Colleges for 28 ACT Scores: Where You Fall in the Middle 50%
Of the 876 main-campus colleges that report ACT percentiles to College Scorecard, 332 have a score of 28 inside the middle 50% of their enrolled students. At 120 colleges, 28 is below the 25th percentile (a reach), and at 424 it is above the 75th percentile (above typical).
Those 332 typical colleges have a median net price of $23,826 and a median acceptance rate of 75%. By sector, 106 public and 225 private nonprofit; 318 report a test-optional policy.
Acceptance rates in this group run from 15% at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 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 $6,106 at Berea College.
The states with the most of them are New York (43), Pennsylvania (22) and Ohio (17). Test-optional colleges among them: 318. Because test-optional colleges often publish ranges that skew high, treat the middle 50% as a guide, not a cutoff.
-
Typical
332
Your score is within the school's middle 50%, from the 25th to the 75th percentile.
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Reach
120
Your score is below the school's 25th percentile.
-
Above typical
424
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 332 typical ones: 318.
- 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 28 (332)
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 332.
| College | Middle 50% | Net price | Acceptance rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 | ||
| 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 Illinois Chicago Chicago, IL Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $10,974 · Acceptance rate: 77% | 25–31 | ||
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $11,655 · Acceptance rate: 15% | 28–34 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| Brigham Young University Provo, UT Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $15,564 · Acceptance rate: 68% | 28–32 | ||
| 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 | ||
| State University of New York at Oswego Oswego, NY Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $16,236 · Acceptance rate: 81% | 23–29 | ||
| Indiana University-Bloomington Bloomington, IN Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $16,264 · Acceptance rate: 78% | 27–33 | ||
| Missouri University of Science and Technology Rolla, MO Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $16,298 · Acceptance rate: 73% | 25–31 | ||
| Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $16,317 · Acceptance rate: 83% | 22–30 | ||
| Bridgewater State University Bridgewater, MA Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $16,383 · Acceptance rate: 88% | 25–30 | ||
| University of Maryland-Baltimore County Baltimore, MD Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $16,467 · Acceptance rate: 72% | 25–31 | ||
| New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, NJ Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $16,504 · Acceptance rate: 65% | 27–34 | ||
| Mount St. Joseph University Cincinnati, OH Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $16,530 · Acceptance rate: 59% | 20–28 | ||
| University of Arizona Tucson, AZ Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $16,674 · Acceptance rate: 86% | 21–29 | ||
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $16,778 · Acceptance rate: 80% | 26–31 | ||
| The University of Montana Missoula, MT Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $16,784 · Acceptance rate: 96% | 23–28 | ||
| Virginia Military Institute Lexington, VA Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $17,113 · Acceptance rate: 71% | 24–31 |
Reach: 28 is below the 25th percentile (120)
Your score is below the school's 25th percentile. Closest first: the colleges whose 25th percentile is nearest above 28. Showing 20 of 120.
| College | Middle 50% | Net price | Acceptance rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Florida Gainesville, FL Public · 4-year Net price: $6,541 · Acceptance rate: 24% | 29–33 | ||
| Florida State University Tallahassee, FL Public · 4-year Net price: $11,297 · Acceptance rate: 24% | 29–32 | ||
| University of Georgia Athens, GA Public · 4-year Net price: $13,936 · Acceptance rate: 38% | 29–34 | ||
| University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $17,354 · Acceptance rate: 45% | 29–33 | ||
| Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $18,784 · Acceptance rate: 49% | 29–33 | ||
| University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $25,346 · Acceptance rate: 78% | 29–33 | ||
| Colorado School of Mines Golden, CO Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $28,690 · Acceptance rate: 61% | 29–33 | ||
| Muhlenberg College Allentown, PA Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $28,905 · Acceptance rate: 72% | 29–33 | ||
| Wheaton College (Massachusetts) Norton, MA Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $29,822 · Acceptance rate: 68% | 29–33 | ||
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $30,434 · Acceptance rate: 58% | 29–33 | ||
| Gettysburg College Gettysburg, PA Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $31,490 · Acceptance rate: 39% | 29–32 | ||
| Bryn Mawr College Bryn Mawr, PA Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $31,759 · Acceptance rate: 29% | 29–33 | ||
| Whitman College Walla Walla, WA Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $33,313 · Acceptance rate: 38% | 29–33 | ||
| Colorado College Colorado Springs, CO Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $33,375 · Acceptance rate: 18% | 29–33 | ||
| Union College Schenectady, NY Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $34,561 · Acceptance rate: 44% | 29–33 | ||
| Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $34,906 · Acceptance rate: 67% | 29–33 | ||
| Syracuse University Syracuse, NY Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $38,793 · Acceptance rate: 46% | 29–32 | ||
| American University Washington, DC Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $41,943 · Acceptance rate: 62% | 29–32 | ||
| Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Terre Haute, IN Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $42,513 · Acceptance rate: 77% | 29–34 | ||
| Fairfield University Fairfield, CT Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $48,095 · Acceptance rate: 33% | 29–32 |
Above typical: 28 is above the 75th percentile (424)
Your score is above the school's 75th percentile. Closest first: the colleges whose 75th percentile is nearest below 28. Showing 20 of 424.
| 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 | ||
| 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 Illinois Springfield Springfield, IL Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $9,833 · Acceptance rate: 86% | 21–27 | ||
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NC Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $10,965 · Acceptance rate: 89% | 22–27 | ||
| Louisiana Tech University Ruston, LA Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $11,864 · Acceptance rate: 86% | 21–27 | ||
| The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, TX Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $13,951 · Acceptance rate: 80% | 19–27 | ||
| Tennessee Technological University Cookeville, TN Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $14,246 · Acceptance rate: 76% | 20–27 | ||
| Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville, IL Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $14,889 · Acceptance rate: 98% | 20–27 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 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 | ||
| University of Wisconsin-La Crosse La Crosse, WI Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $16,210 · Acceptance rate: 76% | 22–27 | ||
| University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $16,550 · Acceptance rate: 82% | 22–27 | ||
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana, PA Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $16,804 · Acceptance rate: 91% | 20–27 | ||
| Appalachian State University Boone, NC Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $16,836 · Acceptance rate: 90% | 21–27 | ||
| Lewis University Romeoville, IL Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $17,028 · Acceptance rate: 71% | 20–27 |