate: 75% | 20–26 | ||
| Murray State University Murray, KY Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $9,096 · Acceptance rate: 86% | 19–26 | ||
| Florida International University Miami, FL Public · 4-year Net price: $9,288 · Acceptance rate: 55% | 21–27 | ||
| University of West Florida Pensacola, FL Public · 4-year Net price: $9,364 · Acceptance rate: 58% | 20–27 | ||
| University of Michigan-Dearborn Dearborn, MI Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $9,492 · Acceptance rate: 56% | 24–28 | ||
| University of South Florida Tampa, FL Public · 4-year Net price: $9,812 · Acceptance rate: 43% | 24–29 | ||
| University of Illinois Springfield Springfield, IL Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $9,833 · Acceptance rate: 86% | 21–27 | ||
| New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology Socorro, NM Public · 4-year Net price: $9,873 · Acceptance rate: 44% | 20–29 | ||
| Colorado State University Pueblo Pueblo, CO Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $10,051 · Acceptance rate: 95% | 19–26 | ||
| University of Central Florida Orlando, FL Public · 4-year Net price: $10,411 · Acceptance rate: 40% | 25–29 | ||
| Saginaw Valley State University University Center, MI Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $10,775 · Acceptance rate: 72% | 18–26 | ||
| Farmingdale State College Farmingdale, NY Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $10,867 · Acceptance rate: 63% | 20–28 | ||
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NC Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $10,965 · Acceptance rate: 89% | 22–27 | ||
| University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, IL Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $10,974 · Acceptance rate: 77% | 25–31 | ||
| University of South Carolina Aiken Aiken, SC Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $11,641 · Acceptance rate: 79% | 19–26 | ||
| Indiana University-Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $11,668 · Acceptance rate: 76% | 21–29 | ||
| Dominican University River Forest, IL Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $11,745 · Acceptance rate: 90% | 16–26 | ||
| Florida Polytechnic University Lakeland, FL Public · 4-year Net price: $11,853 · Acceptance rate: 58% | 24–30 | ||
| Louisiana Tech University Ruston, LA Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $11,864 · Acceptance rate: 86% | 21–27 | ||
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver, CO Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $11,900 · Acceptance rate: 75% | 23–32 | ||
| University of North Carolina Asheville Asheville, NC Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $12,250 · Acceptance rate: 92% | 23–29 | ||
| Andrews University Berrien Springs, MI Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $12,547 · Acceptance rate: 82% | 20–26 | ||
| Wayne State University Detroit, MI Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $12,766 · Acceptance rate: 81% | 23–29 | ||
| Truman State University Kirksville, MO Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $12,780 · Acceptance rate: 84% | 25–31 | ||
| University of St Francis Joliet, IL Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $13,006 · Acceptance rate: 65% | 20–32 | ||
| Purdue University Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, IN Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $13,171 · Acceptance rate: 84% | 22–29 | ||
| University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City, MO Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $13,310 · Acceptance rate: 72% | 20–28 | ||
| University of Mississippi University, MS Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $13,314 · Acceptance rate: 97% | 21–29 | ||
| The University of Texas at Tyler Tyler, TX Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $13,323 · Acceptance rate: 94% | 20–26 | ||
| Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN Public · 4-year Net price: $13,359 · Acceptance rate: 69% | 20–26 | ||
| University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha, NE Public · 4-year Net price: $13,441 · Acceptance rate: 87% | 19–26 | ||
| University of Louisiana at Lafayette Lafayette, LA Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $13,530 · Acceptance rate: 87% | 23–28 | ||
| University of South Carolina-Upstate Spartanburg, SC Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $13,557 · Acceptance rate: 67% | 21–26 | ||
| University of Southern Maine Portland, ME Public · 4-year Net price: $13,596 · Acceptance rate: 79% | 24–28 | ||
| The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, TX Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $13,951 · Acceptance rate: 80% | 19–27 | ||
| Coastal Carolina University Conway, SC Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $13,966 · Acceptance rate: 75% | 21–26 | ||
| University of Wisconsin-River Falls River Falls, WI Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $14,054 · Acceptance rate: 82% | 19–26 | ||
| SUNY Polytechnic Institute Utica, NY Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $14,164 · Acceptance rate: 81% | 22–30 | ||
| Michigan Technological University Houghton, MI Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $14,182 · Acceptance rate: 92% | 25–31 | ||
| Tennessee Technological University Cookeville, TN Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $14,246 · Acceptance rate: 76% | 20–27 | ||
| The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga, TN Public · 4-year Net price: $14,265 · Acceptance rate: 81% | 20–26 | ||
| University of Houston Houston, TX Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $14,276 · Acceptance rate: 74% | 23–29 | ||
| University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Stevens Point, WI Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $14,559 · Acceptance rate: 92% | 20–26 |
Reach: 26 is below the 25th percentile (178)
Your score is below the school's 25th percentile. Closest first: the colleges whose 25th percentile is nearest above 26. Showing 20 of 178.
| College | Middle 50% | Net price | Acceptance rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN Public · 4-year Net price: $14,600 · Acceptance rate: 50% | 27–34 | ||
| Indiana University-Bloomington Bloomington, IN Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $16,264 · Acceptance rate: 78% | 27–33 | ||
| New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, NJ Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $16,504 · Acceptance rate: 65% | 27–34 | ||
| Wofford College Spartanburg, SC Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $18,732 · Acceptance rate: 52% | 27–31 | ||
| SUNY at Purchase College Purchase, NY Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $18,913 · Acceptance rate: 74% | 27–30 | ||
| The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $19,857 · Acceptance rate: 27% | 27–33 | ||
| University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg, VA Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $20,667 · Acceptance rate: 80% | 27–31 | ||
| University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $20,995 · Acceptance rate: 74% | 27–32 | ||
| Goucher College Baltimore, MD Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $22,470 · Acceptance rate: 78% | 27–30 | ||
| The College of Wooster Wooster, OH Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $23,458 · Acceptance rate: 60% | 27–33 | ||
| Rider University Lawrenceville, NJ Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $24,792 · Acceptance rate: 79% | 27–31 | ||
| The University of the South Sewanee, TN Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $27,872 · Acceptance rate: 57% | 27–31 | ||
| Washington College Chestertown, MD Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $27,898 · Acceptance rate: 57% | 27–31 | ||
| Springfield College Springfield, MA Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $30,587 · Acceptance rate: 72% | 27–29 | ||
| Seton Hall University South Orange, NJ Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $31,446 · Acceptance rate: 73% | 27–32 | ||
| DeSales University Center Valley, PA Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $31,643 · Acceptance rate: 77% | 27–28 | ||
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $32,875 · Acceptance rate: 61% | 27–32 | ||
| Siena University Loudonville, NY Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $33,733 · Acceptance rate: 69% | 27–33 | ||
| Ithaca College Ithaca, NY Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $33,926 · Acceptance rate: 69% | 27–30 | ||
| Wentworth Institute of Technology Boston, MA Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $34,170 · Acceptance rate: 91% | 27–31 |
Above typical: 26 is above the 75th percentile (284)
Your score is above the school's 75th percentile. Closest first: the colleges whose 75th percentile is nearest below 26. Showing 20 of 284.
| College | Middle 50% | Net price | Acceptance rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| College of the Ozarks Point Lookout, MO Private nonprofit · 4-year Net price: $6,100 · Acceptance rate: 12% | 20–25 | ||
| Indiana University-Southeast New Albany, IN Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $7,888 · Acceptance rate: 84% | 20–25 | ||
| Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights, KY Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $8,191 · Acceptance rate: 68% | 18–25 | ||
| Kentucky Mountain Bible College Jackson, KY Private nonprofit · 4-year Net price: $9,337 · Acceptance rate: 100% | 17–25 | ||
| Lamar University Beaumont, TX Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $9,366 · Acceptance rate: 86% | 18–25 | ||
| University of North Georgia Dahlonega, GA Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $9,823 · Acceptance rate: 68% | 19–25 | ||
| University of North Florida Jacksonville, FL Public · 4-year Net price: $10,154 · Acceptance rate: 53% | 19–25 | ||
| University of Nevada-Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $10,359 · Acceptance rate: 96% | 18–25 | ||
| The University of Tennessee-Martin Martin, TN Public · 4-year Net price: $10,701 · Acceptance rate: 88% | 19–25 | ||
| The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TX Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $10,836 · Acceptance rate: 87% | 19–25 | ||
| Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $11,040 · Acceptance rate: 78% | 19–25 | ||
| University of Wisconsin-Parkside Kenosha, WI Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $11,772 · Acceptance rate: 75% | 17–25 | ||
| Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers, FL Public · 4-year Net price: $12,568 · Acceptance rate: 63% | 20–25 | ||
| Youngstown State University Youngstown, OH Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $12,767 · Acceptance rate: 84% | 19–25 | ||
| Wichita State University Wichita, KS Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $13,194 · Acceptance rate: 94% | 17–25 | ||
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Carbondale, IL Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $13,297 · Acceptance rate: 87% | 18–25 | ||
| Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $13,315 · Acceptance rate: 82% | 19–25 | ||
| Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud, MN Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $13,529 · Acceptance rate: 95% | 17–25 | ||
| Augusta University Augusta, GA Public · 4-year Net price: $13,787 · Acceptance rate: 86% | 18–25 | ||
| University of Akron Main Campus Akron, OH Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $13,946 · Acceptance rate: 60% | 17–25 |