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 |
|---|---|
|
Judson University
Elgin, Illinois |
20 |
|
Rockford University
Rockford, Illinois |
20 |
|
Anderson University
Anderson, Indiana |
20 |
|
Bethel University
Mishawaka, Indiana |
20 |
|
Oakland City University
Oakland City, Indiana |
20 |
|
University of Saint Francis Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, Indiana |
20 |
|
Clarke University
Dubuque, Iowa |
20 |
|
Graceland University Lamoni
Lamoni, Iowa |
20 |
|
Baker University
Baldwin City, Kansas |
20 |
|
McPherson College
McPherson, Kansas |
20 |
|
MidAmerica Nazarene University
Olathe, Kansas |
20 |
|
University of Saint Mary
Leavenworth, Kansas |
20 |
|
Tabor College
Hillsboro, Kansas |
20 |
|
Kentucky Christian University
Grayson, Kentucky |
20 |
|
Dillard University
New Orleans, Louisiana |
20 |
|
Louisiana Christian University
Pineville, Louisiana |
20 |
|
Rochester University
Rochester Hills, Michigan |
20 |
|
Northwood University
Midland, Michigan |
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.