Colleges for a Low ACT Score

College admission test taking is stressful. Not everyone rocks their ACT test. A low score doesn't mean you can't get into college. We've prepared a list of all selective admission, four year colleges which are likely to accept students who scored in the lower fifty percentile on the ACT. Based on school admission history, an applicant with a lower than average ACT has a good chance to get into these 381 schools. Schools are listed in order from low ACT score to highest.

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Low ACT Public Private 4 Year
Hampton University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Hampton, VA
  • 3.8 | 6 reviews
  • 17 average ACT
  • Mar 1 application deadline

Hampton is a private HBCU known for undergraduate journalism, business, and nursing. The waterfront campus sits along the Hampton River near the Chesapeake Bay.

#11 Best Private Colleges in Virginia 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 790-1090
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 62%
  • Net Price $27,428
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California State University Fresno Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Fresno, CA
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews
  • 18 average ACT
  • Dec 15 application deadline

Fresno State is a large public university known for undergraduate agriculture, viticulture, and business. Students attend classes on a large campus in California's Central Valley.

#23 Best Public Universities in California 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 890-1100
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.12
  • Acceptance Rate 95%
  • Net Price $7,834
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Savannah State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Savannah, GA
  • 3.7 | 3 reviews
  • 17 average ACT
  • Jul 15 application deadline

Savannah State is a public HBCU known for undergraduate marine science. The waterfront campus sits along a tidal marsh on the edge of Savannah.

#13 Best Public Universities in Georgia
  • SAT Range 845-980
  • Avg GPA 2.77
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $7,956
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Wingate University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Wingate, NC
  • | 0 reviews
  • 21 average ACT

Wingate is a private university known for undergraduate programs in the health sciences, business, and education. The residential campus sits in a small town east of Charlotte.

#13 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1210
  • Avg GPA 3.33
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $21,282
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Sonoma State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Rohnert Park, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • 20 average ACT

Sonoma State is a public university known for undergraduate wine business and environmental studies. The campus sits in Rohnert Park in Sonoma County wine country.

#14 Best Public Universities in California 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 950-1150
  • Avg GPA 3.4
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $14,614
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Culinary Institute of America Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Hyde Park, NY
  • | 0 reviews
  • 20 average ACT

The Culinary Institute of America is a private college known for undergraduate culinary arts, baking and pastry arts, and food business management. The Hyde Park campus sits along the Hudson River in New York's Hudson Valley.

5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 928-1183
  • Avg GPA 3.26
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $39,581
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Albany State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Albany, GA
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews
  • 16 average ACT

Albany State is a public HBCU known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The campus sits in the southwest Georgia city of Albany.

#12 Best Public Universities in Georgia
  • SAT Range 740-900
  • Avg GPA 2.77
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $11,484
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Stephen F Austin State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Nacogdoches, TX
  • 3.8 | 8 reviews
  • 21 average ACT

SFA is a public university known for undergraduate forestry, education, and nursing. The residential campus sits in the historic East Texas college town of Nacogdoches.

#18 Best Public Universities in Texas 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1170
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.26
  • Acceptance Rate 94%
  • Net Price $14,959
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Valdosta State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Valdosta, GA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • 19 average ACT
  • Jun 15 application deadline

Valdosta State is a public university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and business. The campus is in the south Georgia city of Valdosta.

#7 Best Public Universities in Georgia 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 920-1100
  • Avg GPA 3.23
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $11,144
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California State University Northridge Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Northridge, CA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • 19 average ACT
  • Nov 30 application deadline

CSUN is a large public university known for undergraduate film and television, business, and education. The suburban campus lies in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley.

#25 Best Public Universities in California 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 900-1110
  • Avg GPA 3.38
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $7,536
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Tarleton State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Stephenville, TX
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews
  • 21 average ACT
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Tarleton State is a public university known for undergraduate agriculture, animal science, and nursing. The main campus anchors the college town of Stephenville in north-central Texas.

#20 Best Public Universities in Texas 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1160
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.21
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $16,159
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University of California Merced Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Merced, CA
  • 3.0 | 1 reviews
  • 21 average ACT
  • Nov 30 application deadline

UC Merced is a public university known for undergraduate engineering, biology, and psychology. The newest University of California campus is located in California's Central Valley.

#15 Best Public Universities in California 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1140
  • Avg GPA 3.55
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $13,690
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Prairie View A & M University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Prairie View, TX
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews
  • 18 average ACT
  • Mar 1 application deadline

Prairie View A&M is a public HBCU known for undergraduate engineering, nursing, and agriculture. The small-town campus sits northwest of Houston in Prairie View.

#26 Best Public Universities in Texas 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 860-1080
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 79%
  • Net Price $14,448
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North Carolina Central University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Durham, NC
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • 17 average ACT
  • Aug 1 application deadline

NCCU is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and criminal justice. The campus sits in Durham within North Carolina's Research Triangle.

#15 Best Public Universities in North Carolina 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1100
  • Avg GPA 3.27
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $14,475
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Winston Salem State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Winston-Salem, NC
  • | 0 reviews
  • 17 average ACT
  • Feb 15 application deadline

Winston-Salem State is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate nursing and health sciences. The urban campus is part of the University of North Carolina system.

#11 Best Public Universities in North Carolina 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 830-1020
  • Avg GPA 3.01
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $12,989
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California State University San Marcos Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • San Marcos, CA
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews
  • 19 average ACT
  • Nov 30 application deadline

Cal State San Marcos is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The suburban hillside campus is in North San Diego County.

#20 Best Public Universities in California 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 950-1130
  • Avg GPA 3.32
  • Acceptance Rate 95%
  • Net Price $10,241
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Southern Illinois University Carbondale Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Carbondale, IL
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews
  • 21 average ACT

SIU Carbondale is a large public university known for undergraduate aviation, journalism, and forestry. The wooded campus anchors the college town of Carbondale in southern Illinois.

#7 Best Public Universities in Illinois 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 900-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.24
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $13,473
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California State Polytechnic University Humboldt Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Arcata, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • 21 average ACT
  • Apr 30 application deadline

Cal Poly Humboldt is a public polytechnic university known for undergraduate environmental science, forestry, and marine biology. The campus is set among coastal redwoods in far northern California.

#18 Best Public Universities in California 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1190
  • Avg GPA 3.33
  • Acceptance Rate 98%
  • Net Price $14,090
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