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.

SUNY College at Brockport
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B
Brockport, NY

SUNY College at Brockport

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

22 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#18 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 6,424enrollment
  • $16,261net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1240SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 2.79Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance53%

Applications Due Aug 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of La Verne
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La Verne, CA

University of La Verne

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

21 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#21 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 5,662enrollment
  • $25,103net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 970-1303SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.24Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance62%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Metropolitan State College of Denver
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Denver, CO

Metropolitan State College of Denver

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

19 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#12 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 16,995enrollment
  • $14,805net price
  • 98%acceptance rate
  • 910-1130SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.03Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance98%

Applications Due Jul 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Central Washington University
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C
Ellensburg, WA

Central Washington University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

20 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#5 Best Public Universities in Washington

  • 9,257enrollment
  • $15,864net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 930-1150SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.08Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance90%

Applications Due Mar 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Fayetteville State University
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F
HBCU
Fayetteville, NC

Fayetteville State University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

16 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#16 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 6,787enrollment
  • $6,355net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 870-1060SAT range
  • 14-19ACT range
  • 3.11Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance88%

Applications Due Aug 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Ferris State University
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F
Big Rapids, MI

Ferris State University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

20 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#12 Best Public Universities in Michigan

  • 10,072enrollment
  • $13,978net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 910-1150SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance81%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Bethune Cookman University
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HBCU
Daytona Beach, FL

Bethune Cookman University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

16 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#21 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 2,727enrollment
  • $15,769net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 830-980SAT range
  • 15-18ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance93%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Colorado Mesa University
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C
Grand Junction, CO

Colorado Mesa University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

21 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#9 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 8,905enrollment
  • $15,085net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 930-1180SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.28Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance72%

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Houston Downtown
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Houston, TX

University of Houston Downtown

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

18 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#24 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 14,208enrollment
  • $14,911net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 960-1100SAT range
  • 16-20ACT range
  • 3.29Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance88%

Applications Due Jun 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Chicago State University
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C
Chicago, IL

Chicago State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

17 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#11 Best Public Universities in Illinois

  • 2,317enrollment
  • $6,446net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 750-963SAT range
  • 15-19ACT range
  • 3.18Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance57%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Augusta State University
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A
Augusta, Georgia

Augusta State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

20 Average ACT Score

 

 

  • 6,685enrollment
  • -net price
  • 55%acceptance rate
  • 960-1150SAT range
  • 18-22ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance39%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Kentucky State University
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K
HBCU
Frankfort, KY

Kentucky State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

17 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#7 Best Public Universities in Kentucky

  • 1,726enrollment
  • $11,473net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 783-978SAT range
  • 14-20ACT range
  • 2.72Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance93%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Catawba College
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C
Salisbury, NC

Catawba College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

22 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#7 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,172enrollment
  • $19,701net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1210SAT range
  • 18-27ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance53%

Applications Due Aug 15

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Angelo State University
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A
San Angelo, TX

Angelo State University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

20 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#22 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 10,599enrollment
  • $12,838net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 910-1140SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance72%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Midwestern State University
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Wichita Falls, TX

Midwestern State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

19 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#15 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 5,784enrollment
  • $11,361net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 910-1100SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • 3.2Estimated Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance90%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Alcorn State University
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A
HBCU
Alcorn State, MS

Alcorn State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

19 Average ACT Score

 

#8 Best Public Universities in Mississippi

  • 2,933enrollment
  • $14,864net price
  • 30%acceptance rate
  • 903-1115SAT range
  • 15-24ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance27%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Clayton State University
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C
Morrow, GA

Clayton State University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

19 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#9 Best Public Universities in Georgia

  • 5,847enrollment
  • $9,792net price
  • 56%acceptance rate
  • 890-1090SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • 3.0Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance51%

Applications Due Jul 17

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University of Hawaii at Hilo
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H
Hilo, HI

University of Hawaii at Hilo

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

18 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#3 Best Colleges in Hawaii

  • 2,977enrollment
  • $13,867net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 960-1200SAT range
  • 16-21ACT range
  • 3.36Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance84%

Applications Due Jul 1

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.