United States Public Colleges Ranked by Highest ACT Score
Below is a list of the 443 public colleges in the United States with the highest ACT Score for incoming freshmen. University of Maryland College Park leads the list with an average ACT Score of 33. Alternatively, check out the SAT version of these rankings.
The ACT is a standardized test used by colleges to evaluate applicants. It is not a guarantee of success in college, but it is a strong indicator of academic potential.
| College | Average ACT Score |
|---|---|
|
Winston Salem State University
Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
17 |
|
South Carolina State University
Orangeburg, South Carolina |
17 |
|
Texas Southern University
Houston, Texas |
17 |
|
Virginia State University
Petersburg, Virginia |
17 |
|
West Virginia State University
Institute, West Virginia |
17 |
|
Alabama A & M University
Normal, Alabama |
16 |
|
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Pine Bluff, Arkansas |
16 |
|
Albany State University
Albany, Georgia |
16 |
|
Central State University
Wilberforce, Ohio |
16 |
|
University of South Carolina Salkehatchie
Allendale, South Carolina |
16 |
|
University of South Carolina Union
Union, South Carolina |
16 |
This list is updated annually based on the latest data from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Last updated: August 2026
Data source: IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025 - National Center for Education Statistics.