TuitionScope

Colleges for 27 ACT Scores: Where You Fall in the Middle 50%

Of the 876 main-campus colleges that report ACT percentiles to College Scorecard, 366 have a score of 27 inside the middle 50% of their enrolled students. At 149 colleges, 27 is below the 25th percentile (a reach), and at 361 it is above the 75th percentile (above typical).

Those 366 typical colleges have a median net price of $22,862 and a median acceptance rate of 76%. By sector, 126 public and 239 private nonprofit; 352 report a test-optional policy.

Acceptance rates in this group run from 18% at College of the Holy Cross to 100% at Southern Wesleyan 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 (39), Pennsylvania (24) and Texas (19). Test-optional colleges among them: 352. Because test-optional colleges often publish ranges that skew high, treat the middle 50% as a guide, not a cutoff.

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 366 typical ones: 352.
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 27 (366)

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 366.

27 ACT: Typical
College Middle 50%
Indiana University-Kokomo
Kokomo, IN
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $3,968 · Acceptance rate: 86%
21–27
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
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
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL
Public · 4-year
Net price: $10,411 · Acceptance rate: 40%
25–29
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
Indiana University-Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $11,668 · Acceptance rate: 76%
21–29
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
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
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Lafayette, LA
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $13,530 · Acceptance rate: 87%
23–28
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
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
University of Houston
Houston, TX
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $14,276 · Acceptance rate: 74%
23–29
Purdue University-Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN
Public · 4-year
Net price: $14,600 · Acceptance rate: 50%
27–34
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $14,638 · Acceptance rate: 90%
24–29
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville, IL
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $14,889 · Acceptance rate: 98%
20–27
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
Winston Salem, NC
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $14,906 · Acceptance rate: 30%
22–29
Utah State University
Logan, UT
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $14,936 · Acceptance rate: 92%
20–28
University of Tulsa
Tulsa, OK
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $15,000 · Acceptance rate: 62%
25–34
University of Missouri-St Louis
Saint Louis, MO
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $15,071 · Acceptance rate: 63%
19–27
Carroll University
Waukesha, WI
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $15,193 · Acceptance rate: 67%
21–27
University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, MI
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $15,232 · Acceptance rate: 75%
22–28
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus
Norman, OK
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $15,300 · Acceptance rate: 77%
23–29
Winthrop University
Rock Hill, SC
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $15,343 · Acceptance rate: 79%
20–27
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MI
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $15,407 · Acceptance rate: 80%
18–27
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $15,435 · Acceptance rate: 80%
21–28
Southern Wesleyan University
Central, SC
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $15,464 · Acceptance rate: 100%
22–28
University of North Texas
Denton, TX
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $15,649 · Acceptance rate: 72%
19–27
Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $15,706 · Acceptance rate: 95%
18–27
SUNY at Fredonia
Fredonia, NY
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $15,897 · Acceptance rate: 78%
23–28
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Platteville, WI
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $16,032 · Acceptance rate: 89%
21–28
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $16,200 · Acceptance rate: 86%
22–29

Reach: 27 is below the 25th percentile (149)

Your score is below the school's 25th percentile. Closest first: the colleges whose 25th percentile is nearest above 27. Showing 20 of 149.

27 ACT: Reach
College Middle 50%
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $11,655 · Acceptance rate: 15%
28–34
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
New York, NY
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $13,269 · Acceptance rate: 21%
28–34
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $15,564 · Acceptance rate: 68%
28–32
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $17,303 · Acceptance rate: 42%
28–32
Ohio State University-Main Campus
Columbus, OH
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $17,339 · Acceptance rate: 61%
28–32
University of Delaware
Newark, DE
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $17,799 · Acceptance rate: 71%
28–32
Clemson University
Clemson, SC
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $22,253 · Acceptance rate: 38%
28–32
DePauw University
Greencastle, IN
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $22,264 · Acceptance rate: 57%
28–32
St Olaf College
Northfield, MN
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $23,874 · Acceptance rate: 48%
28–32
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Brunswick, NJ
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $24,406 · Acceptance rate: 58%
28–33
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $24,953 · Acceptance rate: 55%
28–32
University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT
Public · 4-year
Net price: $25,097 · Acceptance rate: 52%
28–33
Willamette University
Salem, OR
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $25,121 · Acceptance rate: 77%
28–33
Thomas Aquinas College
Santa Paula, CA
Private nonprofit · 4-year
Net price: $26,196 · Acceptance rate: 83%
28–33
St. John's College (NM)
Santa Fe, NM
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $26,674 · Acceptance rate: 53%
28–34
Wheaton College
Wheaton, IL
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $26,975 · Acceptance rate: 87%
28–32
Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, IL
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $28,673 · Acceptance rate: 57%
28–32
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $29,689 · Acceptance rate: 89%
28–31
Furman University
Greenville, SC
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $30,308 · Acceptance rate: 43%
28–32
Ursinus College
Collegeville, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $30,536 · Acceptance rate: 92%
28–32

Above typical: 27 is above the 75th percentile (361)

Your score is above the school's 75th percentile. Closest first: the colleges whose 75th percentile is nearest below 27. Showing 20 of 361.

27 ACT: Above typical
College Middle 50%
Indiana University-Northwest
Gary, IN
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $5,130 · Acceptance rate: 73%
18–26
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
Colorado State University Pueblo
Pueblo, CO
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $10,051 · Acceptance rate: 95%
19–26
Saginaw Valley State University
University Center, MI
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $10,775 · Acceptance rate: 72%
18–26
University of South Carolina Aiken
Aiken, SC
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $11,641 · Acceptance rate: 79%
19–26
Dominican University
River Forest, IL
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $11,745 · Acceptance rate: 90%
16–26
Andrews University
Berrien Springs, MI
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $12,547 · Acceptance rate: 82%
20–26
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 South Carolina-Upstate
Spartanburg, SC
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $13,557 · Acceptance rate: 67%
21–26
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
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN
Public · 4-year
Net price: $14,265 · Acceptance rate: 81%
20–26
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Stevens Point, WI
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $14,559 · Acceptance rate: 92%
20–26
Radford University
Radford, VA
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $14,578 · Acceptance rate: 90%
19–26

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