23 ACT Score: Popular Colleges You Can Get Into
You're looking at a score that fits big-name publics like Arizona State and San Diego State. A 23 ACT puts you in range for more than 1,300 colleges, including hundreds where you have a good shot. That's a solid place to be as you start comparing schools.
How 23 ACT Compares Nationally
- Percentile: 68th - higher than about 68% of recent test-takers.
- National average: Above 21 - you're above the typical score.
- SAT equivalent: ~1140 composite (College Board/ACT concordance).
- College options: Competitive at 1,302 schools (665 target, 177 reach, 460 safety).
Is a 23 ACT Score Good?
Yes, a 23 ACT is a good score for well-known publics such as Texas Tech (23-28) and the University of Houston (23-29). You land at the low end of those middle 50% bands, which is a realistic target range.
You are a couple of points above the national average of 21, and that helps at a lot of state universities and private colleges.
Admissions offices still look at your GPA, essays, activities, and recommendations, not just this number. You can still apply to tougher schools like Penn State or Michigan State, but expect those to be reaches.
Colleges You Can Get Into with a 23 ACT
Your 23 can work at well-known state universities and still leave room to try a few harder ones. The University of Arizona (21-29) and University of Kentucky (21-28) are solid matches. Georgia State (19-26) overlaps this score comfortably, while Auburn and Baylor sit higher and will be tougher. You'll see the harder schools, the good-fit ones, and the likely backups in the tables next.
Target Schools (Competitive Chance of Admission)
At East Carolina (21-26) and Texas State (19-25), a 23 falls inside the usual middle 50%. That gives you a good shot when the rest of your application holds up.
Reach Schools (Lower Admission Chance)
A 23 is below the middle 50% at places such as UT Austin (27-33) and Purdue (27-34). You can still apply, but these schools are tougher to get into.
Safety Schools (Very High Chance of Admission)
Your 23 is well above the middle 50% at schools like Cal State Northridge (16-22) and Morgan State (16-21). Odds look strong, and there are hundreds of backups in this group.
View the full list of colleges that accept a 23 ACT
Top Choices in Popular U.S. States
Browse colleges for a 23 ACT in popular states:
Local Options for a 23 ACT
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Should you retake the ACT if you have a 23?
A 23 already works at a wide set of colleges, so another test is optional. Retaking makes the most sense if you want a better shot at more selective publics where the middle 50% starts a few points higher. If you like the schools already in range, you can stick with this score.
| Pros of retaking | Cons of retaking |
|---|---|
| Could move you closer to selective publics | Time away from grades and activities |
| May help at tougher reach schools | A small bump may not change your options |
| Gives you a second shot if test day felt off | Another test date means more prep hours |
Focused prep often lifts an ACT composite by about 1-2 points. Spend time on the sections that pulled your score down, take a couple of timed practice tests, and review the questions you missed instead of only doing more drills.
Apply with your 23 if you are happy with these colleges, or prep for one more test date if you want to aim higher.
23 ACT to SAT Equivalent Conversion
Colleges use concordance tables to compare SAT and ACT scores. The following table shows the 23 ACT to SAT equivalent and nearby scores for context. These conversions are approximate.
| ACT Score | SAT Equivalent |
|---|---|
| 20 | 1040 |
| 21 | 1080 |
| 22 | 1110 |
| 23 | 1140 |
| 24 | 1180 |
| 25 | 1210 |
| 26 | 1240 |
Individual colleges may interpret scores slightly differently, so treat concordance as a guide rather than an exact rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
A 23 ACT places you in about the 68th percentile nationally, meaning you scored higher than about 68% of recent test-takers.
Next Steps
- Search and filter colleges matching your 23 ACT
- Compare nearby scores: 22 and 24
- Browse the equivalent 1140 SAT college list
Published: August 19, 2026