Introduction
The American College Testing (“ACT”) is a standardized test used for undergraduate admissions for American colleges and universities. The ACT is broken up into five sections with their own score: math, science, english, reading, and writing. Those scores are then taken and run through an algorithm to reach a composite score. The composite score ranges from 1–36.
The ACT, administered by a nonprofit of the same name, is designed to measure the general education development of high school students and assess their capability to complete college-level work. Scores are designed to provide an indicator of “college readiness” by testing students on entry-level college courses, including algebra, English, biology, humanities, and social sciences.
The ACT is accepted by every four-year college and university in the United States, as well as some schools internationally. Schools will often accept either the ACT or SAT, or both.
Learn for yourself how the average ACT score differs by state by looking at the data in the charts.
| # | State | Average ACT Score (2022) | Percentage Change (vs. 2021) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 26.9 | 5.08% |
| 2 | California | 26.5 | 1.53% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 26.5 | -3.99% |
| 4 | Connecticut | 26.3 | -3.31% |
| 5 | New Hampshire | 25.7 | -3.38% |
| 6 | New York | 25.3 | -3.8% |
| 7 | Rhode Island | 25.2 | -2.33% |
| 8 | Maine | 25.1 | -1.95% |
| 9 | Delaware | 24.9 | -3.11% |
| 10 | Michigan | 24.6 | -1.99% |
| 11 | New Jersey | 24.6 | -1.99% |
| 12 | Virginia | 24.6 | -3.53% |
| 13 | Washington | 24.6 | 4.24% |
| 14 | Illinois | 24.5 | -2.78% |
| 15 | Maryland | 24.4 | -4.31% |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | 24.4 | -2.4% |
| 17 | Vermont | 23.7 | -4.05% |
| 18 | Colorado | 23.2 | -1.69% |
| 19 | Oregon | 23 | 11.65% |
| 20 | Idaho | 22.8 | -0.87% |
| 21 | Indiana | 22.8 | -1.3% |
| 22 | Georgia | 21.6 | -4.42% |
| 23 | South Dakota | 21.5 | -0.46% |
| 24 | Iowa | 21.4 | -0.47% |
| 25 | Minnesota | 21 | -2.78% |
| 26 | West Virginia | 20.5 | -1.44% |
| 27 | Alaska | 20.4 | -0.97% |
| 28 | Missouri | 20.2 | -1.94% |
| 29 | Kansas | 19.9 | 0% |
| 30 | Utah | 19.9 | -3.4% |
| 31 | New Mexico | 19.8 | -4.35% |
| 32 | Texas | 19.8 | -1.49% |
| 33 | Nebraska | 19.4 | -3% |
| 34 | Ohio | 19.4 | -1.02% |
| 35 | Wisconsin | 19.4 | -3% |
| 36 | Montana | 19.3 | -5.39% |
| 37 | North Dakota | 19.2 | -2.04% |
| 38 | Wyoming | 19.2 | -3.03% |
| 39 | Florida | 19 | -6.86% |
| 40 | South Carolina | 18.9 | 1.61% |
| 41 | Arkansas | 18.8 | -1.05% |
| 42 | Hawaii | 18.8 | 3.3% |
| 43 | Kentucky | 18.6 | -3.12% |
| 44 | Tennessee | 18.6 | -2.62% |
| 45 | North Carolina | 18.5 | -2.12% |
| 46 | Arizona | 18.4 | -7.07% |
| 47 | Louisiana | 18.1 | -1.63% |
| 48 | Alabama | 18 | -3.74% |
| 49 | Oklahoma | 17.9 | -9.14% |
| 50 | Mississippi | 17.8 | -1.66% |
| 51 | Nevada | 17.3 | -2.81% |
Average ACT Score by State
Alabama
Average ACT Score
18
↓ 3.74%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#48
1,146
↓ 1.12%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#19
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
21%
Ranked in the US
#48
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
23%
Ranked in the US
#47
Alaska
Average ACT Score
20.4
↓ 0.97%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#27
1,110
↓ 0.8%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#25
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
41%
Ranked in the US
#24
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
38%
Ranked in the US
#25
Arizona
Average ACT Score
18.4
↓ 7.07%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#46
1,159
↓ 1.86%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#18
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
35%
Ranked in the US
#31
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
32%
Ranked in the US
#36
Arkansas
Average ACT Score
18.8
↓ 1.05%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#41
1,191
↓ 0.25%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#15
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
23%
Ranked in the US
#46
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
26%
Ranked in the US
#44
California
Average ACT Score
26.5
↑ 1.53%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#2
1,115
↑ 5.49%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#24
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
72%
Ranked in the US
#5
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
68%
Ranked in the US
#6
Colorado
Average ACT Score
23.2
↓ 1.69%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#18
1,021
↓ 4.76%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#40
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
59%
Ranked in the US
#17
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
56%
Ranked in the US
#17
Connecticut
Average ACT Score
26.3
↓ 3.31%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#4
1,025
↓ 4.38%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#39
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
78%
Ranked in the US
#2
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
76%
Ranked in the US
#2
Delaware
Average ACT Score
24.9
↓ 3.11%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#9
968
↓ 1.63%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#48
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
66%
Ranked in the US
#14
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
68%
Ranked in the US
#7
District of Columbia
Average ACT Score
26.9
↑ 5.08%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#1
985
↓ 0.2%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#43
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
66%
Ranked in the US
#15
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
66%
Ranked in the US
#10
Florida
Average ACT Score
19
↓ 6.86%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#39
983
↓ 1.01%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#44
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
34%
Ranked in the US
#35
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
35%
Ranked in the US
#33
Georgia
Average ACT Score
21.6
↓ 4.42%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#22
1,060
↓ 2.39%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#34
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
50%
Ranked in the US
#21
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
48%
Ranked in the US
#21
Hawaii
Average ACT Score
18.8
↑ 3.3%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#42
1,124
↓ 1.75%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#22
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
22%
Ranked in the US
#47
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
23%
Ranked in the US
#48
Idaho
Average ACT Score
22.8
↓ 0.87%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#20
968
↓ 1.73%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#49
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
53%
Ranked in the US
#20
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
51%
Ranked in the US
#20
Illinois
Average ACT Score
24.5
↓ 2.78%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#14
981
↓ 2.58%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#45
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
68%
Ranked in the US
#8
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
65%
Ranked in the US
#12
Indiana
Average ACT Score
22.8
↓ 1.3%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#21
1,073
↓ 2.01%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#32
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
57%
Ranked in the US
#18
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
52%
Ranked in the US
#19
Iowa
Average ACT Score
21.4
↓ 0.47%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#24
1,196
↓ 3.78%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#14
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
41%
Ranked in the US
#25
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
44%
Ranked in the US
#24
Kansas
Average ACT Score
19.9
- 0%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#29
1,238
↑ 1.56%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#3
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
32%
Ranked in the US
#38
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
32%
Ranked in the US
#37
Kentucky
Average ACT Score
18.6
↓ 3.12%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#43
1,219
↑ 0.99%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#8
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
27%
Ranked in the US
#42
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
26%
Ranked in the US
#45
Louisiana
Average ACT Score
18.1
↓ 1.63%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#47
1,171
↓ 1.43%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#17
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
20%
Ranked in the US
#49
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
23%
Ranked in the US
#49
Maine
Average ACT Score
25.1
↓ 1.95%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#8
1,081
↓ 1.64%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#29
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
72%
Ranked in the US
#6
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
69%
Ranked in the US
#5
Maryland
Average ACT Score
24.4
↓ 4.31%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#15
1,075
↑ 0.19%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#31
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
67%
Ranked in the US
#11
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
65%
Ranked in the US
#13
Massachusetts
Average ACT Score
26.5
↓ 3.99%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#3
1,029
↓ 13.09%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#38
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
81%
Ranked in the US
#1
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
79%
Ranked in the US
#1
Michigan
Average ACT Score
24.6
↓ 1.99%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#10
1,000
↓ 3.01%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#42
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
68%
Ranked in the US
#9
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
65%
Ranked in the US
#14
Minnesota
Average ACT Score
21
↓ 2.78%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#25
1,225
↓ 3.01%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#6
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
48%
Ranked in the US
#22
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
45%
Ranked in the US
#22
Mississippi
Average ACT Score
17.8
↓ 1.66%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#50
1,226
↑ 2%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#5
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
18%
Ranked in the US
#51
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
19%
Ranked in the US
#51
Missouri
Average ACT Score
20.2
↓ 1.94%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#28
1,200
↓ 1.56%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#12
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
35%
Ranked in the US
#32
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
36%
Ranked in the US
#29
Montana
Average ACT Score
19.3
↓ 5.39%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#36
1,206
↓ 1.55%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#11
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
36%
Ranked in the US
#29
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
36%
Ranked in the US
#30
Nebraska
Average ACT Score
19.4
↓ 3%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#33
1,222
↓ 1.93%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#7
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
33%
Ranked in the US
#36
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
35%
Ranked in the US
#34
Nevada
Average ACT Score
17.3
↓ 2.81%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#51
1,172
↓ 1.92%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#16
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
20%
Ranked in the US
#50
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
20%
Ranked in the US
#50
New Hampshire
Average ACT Score
25.7
↓ 3.38%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#5
1,050
↓ 1.41%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#36
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
75%
Ranked in the US
#4
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
71%
Ranked in the US
#4
New Jersey
Average ACT Score
24.6
↓ 1.99%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#11
1,079
↓ 4.09%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#30
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
67%
Ranked in the US
#12
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
62%
Ranked in the US
#16
New Mexico
Average ACT Score
19.8
↓ 4.35%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#31
976
↓ 2.01%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#46
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
36%
Ranked in the US
#30
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
37%
Ranked in the US
#27
New York
Average ACT Score
25.3
↓ 3.8%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#6
1,067
↑ 0.95%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#33
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
76%
Ranked in the US
#3
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
73%
Ranked in the US
#3
North Carolina
Average ACT Score
18.5
↓ 2.12%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#45
1,136
↓ 1.22%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#21
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
29%
Ranked in the US
#41
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
27%
Ranked in the US
#43
North Dakota
Average ACT Score
19.2
↓ 2.04%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#37
1,212
↓ 3.66%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#10
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
35%
Ranked in the US
#33
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
32%
Ranked in the US
#38
Ohio
Average ACT Score
19.4
↓ 1.02%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#34
1,053
↑ 0.48%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#35
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
33%
Ranked in the US
#37
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
31%
Ranked in the US
#40
Oklahoma
Average ACT Score
17.9
↓ 9.14%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#49
951
↓ 8.73%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#50
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
26%
Ranked in the US
#43
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
29%
Ranked in the US
#41
Oregon
Average ACT Score
23
↑ 11.65%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#19
1,143
↑ 2.14%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#20
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
38%
Ranked in the US
#26
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
38%
Ranked in the US
#26
Pennsylvania
Average ACT Score
24.4
↓ 2.4%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#16
1,091
↓ 2.85%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#28
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
67%
Ranked in the US
#13
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
64%
Ranked in the US
#15
Rhode Island
Average ACT Score
25.2
↓ 2.33%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#7
971
↓ 3.96%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#47
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
70%
Ranked in the US
#7
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
67%
Ranked in the US
#8
South Carolina
Average ACT Score
18.9
↑ 1.61%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#40
1,030
↓ 0.58%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#37
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
25%
Ranked in the US
#44
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
26%
Ranked in the US
#46
South Dakota
Average ACT Score
21.5
↓ 0.46%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#23
1,219
↑ 0.33%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#9
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
46%
Ranked in the US
#23
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
45%
Ranked in the US
#23
Tennessee
Average ACT Score
18.6
↓ 2.62%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#44
1,200
↓ 1.64%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#13
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
25%
Ranked in the US
#45
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
28%
Ranked in the US
#42
Texas
Average ACT Score
19.8
↓ 1.49%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#32
1,001
↓ 0.2%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#41
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
35%
Ranked in the US
#34
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
34%
Ranked in the US
#35
Utah
Average ACT Score
19.9
↓ 3.4%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#30
1,233
↓ 0.4%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#4
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
38%
Ranked in the US
#27
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
37%
Ranked in the US
#28
Vermont
Average ACT Score
23.7
↓ 4.05%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#17
1,095
↓ 2.58%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#27
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
62%
Ranked in the US
#16
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
66%
Ranked in the US
#11
Virginia
Average ACT Score
24.6
↓ 3.53%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#12
1,124
↓ 2.35%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#23
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
68%
Ranked in the US
#10
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
67%
Ranked in the US
#9
Washington
Average ACT Score
24.6
↑ 4.24%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#13
1,096
↑ 2.24%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#26
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
57%
Ranked in the US
#19
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
55%
Ranked in the US
#18
West Virginia
Average ACT Score
20.5
↓ 1.44%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#26
938
↓ 6.85%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#51
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
32%
Ranked in the US
#39
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
36%
Ranked in the US
#31
Wisconsin
Average ACT Score
19.4
↓ 3%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#35
1,252
↑ 3.05%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#1
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
37%
Ranked in the US
#28
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
36%
Ranked in the US
#32
Wyoming
Average ACT Score
19.2
↓ 3.03%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#38
1,244
↑ 0.89%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#2
Students Meeting ACT Math Benchmark
32%
Ranked in the US
#40
Students Meeting ACT Science Benchmark
32%
Ranked in the US
#39
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