New York Private Colleges Ranked by Highest ACT Score

Below is a list of the 54 private colleges in New York with the highest ACT Score for incoming freshmen. Columbia University in the City of New York leads the list with an average ACT Score of 34. 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.

List of New York Private Colleges Ranked by Highest ACT Score
College	Average ACT Score
Nazareth University Rochester, New York	27
St Bonaventure University Saint Bonaventure, New York	27
Alfred University Alfred, New York	26
Iona University New Rochelle, New York	26
Manhattanville University Purchase, New York	26
Pace University New York, New York	26
St. Joseph's University New York Brooklyn, New York	26
St. John's University New York Queens, New York	26
Canisius University Buffalo, New York	25
Long Island University Brookville, New York	25
Marymount Manhattan College New York, New York	25
Molloy University Rockville Centre, New York	25
Niagara University Niagara University, New York	25
St. John Fisher University Rochester, New York	25
Wagner College Staten Island, New York	25
St. Francis College Brooklyn, New York	24
Mercy University Dobbs Ferry, New York	23
Culinary Institute of America Hyde Park, New York	20

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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.