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.

List of United States Public Colleges Ranked by Highest ACT Score
College Average ACT Score

Montgomery, Alabama

21

Troy, Alabama

21

Jonesboro, Arkansas

21
21
21

Grand Junction, Colorado

21
21

Fort Valley, Georgia

21
21
21

Macomb, Illinois

21

Richmond, Indiana

21
21

Wichita, Kansas

21

Highland Heights, Kentucky

21
21

Thibodaux, Louisiana

21
21

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.