United States Public Colleges Ranked by Highest ACT Score
Below is a list of the 443 public colleges in the United States with the highest ACT Score for incoming freshmen. University of Maryland College Park leads the list with an average ACT Score of 33. 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 |
|---|---|
|
Colorado State University Pueblo
Pueblo, Colorado |
22 |
|
Delaware State University
Dover, Delaware |
22 |
|
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Tallahassee, Florida |
22 |
|
University of North Florida
Jacksonville, Florida |
22 |
|
Georgia State University
Atlanta, Georgia |
22 |
|
Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, Illinois |
22 |
|
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana |
22 |
|
Indiana University South Bend
South Bend, Indiana |
22 |
|
Indiana University Northwest
Gary, Indiana |
22 |
|
Indiana University Southeast
New Albany, Indiana |
22 |
|
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa |
22 |
|
Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, Kentucky |
22 |
|
Murray State University
Murray, Kentucky |
22 |
|
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan |
22 |
|
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan |
22 |
|
Lake Superior State University
Sault Ste Marie, Michigan |
22 |
|
Saginaw Valley State University
University Center, Michigan |
22 |
|
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota |
22 |
This list is updated annually based on the latest data from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Last updated: March 15, 2026
Data source: IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025 - National Center for Education Statistics.