United States Private Colleges Ranked by Highest ACT Score
Below is a list of the 708 private colleges in the United States with the highest ACT Score for incoming freshmen. California Institute of Technology leads the list with an average ACT Score of 35. Alternatively, check out the SAT version of these rankings.
The ACT is a standardized test used by colleges to evaluate applicants. It is not a guarantee of success in college, but it is a strong indicator of academic potential.
| College | Average ACT Score |
|---|---|
|
Southwestern Adventist University
Keene, Texas |
21 |
|
Averett University
Danville, Virginia |
21 |
|
Mary Baldwin University
Staunton, Virginia |
21 |
|
Southern Virginia University
Buena Vista, Virginia |
21 |
|
University of Charleston
Charleston, West Virginia |
21 |
|
Northland College
Ashland, Wisconsin |
21 |
|
Faulkner University
Montgomery, Alabama |
20 |
|
Central Baptist College
Conway, Arkansas |
20 |
|
Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, California |
20 |
|
Life Pacific University
San Dimas, California |
20 |
|
Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, California |
20 |
|
Baptist University of Florida
Graceville, Florida |
20 |
|
Andrew College
Cuthbert, Georgia |
20 |
|
Brenau University
Gainesville, Georgia |
20 |
|
Brewton Parker College
Mount Vernon, Georgia |
20 |
|
Emmanuel University
Franklin Springs, Georgia |
20 |
|
Truett McConnell University
Cleveland, Georgia |
20 |
|
Blackburn College
Carlinville, Illinois |
20 |
This list is updated annually based on the latest data from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Last updated: August 2026
Data source: IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025 - National Center for Education Statistics.