Colleges for 29 ACT Scores: Where You Fall in the Middle 50%
Of the 876 main-campus colleges that report ACT percentiles to College Scorecard, 282 have a score of 29 inside the middle 50% of their enrolled students. At 96 colleges, 29 is below the 25th percentile (a reach), and at 498 it is above the 75th percentile (above typical).
Those 282 typical colleges have a median net price of $24,747 and a median acceptance rate of 72%. By sector, 91 public and 190 private nonprofit; 268 report a test-optional policy.
Acceptance rates in this group run from 15% at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to 99% at University of Southern Mississippi, so a score inside the middle 50% says little about an admission decision. The lowest net price among them is $6,174 at United States Merchant Marine Academy.
The states with the most of them are New York (39), Pennsylvania (22) and Massachusetts (14). Test-optional colleges among them: 268. Because test-optional colleges often publish ranges that skew high, treat the middle 50% as a guide, not a cutoff.
-
Typical
282
Your score is within the school's middle 50%, from the 25th to the 75th percentile.
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Reach
96
Your score is below the school's 25th percentile.
-
Above typical
498
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 282 typical ones: 268.
- 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 29 (282)
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 282.
| College | Middle 50% | Net price | Acceptance rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States Merchant Marine Academy Kings Point, NY Public · 4-year Net price: $6,174 · Acceptance rate: 34% | 22–29 | ||
| University of Florida Gainesville, FL Public · 4-year Net price: $6,541 · Acceptance rate: 24% | 29–33 | ||
| 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 | ||
| University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, IL Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $10,974 · Acceptance rate: 77% | 25–31 | ||
| Florida State University Tallahassee, FL Public · 4-year Net price: $11,297 · Acceptance rate: 24% | 29–32 | ||
| 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 Mississippi University, MS Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $13,314 · Acceptance rate: 97% | 21–29 | ||
| University of Georgia Athens, GA Public · 4-year Net price: $13,936 · Acceptance rate: 38% | 29–34 | ||
| 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 | ||
| University of Tulsa Tulsa, OK Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $15,000 · Acceptance rate: 62% | 25–34 | ||
| University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Norman, OK Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $15,300 · Acceptance rate: 77% | 23–29 | ||
| Brigham Young University Provo, UT Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $15,564 · Acceptance rate: 68% | 28–32 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| Virginia Military Institute Lexington, VA Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $17,113 · Acceptance rate: 71% | 24–31 | ||
| University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell, MA Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $17,163 · Acceptance rate: 83% | 25–32 | ||
| University of Toledo Toledo, OH Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $17,249 · Acceptance rate: 92% | 23–29 | ||
| 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 Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $17,354 · Acceptance rate: 45% | 29–33 | ||
| Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MS Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $17,595 · Acceptance rate: 78% | 21–29 | ||
| University of Massachusetts-Boston Boston, MA Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $17,707 · Acceptance rate: 84% | 22–29 | ||
| Salisbury University Salisbury, MD Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $17,743 · Acceptance rate: 87% | 20–29 | ||
| University of Delaware Newark, DE Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $17,799 · Acceptance rate: 71% | 28–32 | ||
| George Mason University Fairfax, VA Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $17,915 · Acceptance rate: 87% | 25–30 | ||
| Ramapo College of New Jersey Mahwah, NJ Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $18,173 · Acceptance rate: 71% | 22–30 |
Reach: 29 is below the 25th percentile (96)
Your score is below the school's 25th percentile. Closest first: the colleges whose 25th percentile is nearest above 29. Showing 20 of 96.
| College | Middle 50% | Net price | Acceptance rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, GA Public · 4-year Net price: $12,116 · Acceptance rate: 14% | 30–34 | ||
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $14,355 · Acceptance rate: 42% | 30–34 | ||
| University of Vermont Burlington, VT Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $19,343 · Acceptance rate: 65% | 30–32 | ||
| Binghamton University Vestal, NY Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $21,620 · Acceptance rate: 39% | 30–32 | ||
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, MA Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $22,383 · Acceptance rate: 60% | 30–33 | ||
| St Lawrence University Canton, NY Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $28,651 · Acceptance rate: 54% | 30–33 | ||
| Clark University Worcester, MA Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $28,714 · Acceptance rate: 40% | 30–33 | ||
| Bennington College Bennington, VT Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $30,947 · Acceptance rate: 45% | 30–32 | ||
| Macalester College Saint Paul, MN Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $32,149 · Acceptance rate: 29% | 30–34 | ||
| Reed College Portland, OR Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $33,013 · Acceptance rate: 25% | 30–34 | ||
| Trinity College Hartford, CT Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $34,832 · Acceptance rate: 29% | 30–34 | ||
| Connecticut College New London, CT Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $36,175 · Acceptance rate: 37% | 30–33 | ||
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $36,228 · Acceptance rate: 63% | 30–34 | ||
| Franklin and Marshall College Lancaster, PA Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $36,425 · Acceptance rate: 28% | 30–33 | ||
| University of Miami Coral Gables, FL Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $37,244 · Acceptance rate: 19% | 30–33 | ||
| Dickinson College Carlisle, PA Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $37,607 · Acceptance rate: 42% | 30–33 | ||
| Denison University Granville, OH Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $40,007 · Acceptance rate: 17% | 30–33 | ||
| Bucknell University Lewisburg, PA Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $40,766 · Acceptance rate: 29% | 30–33 | ||
| Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $40,892 · Acceptance rate: 63% | 30–34 | ||
| Fordham University Bronx, NY Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $44,338 · Acceptance rate: 59% | 30–33 |
Above typical: 29 is above the 75th percentile (498)
Your score is above the school's 75th percentile. Closest first: the colleges whose 75th percentile is nearest below 29. Showing 20 of 498.
| 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 | ||
| University of Michigan-Dearborn Dearborn, MI Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $9,492 · Acceptance rate: 56% | 24–28 | ||
| Farmingdale State College Farmingdale, NY Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $10,867 · Acceptance rate: 63% | 20–28 | ||
| University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City, MO Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $13,310 · Acceptance rate: 72% | 20–28 | ||
| 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 | ||
| Utah State University Logan, UT Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $14,936 · Acceptance rate: 92% | 20–28 | ||
| University of Detroit Mercy Detroit, MI Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $15,232 · Acceptance rate: 75% | 22–28 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| Mount St. Joseph University Cincinnati, OH Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $16,530 · Acceptance rate: 59% | 20–28 | ||
| The University of Montana Missoula, MT Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $16,784 · Acceptance rate: 96% | 23–28 | ||
| State University of New York at Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, NY Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $17,156 · Acceptance rate: 78% | 22–28 | ||
| Niagara University Niagara University, NY Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $17,248 · Acceptance rate: 87% | 22–28 | ||
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NE Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $17,747 · Acceptance rate: 87% | 22–28 | ||
| University of Kansas Lawrence, KS Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $18,059 · Acceptance rate: 93% | 20–28 | ||
| University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR Public · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $18,209 · Acceptance rate: 74% | 21–28 | ||
| Martin Luther College New Ulm, MN Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional Net price: $18,463 · Acceptance rate: 87% | 21–28 |