Is 25 a good ACT score?
Yes, 25 is a good ACT score. ACT's current national ranks put a 25 composite at the 83rd percentile, so about 83% of recent test takers scored the same or lower, well above the national average of 19.4. ACT calls 24 to 28 a strong range for more selective colleges, so a 25 is competitive at many but sits below the usual range at the most selective.
In more detail
The ACT composite runs from 1 to 36. Since September 2025 it is the average of English, math and reading, rounded to the nearest whole number. Science is optional and no longer counts toward it. Your section scores matter too: a 25 in reading ranks at the 78th percentile, against the 84th for a 25 in English or math.
A 25 sits one point above a 24, which ranks at the 80th, and three points below a 28, which ranks at the 91st. Older charts show a lower rank for a 25, so use ACT's 2026 to 2027 table, which is based on graduates from 2024 to 2026. Whether 25 is good enough depends on your colleges. At many state and regional universities it is a solid score. At selective colleges it is respectable but may sit in the lower half of the middle 50% range. At the most selective schools, whose ranges sit in the 30s, the rest of your application has to carry more weight.
Money counts too. Many public universities tie merit scholarships to ACT bands, and one or two points can move you up a tier. Check each school's scholarship page for its cutoffs.
ACT composite scores and national ranks (ACT, 2026 to 2027 table)
| Composite | National rank | How colleges read it (ACT's guide) |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 63 | Accepted at many regional colleges |
| 22 | 72 | Competitive at many mid-tier colleges |
| 23 | 77 | Competitive at many mid-tier colleges |
| 24 | 80 | Strong for more selective colleges |
| 25 | 83 | Strong for more selective colleges |
| 26 | 86 | Strong for more selective colleges |
| 28 | 91 | Strong for more selective colleges |
| 30 | 94 | Top-tier range |
Step by step
- 1
Look up the middle 50% ACT range of each college on your list.
- 2
Compare your 25 with each range. At or above the midpoint, you are in good shape. Below the low end, plan a retake or apply without it where the school is test-optional.
- 3
Check your section scores. The composite is an average, so your weakest section is the cheapest place to gain points.
- 4
Look at merit scholarship cutoffs. If one or two points unlock a bigger award, a retake pays off.
- 5
If you retake, give yourself six to eight weeks: one full timed practice test, then daily drills on your weakest section, and a review of every miss.
- 6
Check whether your colleges superscore the ACT, which means they combine your best section scores from different dates.
How StudyPDF helps
Try free ACT practice questions in your browser at ACT Practice Questions. Then upload your ACT prep book pages, class notes or a practice test you took, and press New material for flashcards, a quiz or a timed practice exam built from them. StudyPDF tracks which topics you keep missing, so the next quiz goes after your weakest section. A free account needs no card.
See also
More questions
What percentile is a 25 on the ACT?
The 83rd, in ACT's 2026 to 2027 national ranks. That means about 83% of recent test takers scored a 25 or lower. Older charts show a lower rank for a 25.
Should I retake the ACT with a 25?
Only if it pays off. A retake makes sense if a 25 is below the middle of your colleges' ranges, or if one or two more points would raise a scholarship. If it is already at or above the midpoint, your time is better spent on grades and applications.
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