Answers

Is 28 a good ACT score?

Yes. A 28 is a strong ACT score. On ACT's current national ranks it sits at the 91st percentile, so you scored as high as or higher than 91 percent of recent test takers. The national average is 19.4. A 28 is competitive at most state flagships and many selective colleges, but it sits below the usual range at the most selective schools.

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 reported on its own. So a 28 can come from 27, 28 and 29, or from a lopsided 32, 26 and 26, and colleges see the section scores too.

Good depends on where you apply. ACT itself calls 24 to 28 a strong score for more selective colleges. Look up the middle 50 percent ACT range of each school on your list. If your 28 sits at or above the midpoint, you are in good shape. If it sits near the bottom of the range, a retake can help.

A 28 also matters for money. Many public universities tie automatic merit scholarships to ACT bands, and the cutoffs often sit in the high 20s. Check each school's scholarship page, because one or two points can change the award.

Where 28 sits on the ACT scale

Composite	National rank	What it usually means
20	63rd percentile	Close to the national average
24	80th percentile	Solid at many state universities
28	91st percentile	Strong, competitive at selective colleges
30	94th percentile	Competitive at highly selective colleges
34	99th percentile	Top range for the most selective schools

Step by step

1Write down the middle 50 percent ACT range for every school on your list.
2Compare your 28 to each midpoint. At or above it, a retake is optional.
3Check the merit scholarship cutoffs. If one or two points unlock a bigger award, plan a retake.
4Look at your section scores and find the one that is clearly lowest.
5Give yourself six to eight weeks. Take one full timed practice test, then drill that section most days.
6Retake once or twice at most. Many colleges superscore, so check each school's policy first.

Is a 28 good enough for an Ivy League school?

It is usually below their typical range. The most selective schools report middle 50 percent ACT ranges in the 30s, often 33 or higher. A 28 does not rule you out, especially at test optional schools, but the rest of your application has to carry more weight.

What SAT score is a 28 ACT equal to?

On the official ACT and SAT concordance tables from 2018, a 28 matches about 1310 on the SAT, within a range of 1300 to 1320. Treat it as an estimate, not a promise of the same result on the other test.

Is 28 a good ACT score?

Where 28 sits on the ACT scale

Composite	National rank	What it usually means
20	63rd percentile	Close to the national average
24	80th percentile	Solid at many state universities
28	91st percentile	Strong, competitive at selective colleges
30	94th percentile	Competitive at highly selective colleges
34	99th percentile	Top range for the most selective schools

Step by step

1Write down the middle 50 percent ACT range for every school on your list.
2Compare your 28 to each midpoint. At or above it, a retake is optional.
3Check the merit scholarship cutoffs. If one or two points unlock a bigger award, plan a retake.
4Look at your section scores and find the one that is clearly lowest.
5Give yourself six to eight weeks. Take one full timed practice test, then drill that section most days.
6Retake once or twice at most. Many colleges superscore, so check each school's policy first.