Is 24 a good ACT score?
Yes, 24 is a good ACT score. ACT's current national ranks put a 24 composite at the 80th percentile, so about 80% of recent test takers scored the same or lower, and it is well above the national average of 19.4. ACT calls 24 to 28 a strong range for more selective colleges, while it lists 30 to 36 for top-tier schools.
The ACT composite runs from 1 to 36. Since 2025 it is the average of English, math and reading, rounded to the nearest whole number. Science is optional and no longer counts toward the composite. The enhanced test has 50 English questions in 35 minutes, 45 math questions in 50 minutes and 36 reading questions in 40 minutes, about two hours without science.
Many score guides still put a 24 around the 74th percentile. Those charts use older data. ACT's 2026 to 2027 table, based on graduates from 2024 to 2026, puts it at 80. Either way, 24 is a solid score for most public universities and many private colleges. For selective schools, compare it with each college's middle 50% range. A few more points move you up fast: a 27 is already at the 89th percentile.
| Composite | National rank | ACT's own guide |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 63 | Accepted at many regional colleges |
| 22 | 72 | Competitive at many mid-tier colleges |
| 24 | 80 | Strong for more selective colleges |
| 26 | 86 | Strong for more selective colleges |
| 28 | 91 | Strong for more selective colleges |
| 30 | 94 | Top-tier range |
- 1Find the middle 50% ACT range of each college on your list.
- 2If 24 is inside or above it, send it. At test-optional schools where 24 is below the range, think about applying without it.
- 3Look at your section scores. The composite is an average, so one weak section pulls it down the most.
- 4Check whether your colleges superscore the ACT, which means they combine your best section scores from different dates.
- 5If you retake, start with a full practice test, drill your weakest section with timed sets for a few weeks and review every miss.
- 6Add the science section only if a college asks for it or you want the STEM score.