35 ACT Score: Popular Colleges You Can Get Into

Harvard and MIT still treat a 35 as a reach, but you're right in range for some of the most selective schools in the country. That's a strong score, and it lines up with well over a thousand colleges, including dozens where you have a good shot. The test will not be what holds you back.

How 35 ACT Compares Nationally

  • Percentile: 99th - higher than about 99% of recent test-takers.
  • National average: Above 21 - you're above the typical score.
  • SAT equivalent: ~1540 composite (College Board/ACT concordance).
  • College options: Competitive at 1,459 schools (77 target, 53 reach, 1,329 safety).

Is a 35 ACT Score Good?

Yes, a 35 ACT is an outstanding score. It is near the top of the scale and lines up with the middle 50% at MIT (34-36) and Yale (33-35), even though both stay reaches because they admit so few students.

Your score also overlaps the usual band at Johns Hopkins (34-36). The University of Michigan Ann Arbor (31-34) is a more comfortable target, since 35 is at the high end of its middle 50%.

Colleges still read your GPA, essays, activities, and recommendations alongside the test. A 35 will not get overlooked, but those other pieces decide the close calls at the most selective schools.

Colleges You Can Get Into with a 35 ACT

Caltech (35-36) and Harvard (34-36) both include a 35 in their middle 50%, and Stanford (34-35) is right there with them - still tougher to get into because so few students get offers. UCLA (29-35) is another reach even at the top of its range. Compare that with the University of Florida (29-33), where a 35 is above the usual band and you have a good shot.

Target Schools (Competitive Chance of Admission)

Your 35 is at the high end of the middle 50% at the University of Maryland College Park (32-35) and above the usual band at Florida State (29-32). That is a good shot if the rest of the application holds up.

College ACT Range Avg ACT Acceptance Rate Your Chance

Gainesville, FL

 29-33 31 24% Medium

Austin, TX

 27-33 30 27% Medium

Ann Arbor, MI

 31-34 32 16% Medium

Tallahassee, FL

 29-32 30 24% Medium

Clemson, SC

 28-32 30 38% Medium

Coral Gables, FL

 30-33 31 19% Medium

Athens, GA

 29-34 31 38% Medium

San Diego, CA

 22-29 25 36% Medium

Irvine, CA

 26-33 29 29% Medium

College Park, MD

 32-35 33 45% Medium

Madison, WI

 29-33 31 45% Medium

Seattle, WA

 27-33 30 39% Medium
View all 77 target colleges

Reach Schools (Lower Admission Chance)

A strong 35 still leaves many top schools as reaches. Princeton (34-35) and Columbia (34-35) are in that group: the score is in range, but admit rates are very low, so admission is possible but tougher.

College ACT Range Avg ACT Acceptance Rate Your Chance

Pasadena, CA

 35-36 35 3% Low

Cambridge, MA

 34-36 35 4% Low

Philadelphia, PA

 34-36 35 5% Low

Cambridge, MA

 34-36 35 5% Low

Baltimore, MD

 34-36 35 6% Low

Claremont, CA

 34-36 35 13% Low

Stanford, CA

 34-35 34 4% Low

New Haven, CT

 33-35 34 4% Low

Chicago, IL

 34-35 34 4% Low

New York, NY

 34-35 34 4% Low

Princeton, NJ

 34-35 34 5% Low

Providence, RI

 34-35 34 5% Low
View all 53 reach colleges

Safety Schools (Very High Chance of Admission)

Your 35 is well above the middle 50% at Ohio State (28-32) and Texas A&M (25-31), so the odds look strong. There are more than a thousand schools in this backup group.

College ACT Range Avg ACT Acceptance Rate Your Chance

Tempe, AZ

 21-28 24 90% High

University Park, PA

 27-32 29 61% High

Blacksburg, VA

 28-32 30 55% High

East Lansing, MI

 25-31 28 85% High

Tuscaloosa, AL

 24-31 27 77% High

Orlando, FL

 25-29 27 40% High

Auburn, AL

 26-31 28 46% High

Columbus, OH

 28-32 30 61% High

Waco, TX

 27-32 29 51% High

Lexington, KY

 21-28 24 93% High

College Station, TX

 25-31 28 57% High

Greenville, NC

 21-26 23 89% High
View all 1,329 safety colleges

View the full list of colleges that accept a 35 ACT

Top Choices in Popular U.S. States

Browse colleges for a 35 ACT in popular states:

Local Options for a 35 ACT

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Should you retake the ACT if you have a 35?

A 35 is already near the top of the ACT, so another sitting is optional. If you are aiming at Caltech or MIT, a 36 can help a little at the very highest end. For almost every other school, this score is already doing its job.

Pros of retaking Cons of retaking
A 36 can help at Caltech or MIT Diminishing returns this close to 36
Removes doubt at the most selective schools Time away from grades and activities

Focused prep often lifts an ACT composite by about 1-2 points, though gains shrink near the top. If you retake, drill your weaker section with timed practice tests instead of restudying everything.

You can apply confidently with a 35, or sit for one more test if a 36 is a personal goal.

35 ACT to SAT Equivalent Conversion

Colleges use concordance tables to compare SAT and ACT scores. The following table shows the 35 ACT to SAT equivalent and nearby scores for context. These conversions are approximate.

ACT Score SAT Equivalent
32 1430
33 1460
34 1500
35 1540
36 1590

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

Frequently Asked Questions

A 35 ACT places you in about the 99th percentile nationally, meaning you scored higher than about 99% of recent test-takers.

Next Steps

Published: August 19, 2026