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.

Guilford College
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G
Greensboro, NC

Guilford College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

21 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#11 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,167enrollment
  • $23,882net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 910-1180SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.14Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance75%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Wesley College
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W
Dover, DE

Wesley College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

16 Average ACT Score

 

 

  • 917enrollment
  • -net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 820-1050SAT range
  • 14-18ACT range
  • 2.93Estimated Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT

Compare Calculate my chances 
Greensboro College
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G
Greensboro, NC

Greensboro College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

19 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

 

  • 826enrollment
  • $19,581net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 900-1100SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • 3.35Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance81%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Western Illinois University
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W
Macomb, IL

Western Illinois University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

21 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#8 Best Public Universities in Illinois

  • 7,643enrollment
  • $11,213net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 880-1090SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.45Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance61%

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Central Oklahoma
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C
Edmond, OK

University of Central Oklahoma

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

21 Average ACT Score

 

#3 Best Public Universities in Oklahoma

  • 12,250enrollment
  • $18,055net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance55%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Maryland Institute College of Art
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M
Baltimore, MD

Maryland Institute College of Art

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

20 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#4 Best Private Colleges in Maryland

  • 1,952enrollment
  • $43,545net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 967-1362SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.47Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance72%

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of Connecticut Stamford
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C
Stamford, CT

University of Connecticut Stamford

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

22 Average ACT Score

 

#5 Best Public Universities in Connecticut

  • 2,297enrollment
  • $13,933net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 990-1240SAT range
  • 18-27ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance87%

Compare Calculate my chances 
The University of Texas at El Paso
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T
El Paso, TX

The University of Texas at El Paso

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

19 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#28 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 23,880enrollment
  • $9,563net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 870-1090SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT

Applications Due May 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Colorado State University Pueblo
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C
Pueblo, CO

Colorado State University Pueblo

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

21 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#11 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 6,617enrollment
  • $13,033net price
  • 99%acceptance rate
  • 900-1150SAT range
  • 17-25ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance98%

Applications Due Aug 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Purdue University Calumet Campus
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P
Hammond, IN
 

Purdue University Calumet Campus

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

21 Average ACT Score

 

 

  • 9,194enrollment
  • $10,908net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 940-1140SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.19Estimated Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance43%

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Fresno Pacific University
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F
Fresno, CA

Fresno Pacific University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

20 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#28 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 3,032enrollment
  • $15,255net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 970-1240SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance68%

Applications Due Aug 1

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Barton College
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B
Wilson, NC
 

Barton College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

20 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#17 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,265enrollment
  • $23,443net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 970-1150SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.25Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance93%

Compare Calculate my chances 
La Sierra University
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L
Riverside, CA
 

La Sierra University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

23 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#29 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,614enrollment
  • $25,076net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 880-1140SAT range
  • 18-28ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance86%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Augsburg College
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A
Minneapolis, MN

Augsburg College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

20 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#10 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota

  • 3,088enrollment
  • $25,409net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1188-1376SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.27Estimated Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance70%

Applications Due Aug 1

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Texas A & M International University
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T
Laredo, TX

Texas A & M International University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

18 Average ACT Score

 

#14 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 8,505enrollment
  • $5,383net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 910-1110SAT range
  • 16-21ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance48%

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Adrian College
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A
Adrian, MI

Adrian College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

21 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#14 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 1,821enrollment
  • $24,870net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 940-1160SAT range
  • 17-25ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance58%

Applications Due Aug 1

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Western Kentucky University
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W
Bowling Green, KY

Western Kentucky University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

21 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#6 Best Public Universities in Kentucky

  • 16,493enrollment
  • $12,625net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 980-1170SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance95%

Applications Due Aug 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Charleston Southern University
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C
Charleston, SC

Charleston Southern University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

20 Average ACT Score

Test Optional

#10 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina

  • 3,418enrollment
  • $17,536net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 940-1170SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.24Estimated Avg GPA
Your 18 ACT
Admission Chance80%

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.