Eastern Colleges for a 26 on the ACT

With a 26 ACT, you are competitive at 228 four-year colleges in the East (112 target, 41 reach, 75 safety). Your score is roughly equivalent to a 1240 SAT.

Colleges in the East for a 26 ACT

Target Schools (Competitive Chance of Admission)

Target schools have middle 50% ranges that include 26 - your score fits squarely in the admitted pool.

College	ACT Range	Avg ACT	Acceptance Rate	Your Chance
University at Albany Albany, NY	22-31	26	69%	Medium
Quinnipiac University Hamden, CT	25-30	27	72%	Medium
West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester, PA	24-28	26	78%	Medium
St. John's University New York Queens, NY	24-29	26	83%	Medium
Pace University New York, NY	24-29	26	76%	Medium
Bridgewater State University Bridgewater, MA	25-30	27	88%	Medium
Monmouth University West Long Branch, NJ	24-29	26	89%	Medium
Rowan University Glassboro, NJ	23-29	26	78%	Medium
University of Scranton Scranton, PA	25-30	27	81%	Medium
Marist University Poughkeepsie, NY	25-31	28	57%	Medium
The College of New Jersey Ewing, NJ	26-31	28	62%	Medium
University of Maine Orono, ME	22-30	26	97%	Medium

View all 112 target colleges

Reach Schools (Lower Admission Chance)

Reach schools typically enroll students with higher average ACT scores; admission is possible but more competitive.

College	ACT Range	Avg ACT	Acceptance Rate	Your Chance
Penn State Main Campus University Park, PA	27-32	29	61%	Low
Syracuse University Syracuse, NY	29-32	30	46%	Low
Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY	29-33	31	49%	Low
University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA	29-33	31	58%	Low
Rutgers University New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ	28-33	30	58%	Low
Drexel University Philadelphia, PA	27-32	29	79%	Low
University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY	27-32	29	74%	Low
University of Connecticut Storrs, CT	28-33	30	52%	Low
Emerson College Boston, MA	29-32	30	51%	Low
Bentley University Waltham, MA	28-31	29	45%	Low
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY	30-34	32	63%	Low
Hofstra University Hempstead, NY	28-32	30	68%	Low

View all 41 reach colleges

Safety Schools (Very High Chance of Admission)

Safety schools have average ACT scores well below 26; you have a very high chance of acceptance.

College	ACT Range	Avg ACT	Acceptance Rate	Your Chance
Culinary Institute of America Hyde Park, NY	17-23	20	91%	High
Bloomfield College of Montclair State University Bloomfield, NJ	14-16	15	70%	High
Westfield State University Westfield, MA	17-22	19	81%	High
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania East Stroudsburg, PA	22-23	22	92%	High
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania Cheyney, PA	-	-	100%	High
Stockton University Galloway, NJ	21-25	23	89%	High
Mercy University Dobbs Ferry, NY	21-25	23	86%	High
Rutgers University Camden Camden, NJ	19-25	22	66%	High
American International College Springfield, MA	-	-	100%	High
Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport, PA	-	-	100%	High
Keene State College Keene, NH	24-25	24	90%	High
Fisher College Boston, MA	15-24	19	71%	High

View all 75 safety colleges

View the full list of colleges that accept a 26 ACT in the East

See all colleges nationally for a 26 ACT

26 ACT to SAT Equivalent Conversion

Colleges use concordance tables to compare SAT and ACT scores. The following table shows the 26 ACT to SAT equivalent and nearby scores for context. These conversions are approximate.

ACT Score	SAT Equivalent
23	1140
24	1180
25	1210
26	1240
27	1280
28	1310
29	1340

Individual colleges may interpret scores slightly differently, so treat concordance as a guide rather than an exact rule.

Published: August 19, 2026