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.

Tuskegee University
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T
HBCU
Tuskegee, AL

Tuskegee University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

21 Average ACT Score

 

#2 Best Private Colleges in Alabama

  • 2,570enrollment
  • $35,596net price
  • 30%acceptance rate
  • 970-1215SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance18%

Applications Due Apr 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Alabama A & M University
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A
HBCU
Normal, AL

Alabama A & M University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

17 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#11 Best Public Universities in Alabama

  • 6,007enrollment
  • $14,600net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 830-1033SAT range
  • 15-19ACT range
  • 3.02Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance75%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Jacksonville State University
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J
Jacksonville, AL

Jacksonville State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

19 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#8 Best Public Universities in Alabama

  • 9,632enrollment
  • $11,953net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 940-1200SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.43Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance75%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Columbus State University
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C
Columbus, GA

Columbus State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

19 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#10 Best Public Universities in Georgia

  • 7,479enrollment
  • $12,902net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 900-1130SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.07Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance86%

Applications Due Jun 30

Compare Calculate my chances 
Norfolk State University
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N
HBCU
Norfolk, VA

Norfolk State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

17 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#15 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 5,783enrollment
  • $14,652net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 840-1040SAT range
  • 15-20ACT range
  • 2.9Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance91%

Applications Due May 31

Compare Calculate my chances 
Fort Valley State University
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F
HBCU
Fort Valley, GA

Fort Valley State University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

17 Average ACT Score

 

#11 Best Public Universities in Georgia

  • 2,605enrollment
  • $13,016net price
  • 43%acceptance rate
  • 810-950SAT range
  • 16-19ACT range
  • 2.87Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance54%

Applications Due Jun 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
South Carolina State University
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S
HBCU
Orangeburg, SC

South Carolina State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

17 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#12 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 2,649enrollment
  • $17,435net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 800-1050SAT range
  • 15-19ACT range
  • 3.17Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance88%

Applications Due Jul 31

Compare Calculate my chances 
California Baptist University
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C
Riverside, CA

California Baptist University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

21 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#31 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 11,495enrollment
  • $27,304net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 960-1150SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance70%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Texas Woman's University
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T
Denton, TX

Texas Woman's University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

20 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#16 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 15,958enrollment
  • $11,682net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 930-1140SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.24Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance91%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Lamar University
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Beaumont, TX

Lamar University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

16 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#25 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 16,803enrollment
  • $11,757net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 830-1030SAT range
  • 14-19ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance90%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Adams State College
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A
Alamosa, CO

Adams State College

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

20 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#10 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 2,854enrollment
  • $13,224net price
  • 99%acceptance rate
  • 910-1130SAT range
  • 15-26ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance99%

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of the Incarnate Word
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T
San Antonio, TX

University of the Incarnate Word

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

19 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#22 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 7,305enrollment
  • $20,832net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 910-1133SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance93%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Kent State University at Kent
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K
Kent, OH

Kent State University at Kent

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

21 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#9 Best Public Universities in Ohio

  • 25,854enrollment
  • $19,046net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 990-1220SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance81%

Applications Due Aug 1

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Jackson State University
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J
HBCU
Jackson, MS

Jackson State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

18 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#6 Best Public Universities in Mississippi

  • 6,906enrollment
  • $15,292net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1073-1210SAT range
  • 16-21ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance89%

Applications Due Jul 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Eastern Michigan University
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E
Ypsilanti, MI

Eastern Michigan University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

21 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#13 Best Public Universities in Michigan

  • 14,018enrollment
  • $15,826net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 930-1180SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.37Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance74%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Troy University
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T
Troy, AL

Troy University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

20 Average ACT Score

 

#9 Best Public Universities in Alabama

  • 14,156enrollment
  • $13,187net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 950-1150SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance93%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Central State University
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C
HBCU
Wilberforce, OH

Central State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

16 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#12 Best Public Universities in Ohio

  • 5,434enrollment
  • $10,194net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 770-950SAT range
  • 14-18ACT range
  • 2.8Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance94%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Saint Cloud State University
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Saint Cloud, MN

Saint Cloud State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

21 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#6 Best Public Universities in Minnesota

  • 10,420enrollment
  • $14,065net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 1027-1200SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance91%

Applications Due Aug 15

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.