16 ACT Colleges: Best Schools for 16 ACT Score

A 16 ACT Score is Below Average (22nd percentile). You are currently below the national mean. This score may limit your options to colleges with high acceptance rates or open enrollment policies.

2026 Admissions Real Talk: At a 16, we recommend looking at Test-Optional schools where your extracurriculars and life experience can shine. Many regional universities will prioritize your 3.0+ GPA over this testing data.

Best Colleges for 16 ACT Score

Following is the list of best suited colleges with your 16 ACT Score.

Logo	College	State	ACT 25th Percentile	ACT 75th Percentile	Acceptance Rate	Status
Logo	College	State	ACT 25th Percentile	ACT 75th Percentile	Acceptance Rate	Status
	Rust College	Mississippi	17	18	78.76%	HARD REACH
	Keuka College	New York	16	19	92.79%	SOLID MATCH
	Fort Valley State University	Georgia	16	19	43.09%	SOLID MATCH
	University of Houston-Downtown	Texas	16	20	88.42%	SOLID MATCH
	Missouri Valley College	Missouri	16	20	61.24%	SOLID MATCH
	Clark Atlanta University	Georgia	16	20	56.26%	SOLID MATCH
	Alabama State University	Alabama	16	20	96.6%	SOLID MATCH
	Texas A & M International University	Texas	16	21	47.88%	SOLID MATCH
	Prairie View A & M University	Texas	16	21	76.07%	SOLID MATCH
	Sul Ross State University	Texas	16	21	97.07%	SOLID MATCH
	The University of Texas Permian Basin	Texas	16	21	94.71%	SOLID MATCH
	Mercy College of Ohio	Ohio	16	21	46.19%	SOLID MATCH
	Mount Carmel College of Nursing	Ohio	16	21	63.41%	SOLID MATCH
	Wilmington College	Ohio	16	21	88.13%	SOLID MATCH
	Dickinson State University	North Dakota	16	21	72.02%	SOLID MATCH
	Jackson State University	Mississippi	16	21	88.64%	SOLID MATCH
	Morgan State University	Maryland	16	21	85.38%	SOLID MATCH
	Kentucky Christian University	Kentucky	16	21	44.39%	SOLID MATCH
	William Penn University	Iowa	16	21	57.67%	SOLID MATCH
	University of Hawaii at Hilo	Hawaii	16	21	84.24%	SOLID MATCH
	Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College	Georgia	16	21	66.96%	SOLID MATCH
	Warner University	Florida	16	21	55.1%	SOLID MATCH
	Henderson State University	Arkansas	16	21	70.66%	SOLID MATCH
	Averett University	Virginia	16	22	76.03%	SOLID MATCH
	Texas A&M University-Texarkana	Texas	16	22	91.48%	SOLID MATCH
	The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley	Texas	16	22	87.7%	SOLID MATCH
	The University of Texas at El Paso	Texas	16	22	99.92%	SOLID MATCH
	Bethel University	Tennessee	16	22	88.79%	SOLID MATCH
	Newberry College	South Carolina	16	22	75.31%	SOLID MATCH
	East Central University	Oklahoma	16	22	70.08%	SOLID MATCH
	Northwestern Oklahoma State University	Oklahoma	16	22	56.42%	SOLID MATCH
	Elizabeth City State University	North Carolina	16	22	74.15%	SOLID MATCH
	Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte	North Carolina	16	22	73.34%	SOLID MATCH
	Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus	New Mexico	16	22	27.55%	COMP. MATCH
	Alice Lloyd College	Kentucky	16	22	98.33%	SOLID MATCH
	Spalding University	Kentucky	16	22	97.64%	SOLID MATCH
	Iowa Wesleyan University	Iowa	16	22	80.81%	SOLID MATCH
	Dominican University	Illinois	16	22	89.53%	SOLID MATCH
	University of Hawaii-West Oahu	Hawaii	16	22	96.37%	SOLID MATCH
	Clayton State University	Georgia	16	22	56.32%	SOLID MATCH
	Trinity College of Florida	Florida	16	22	59.77%	SOLID MATCH
	John Paul the Great Catholic University	California	16	22	79.59%	SOLID MATCH
	Texas A & M University-Commerce	Texas	16	23	86.45%	SOLID MATCH
	University of the Incarnate Word	Texas	16	23	94.2%	SOLID MATCH
	University of the Cumberlands	Kentucky	16	23	83.02%	SOLID MATCH
	University of Saint Mary	Kansas	16	23	81.93%	SOLID MATCH
	Columbus State University	Georgia	16	23	87.8%	SOLID MATCH
	Metropolitan State University of Denver	Colorado	16	23	97.91%	SOLID MATCH
	Ottawa University-Surprise	Arizona	16	23	28.66%	COMP. MATCH
	Jacksonville State University	Alabama	16	23	78.46%	SOLID MATCH
	Randall University	Oklahoma	16	24	42.86%	SOLID MATCH
	Emporia State University	Kansas	16	24	95.67%	SOLID MATCH
	Columbia International University	South Carolina	16	25	48.22%	SOLID MATCH
	Kean University	New Jersey	16	25	82.6%	SOLID MATCH
	Judson University	Illinois	16	26	58.2%	SOLID MATCH
	Roosevelt University	Illinois	16	26	88.32%	SOLID MATCH
	Multnomah University	Oregon	16	28	53.38%	SOLID MATCH
	Eastern Connecticut State University	Connecticut	16	28	73.83%	SOLID MATCH
	Southern University at New Orleans	Louisiana	15	18	93.53%	SOLID MATCH
	Bethune-Cookman University	Florida	15	18	84.97%	SOLID MATCH
	Texas Southern University	Texas	15	19	96.8%	SOLID MATCH
	Bluffton University	Ohio	15	19	96.29%	SOLID MATCH
	Grand River Technical School	Missouri	15	19	100%	SOLID MATCH
	Grambling State University	Louisiana	15	19	42.37%	SOLID MATCH
	Southern University and A & M College	Louisiana	15	19	53.9%	SOLID MATCH
	St Luke's College	Iowa	15	19	80%	SOLID MATCH
	Gordon State College	Georgia	15	19	93.32%	SOLID MATCH
	Alabama A & M University	Alabama	15	19	68.4%	SOLID MATCH
	Norfolk State University	Virginia	15	20	89.5%	SOLID MATCH
	Texas A&M University-San Antonio	Texas	15	20	96.09%	SOLID MATCH
	Lincoln University	Pennsylvania	15	20	80.61%	SOLID MATCH
	Thomas University	Georgia	15	20	46.09%	SOLID MATCH
	Georgia State University-Perimeter College	Georgia	15	20	99.13%	SOLID MATCH
	Union College	Kentucky	15	21	53.42%	SOLID MATCH
	Alderson Broaddus University	West Virginia	15	22	61.49%	SOLID MATCH
	Francis Marion University	South Carolina	15	22	82.91%	SOLID MATCH
	Bethany College	Kansas	15	22	66.03%	SOLID MATCH
	College of Coastal Georgia	Georgia	15	22	98.33%	SOLID MATCH
	Trinity Bible College and Graduate School	North Dakota	15	23	44.44%	SOLID MATCH
	North Carolina Central University	North Carolina	15	23	84.38%	SOLID MATCH
	Manhattan Christian College	Kansas	15	23	47.96%	SOLID MATCH
	Middle Georgia State University	Georgia	15	23	99.71%	SOLID MATCH
	Calvary University	Missouri	15	24	63.16%	SOLID MATCH
	Alcorn State University	Mississippi	15	24	29.93%	COMP. MATCH
	Adams State University	Colorado	15	26	99.18%	SOLID MATCH
	Greenville University	Illinois	15	28	94.12%	SOLID MATCH
	Bloomfield College	New Jersey	14	16	78.18%	SOLID MATCH
	Virginia State University	Virginia	14	17	89.72%	SOLID MATCH
	Columbia College	South Carolina	14	18	98.12%	SOLID MATCH
	Wilberforce University	Ohio	14	18	45.12%	SOLID MATCH
	University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff	Arkansas	14	18	69.33%	SOLID MATCH
	Lamar University	Texas	14	19	83.73%	SOLID MATCH
	Fayetteville State University	North Carolina	14	19	81.24%	SOLID MATCH
	Winston-Salem State University	North Carolina	14	19	73.39%	SOLID MATCH
	Huston-Tillotson University	Texas	14	20	51.94%	SOLID MATCH
	Kentucky State University	Kentucky	14	20	91.5%	SOLID MATCH
	Gallaudet University	District of Columbia	14	20	59.21%	SOLID MATCH
	Texas Wesleyan University	Texas	14	21	60.93%	SOLID MATCH
	Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania	14	21	93.96%	SOLID MATCH
	Livingstone College	North Carolina	14	21	63.77%	SOLID MATCH
	Pfeiffer University	North Carolina	14	21	69.05%	SOLID MATCH
	York University	Nebraska	14	27	57.29%	SOLID MATCH
	Mississippi Valley State University	Mississippi	13	18	64.78%	SOLID MATCH

Your best choices will be the schools and colleges where the average ACT score of the admitted students is 14 to 18. We are also showing you the 25th percentile and 75th percentile ACT Score of the admitted students so that you can have a clear understanding of how many students score what ACT Score. If your 16 ACT Score is higher than 25th percentile, it means your score is better than the quarter of the admitted students, and if it is higher than 75th percentile, then it means your ACT score of 16 is higher than 75% of the students admitted at that school.

Choose a college where your score is near to 75th percentile, this will maximize your chances of admission. You can also apply to other schools as well, but to be on safe side, you must apply to at least 2-3 such schools and colleges.

FAQ for ACT 16 Score

How does a 16 ACT score compare to the SAT?

A 16 ACT score is roughly equivalent to an SAT score of around 870. This is a low score that would limit your options at most universities.

What scholarships are available for a 16 ACT score?

With a 16 ACT score, you may be eligible for small scholarships at state universities, but more competitive scholarships will likely require higher scores.

Can I get into Ivy League schools with a 16 ACT score?

Ivy League schools usually require scores above 30, so a 16 would not meet their competitive standards. Retaking the test would be beneficial if you aim for these schools.

Should I retake the ACT to improve my score?

Yes, retaking the ACT is highly recommended if you’re aiming for more competitive universities. Focus on areas of weakness to improve your score.

What is the national average ACT score?

The national average is 20–21, so a 16 is significantly below average. It would limit your chances at many competitive institutions.

Do test-optional colleges consider a 16 ACT score if submitted?

Submitting a 16 ACT score to test-optional colleges would not strengthen your application. You may want to focus on other aspects of your application.

What GPA is a 16 ACT?

A 16 ACT usually corresponds to a GPA between 1.0 and 1.4, which is well below the average GPA for many universities.

Can I get into NYU with a 16 ACT?

NYU’s average ACT is much higher than a 16, so you would need to retake the test or apply to schools with lower requirements.

Is 16 a good ACT score for Harvard?

Harvard’s average ACT score is above 30, so a 16 is far below the competitive range for admission. Consider retaking the test for better chances.

Can I get into MIT with a 16 ACT?

MIT’s typical ACT score is 34, so a 16 would not meet their standards. Retaking the test for a higher score is essential.

Can I get into Princeton with a 16 ACT score?

Princeton’s average ACT score is well above 30, so a 16 would not be competitive. Retake the test to improve your score for Princeton.

What if you improve your ACT score by 2 points (to 18)?

Improving to 18 would provide a slight improvement, but your chances at more selective colleges would still be limited.

Best Suited Colleges for ACT Score