Colleges for a 18 on the ACT

What colleges accept a 18 ACT score?

These colleges are a good match for you

If you've achieved a score of 18 on your ACTs, this places you squarely within the average range for accepted students at 399 U.S. colleges. This list features popular colleges where your application will likely be competitive, given their historical acceptance of students with a 18 ACT score. However, it's crucial to remember that a good ACT score is not the sole criterion for admission. In fact, may colleges are now test optional. It's equally significant to maintain a Grade Point Average (GPA) that aligns with the college's expectations for incoming students. The creation of this list is rooted in a comprehensive analysis of ACT scores from students admitted to all U.S. colleges

Is a 18 ACT bad?

You can probably do better than a score of 18. It situates you in the bottom 38th percentile on the national scale, underperforming the majority of the 2 million ACT test takers. This score signifies your below average performance in answering questions in the English, Math, Reading and Science sections of the exam. The ACT is scored out of a maximum of 36 and a minimum of 1, meaning your 18 score represents 50% of the total possible points. If a 18 does not meet the requirements of your preferred college, you might want to consider enrolling in a test prep course to potentially enhance your score.

Demographic comparisons for a 18

Let's examine how a 18 ACT score stacks up to the national averages across various demographic groups

Gender

  • Male: A 18 is 2.3 points (11%) lower than the average male ACT score of 20.3
  • Female: A 18 is 2.6 points (13%) lower than the average female ACT score of 20.6

Race/ethnicity

  • White: A 18 is 3.7 points (17%) lower than the average white ACT score of 21.7
  • Black: A 18 is 1.7 points (10%) higher than the average black ACT score of 16.3
  • Hispanic: A 18 is 0.3 points (2%) lower than the average Hispanic ACT score of 18.3
  • Asian: A 18 is 6.9 points (28%) lower than the average Asian ACT score of 24.9
  • Pacific Islander: A 18 is 0.8 points (5%) higher than the average Pacific Islander ACT score of 17.2
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: A 18 is 1.1 points (7%) higher than the average American Indian/Alaska Native ACT score of 16.9
  • Two or more races: A 18 is 2.6 points (13%) lower than the average two or more races ACT score of 20.6

All groups

  • All Students: A 18 is 2.3 points lower than the average ACT score for all students of 20.3

What is the SAT equivalent to a 18 ACT score?

A 18 on the ACT translates to a 970 on the SAT according to the concordance provided by the College Board and ACT. It's important to note that not all colleges disclose admission data for both the SAT and ACT. As such, we recommend checking our listings for each test to identify schools with similar academic profiles.

What percentile is a 18 ACT score?

Scoring a 18 on the ACT places you in the 38th percentile nationwide. This implies that your performance surpassed 38% of all test takers. To put this in perspective, about 2 million students sit for the ACT each year. Thus, with your score, you've outperformed about 760,000 students with only 1,240,000 test takers achieving a higher score.

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ACT 18 Public Private 4 year

399 results nationwide

List of 18 ACT Colleges

Displaying 399 colleges where your 18 ACT score is within the typical range of past accepted students. You have a chance at being accepted but admission may be challenging at more selective colleges. Hint: Filter by admission chance for 1,125 target schools (good chance), 1,380 reach (harder) schools and 1,347 safety (easier) schools you can consider.

University of South Carolina Beaufort
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S
Bluffton, SC

University of South Carolina Beaufort

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

19 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#11 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 2,124enrollment
  • $16,113net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 940-1110SAT range
  • 17-22ACT range
  • 3.82Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance76%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Newberry College
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N
Newberry, SC

Newberry College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

19 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#12 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina

  • 1,312enrollment
  • $19,405net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 928-1103SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance71%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Fisher College
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F
Boston, MA

Fisher College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

19 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#32 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 1,421enrollment
  • $26,257net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 800-1070SAT range
  • 15-24ACT range
  • 2.72Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance71%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Pfeiffer University
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P
Misenheimer, NC

Pfeiffer University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

21 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#8 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,076enrollment
  • $21,575net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 891-1165SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.18Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance56%

Applications Due Aug 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Gordon College
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G
Barnesville, GA
 

Gordon College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

17 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

 

  • 3,135enrollment
  • $8,185net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 870-1080SAT range
  • 15-19ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance95%

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Wisconsin Green Bay
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W
Green Bay, WI

University of Wisconsin Green Bay

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

21 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#10 Best Public Universities in Wisconsin

  • 9,599enrollment
  • $11,365net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.16Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance83%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Indiana University South Bend
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I
South Bend, IN

Indiana University South Bend

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

20 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#11 Best Public Universities in Indiana

  • 4,326enrollment
  • $8,785net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 970-1190SAT range
  • 18-22ACT range
  • 3.24Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance78%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Eastern Kentucky University
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E
Richmond, KY

Eastern Kentucky University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

20 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#5 Best Public Universities in Kentucky

  • 14,324enrollment
  • $10,806net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 940-1185SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance55%

Applications Due Aug 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Johnson & Wales University Charlotte
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J
Charlotte, NC
 

Johnson & Wales University Charlotte

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

19 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#12 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,140enrollment
  • $29,238net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 890-1122SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance69%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Young Harris College
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Y
Young Harris, GA

Young Harris College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

21 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

 

  • 1,511enrollment
  • $18,910net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 930-1160SAT range
  • 17-26ACT range
  • 3.15Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance69%

Compare Calculate my chances 
West Virginia State University
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W
HBCU
Institute, WV

West Virginia State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

19 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#9 Best Public Universities in West Virginia

  • 3,785enrollment
  • $11,684net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 840-1065SAT range
  • 17-22ACT range
  • 3.24Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance95%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Neumann University
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N
Aston, PA
 

Neumann University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

20 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#53 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,155enrollment
  • $28,707net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 905-1085SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.23Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance80%

Applications Due Aug 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Felician College
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F
Lodi, NJ
 

Felician College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

21 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#12 Best Private Colleges in New Jersey

  • 2,148enrollment
  • $15,743net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 893-1108SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.05Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance82%

Applications Due Jun 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Our Lady of the Lake University San Antonio
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O
San Antonio, TX

Our Lady of the Lake University San Antonio

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

19 Average ACT Score

 

#27 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 2,326enrollment
  • $19,100net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 890-1070SAT range
  • 15-23ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT

Compare Calculate my chances 
Wright State University Main Campus
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W
Dayton, OH

Wright State University Main Campus

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

20 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#10 Best Public Universities in Ohio

  • 9,678enrollment
  • $15,650net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 913-1168SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance93%

Applications Due Aug 23

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Mary Baldwin College
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M
Staunton, VA

Mary Baldwin College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

21 Average ACT Score

 

#18 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 1,957enrollment
  • $18,746net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 940-1120SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT

Compare Calculate my chances 
Prescott College
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P
Prescott, AZ
 

Prescott College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

19 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

 

  • 969enrollment
  • $25,317net price
  • 98%acceptance rate
  • 1095-1290SAT range
  • 15-24ACT range
  • 3.19Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance98%

Applications Due Aug 15

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University of Dubuque
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D
Dubuque, IA

University of Dubuque

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

20 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#14 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,776enrollment
  • $22,879net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 828-1070SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.24Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance79%

Compare Calculate my chances 

FAQs

Is a 18 a good ACT score?

You can probably do better than a score of 18. The score puts you in the bottom 38th percentile of those who take the test. Explore colleges you can get into with a 18 ACT score.

What colleges can I get into with a 18 ACT score?

University of Hawaii at Manoa, San Francisco State University and California State University Los Angeles are some of the best colleges that you have a competitive chance of getting into. Explore the full list: Colleges for a 18 ACT score.

What percentile is 18 on the ACT?

A 18 ranks in the bottom 38th percentile of all students who take the ACT exam.

What is the equivalent SAT score to a 18 ACT?

A 18 converts to a 970 on the SAT using College Board / ACT concordance tables. Explore the colleges: Colleges for a 970 SAT score.