16 ACT Colleges: Best Schools for 16 ACT Score

16 score on the ACT puts in a good position for College and Universities admissions in the US. Here we are providing a list of Universities and colleges that accept a 16 ACT score. These schools and colleges are good match for your score, as not only you will improve your chances of admissions by applying to these colleges, but also will ensure that you are placed with equally talented students. Some schools that require less than this average score might not be a good match for you as the quality of the students will be lower, though your chances of admissions will be higher at those schools.

Your best choices will be the schools and colleges where the average ACT score of the admitted students is 13 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.

Best Colleges for 16 ACT Score

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

LogoCollegeStateACT 25th PercentileACT 75th PercentileAcceptance Rate
Northwestern Oklahoma State University Northwestern Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma 1622 56.42%
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte Johnson & Wales University-CharlotteNorth Carolina 1622 73.34%
Elizabeth City State University Elizabeth City State UniversityNorth Carolina 1622 74.15%
Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus Eastern New Mexico University-Main CampusNew Mexico 1622 27.55%
Spalding University Spalding UniversityKentucky 1622 97.64%
Alice Lloyd College Alice Lloyd CollegeKentucky 1622 98.33%
Iowa Wesleyan University Iowa Wesleyan UniversityIowa 1622 80.81%
Dominican University Dominican UniversityIllinois 1622 89.53%
University of Hawaii-West Oahu University of Hawaii-West OahuHawaii 1622 96.37%
Clayton  State University Clayton State UniversityGeorgia 1622 56.32%
Trinity College of Florida Trinity College of FloridaFlorida 1622 59.77%
John Paul the Great Catholic University John Paul the Great Catholic UniversityCalifornia 1622 79.59%
University of the Incarnate Word University of the Incarnate WordTexas 1623 94.2%
Texas A & M University-Commerce Texas A & M University-CommerceTexas 1623 86.45%
University of the Cumberlands University of the CumberlandsKentucky 1623 83.02%
University of Saint Mary University of Saint MaryKansas 1623 81.93%
Columbus State University Columbus State UniversityGeorgia 1623 87.8%
Metropolitan State University of Denver Metropolitan State University of DenverColorado 1623 97.91%
Ottawa University-Surprise Ottawa University-SurpriseArizona 1623 28.66%
Jacksonville State University Jacksonville State UniversityAlabama 1623 78.46%
Randall University Randall UniversityOklahoma 1624 42.86%
Emporia State University Emporia State UniversityKansas 1624 95.67%
Columbia International University Columbia International UniversitySouth Carolina 1625 48.22%
Kean University Kean UniversityNew Jersey 1625 82.6%
Judson University Judson UniversityIllinois 1626 58.2%
Roosevelt University Roosevelt UniversityIllinois 1626 88.32%
Multnomah University Multnomah UniversityOregon 1628 53.38%
Eastern Connecticut State University Eastern Connecticut State UniversityConnecticut 1628 73.83%
Southern University at New Orleans Southern University at New OrleansLouisiana 1518 93.53%
Bethune-Cookman University Bethune-Cookman UniversityFlorida 1518 84.97%
LogoCollegeStateACT 25th PercentileACT 75th PercentileAcceptance Rate
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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

36 ACT Score Best Colleges35 ACT Score Best Colleges34 ACT Score Best Colleges
33 ACT Score Best Colleges32 ACT Score Best Colleges31 ACT Score Best Colleges
30 ACT Score Best Colleges29 ACT Score Best Colleges28 ACT Score Best Colleges
27 ACT Score Best Colleges26 ACT Score Best Colleges25 ACT Score Best Colleges
24 ACT Score Best Colleges23 ACT Score Best Colleges22 ACT Score Best Colleges
21 ACT Score Best Colleges20 ACT Score Best Colleges19 ACT Score Best Colleges
18 ACT Score Best Colleges17 ACT Score Best Colleges16 ACT Score Best Colleges
15 ACT Score Best Colleges14 ACT Score Best Colleges13 ACT Score Best Colleges