25 ACT Colleges: Best Schools for 25 ACT Score

A 25 ACT Score is Competitive (74th percentile). You are well above the national average (approx. 19.9). This score is the 'Sweet Spot' for most four-year public universities.

Common Data Set (CDS) Fact: According to Section C8 of the CDS, many institutions in this tier rank standardized tests as 'Considered' rather than 'Very Important.' Your GPA will carry more weight, but your 25 provides the necessary validation of your transcript.

Best Colleges for 25 ACT Score

Following is the list of best suited colleges with your 25 ACT Score.

LogoCollegeStateACT 25th PercentileACT 75th PercentileAcceptance RateStatus
LogoCollegeStateACT 25th PercentileACT 75th PercentileAcceptance RateStatus
Hastings College Hastings CollegeNebraska 2627 71.33% HARD REACH
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-WorldwideFlorida 2528 57.67% SOLID MATCH
Salve Regina University Salve Regina UniversityRhode Island 2529 69.53% SOLID MATCH
State University of New York at New Paltz State University of New York at New PaltzNew York 2529 58.27% SOLID MATCH
Washington College Washington CollegeMaryland 2529 74.71% SOLID MATCH
University of Central Florida University of Central FloridaFlorida 2529 41.04% SOLID MATCH
Stetson University Stetson UniversityFlorida 2529 93.8% SOLID MATCH
Western Washington University Western Washington UniversityWashington 2530 92.69% SOLID MATCH
Hollins University Hollins UniversityVirginia 2530 72.4% SOLID MATCH
University of Mary Washington University of Mary WashingtonVirginia 2530 85.79% SOLID MATCH
University of Rhode Island University of Rhode IslandRhode Island 2530 76.39% SOLID MATCH
Messiah University Messiah UniversityPennsylvania 2530 79.41% SOLID MATCH
Elizabethtown College Elizabethtown CollegePennsylvania 2530 81.12% SOLID MATCH
Ohio Northern University Ohio Northern UniversityOhio 2530 54.37% SOLID MATCH
John Carroll University John Carroll UniversityOhio 2530 82.37% SOLID MATCH
Elon University Elon UniversityNorth Carolina 2530 74.46% SOLID MATCH
Alfred University Alfred UniversityNew York 2530 50.61% SOLID MATCH
Clarkson University Clarkson UniversityNew York 2530 78.42% SOLID MATCH
Roberts Wesleyan University Roberts Wesleyan UniversityNew York 2530 99.5% SOLID MATCH
Rutgers University-Camden Rutgers University-CamdenNew Jersey 2530 76.52% SOLID MATCH
Calvin University Calvin UniversityMichigan 2530 74.21% SOLID MATCH
Emmanuel College Emmanuel CollegeMassachusetts 2530 79.69% SOLID MATCH
Drake University Drake UniversityIowa 2530 67.23% SOLID MATCH
Illinois Wesleyan University Illinois Wesleyan UniversityIllinois 2530 42.22% SOLID MATCH
Florida Polytechnic University Florida Polytechnic UniversityFlorida 2530 56.03% SOLID MATCH
University of Redlands University of RedlandsCalifornia 2530 81.87% SOLID MATCH
University of Alabama in Huntsville University of Alabama in HuntsvilleAlabama 2530 78.1% SOLID MATCH
George Mason University George Mason UniversityVirginia 2531 90% SOLID MATCH
Texas A & M University-College Station Texas A & M University-College StationTexas 2531 62.65% SOLID MATCH
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleTennessee 2531 68.41% SOLID MATCH
Roger Williams University Roger Williams UniversityRhode Island 2531 90.99% SOLID MATCH
Duquesne University Duquesne UniversityPennsylvania 2531 87.49% SOLID MATCH
University of Scranton University of ScrantonPennsylvania 2531 84.35% SOLID MATCH
Warren Wilson College Warren Wilson CollegeNorth Carolina 2531 83.98% SOLID MATCH
The King's College The King's CollegeNew York 2531 45.27% SOLID MATCH
SUNY College at Geneseo SUNY College at GeneseoNew York 2531 74.93% SOLID MATCH
Missouri University of Science and Technology Missouri University of Science and TechnologyMissouri 2531 81.49% SOLID MATCH
Gustavus Adolphus College Gustavus Adolphus CollegeMinnesota 2531 73.9% SOLID MATCH
Michigan State University Michigan State UniversityMichigan 2531 87.95% SOLID MATCH
Wentworth Institute of Technology Wentworth Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts 2531 92.31% SOLID MATCH
MCPHS University MCPHS UniversityMassachusetts 2531 88.26% SOLID MATCH
University of Massachusetts-Lowell University of Massachusetts-LowellMassachusetts 2531 85.95% SOLID MATCH
Grove City College Grove City CollegePennsylvania 2532 70.98% SOLID MATCH
Touro University Touro UniversityNew York 2532 71.31% SOLID MATCH
St Bonaventure University St Bonaventure UniversityNew York 2532 81.11% SOLID MATCH
University at Buffalo University at BuffaloNew York 2532 67.71% SOLID MATCH
United States Naval Academy United States Naval AcademyMaryland 2532 10.75% ELITE REACH
University of the Pacific University of the PacificCalifornia 2533 93.23% SOLID MATCH
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg Pennsylvania State University-Penn State HarrisburgPennsylvania 2428 95.55% SOLID MATCH
SUNY Maritime College SUNY Maritime CollegeNew York 2428 80.33% SOLID MATCH
Molloy College Molloy CollegeNew York 2428 76.63% SOLID MATCH
SUNY Oneonta SUNY OneontaNew York 2428 72.53% SOLID MATCH
Nazareth College Nazareth CollegeNew York 2428 83.94% SOLID MATCH
Niagara University Niagara UniversityNew York 2428 89.55% SOLID MATCH
Monmouth College Monmouth CollegeIllinois 2428 90.7% SOLID MATCH
University of St Thomas University of St ThomasTexas 2429 96.71% SOLID MATCH
Arcadia University Arcadia UniversityPennsylvania 2429 77.57% SOLID MATCH
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus University of Cincinnati-Main CampusOhio 2429 86.22% SOLID MATCH
University of North Carolina Wilmington University of North Carolina WilmingtonNorth Carolina 2429 68.83% SOLID MATCH
St. John's University-New York St. John's University-New YorkNew York 2429 84.67% SOLID MATCH
Wagner College Wagner CollegeNew York 2429 68.54% SOLID MATCH
Pace University Pace UniversityNew York 2429 82.93% SOLID MATCH
University of St Thomas University of St ThomasMinnesota 2429 77% SOLID MATCH
University of Massachusetts-Boston University of Massachusetts-BostonMassachusetts 2429 80.76% SOLID MATCH
Western New England University Western New England UniversityMassachusetts 2429 88.01% SOLID MATCH
Endicott College Endicott CollegeMassachusetts 2429 73.31% SOLID MATCH
Hanover College Hanover CollegeIndiana 2429 74.11% SOLID MATCH
Eckerd College Eckerd CollegeFlorida 2429 65.09% SOLID MATCH
Rollins College Rollins CollegeFlorida 2429 49.99% SOLID MATCH
University of South Florida University of South FloridaFlorida 2429 43.93% SOLID MATCH
Quinnipiac University Quinnipiac UniversityConnecticut 2429 83.79% SOLID MATCH
Seattle University Seattle UniversityWashington 2430 85.15% SOLID MATCH
Southwestern University Southwestern UniversityTexas 2430 44.79% SOLID MATCH
Austin College Austin CollegeTexas 2430 54.37% SOLID MATCH
Belmont University Belmont UniversityTennessee 2430 96.27% SOLID MATCH
College of Charleston College of CharlestonSouth Carolina 2430 75.69% SOLID MATCH
University of Oregon University of OregonOregon 2430 86.29% SOLID MATCH
University of Dayton University of DaytonOhio 2430 74.05% SOLID MATCH
The College of New Jersey The College of New JerseyNew Jersey 2430 64.43% SOLID MATCH
Kettering University Kettering UniversityMichigan 2430 80.75% SOLID MATCH
Suffolk University Suffolk UniversityMassachusetts 2430 86.79% SOLID MATCH
Butler University Butler UniversityIndiana 2430 82.06% SOLID MATCH
Bradley University Bradley UniversityIllinois 2430 75.14% SOLID MATCH
DePaul University DePaul UniversityIllinois 2430 70.17% SOLID MATCH
University of Illinois Chicago University of Illinois ChicagoIllinois 2430 78.69% SOLID MATCH
Whittier College Whittier CollegeCalifornia 2430 75.45% SOLID MATCH
Auburn University Auburn UniversityAlabama 2430 43.74% SOLID MATCH
New York Institute of Technology New York Institute of TechnologyNew York 2431 75.72% SOLID MATCH
Hope College Hope CollegeMichigan 2431 80.45% SOLID MATCH
Michigan Technological University Michigan Technological UniversityMichigan 2431 93.68% SOLID MATCH
DePauw University DePauw UniversityIndiana 2431 65.8% SOLID MATCH
New Saint Andrews College New Saint Andrews CollegeIdaho 2431 82.96% SOLID MATCH
Agnes Scott College Agnes Scott CollegeGeorgia 2431 66.52% SOLID MATCH
New College of Florida New College of FloridaFlorida 2431 75.41% SOLID MATCH
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-PrescottArizona 2431 68% SOLID MATCH
The University of Texas at Dallas The University of Texas at DallasTexas 2432 84.74% SOLID MATCH
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Albany College of Pharmacy and Health SciencesNew York 2432 66.29% SOLID MATCH
Earlham College Earlham CollegeIndiana 2432 73.24% SOLID MATCH
Covenant College Covenant CollegeGeorgia 2432 84.13% SOLID MATCH
Dominican University of California Dominican University of CaliforniaCalifornia 2325 93.18% SOLID MATCH
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York Pennsylvania State University-Penn State YorkPennsylvania 2326 92.87% SOLID MATCH
Methodist University Methodist UniversityNorth Carolina 2326 75.68% SOLID MATCH
Randolph-Macon College Randolph-Macon CollegeVirginia 2327 85.45% SOLID MATCH
Citadel Military College of South Carolina Citadel Military College of South CarolinaSouth Carolina 2327 98.58% SOLID MATCH
York College of Pennsylvania York College of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania 2327 95.61% SOLID MATCH
University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg University of Pittsburgh-GreensburgPennsylvania 2327 97.6% SOLID MATCH
St. Joseph's University-New York St. Joseph's University-New YorkNew York 2327 76.71% SOLID MATCH
The College of Saint Scholastica The College of Saint ScholasticaMinnesota 2327 96.61% SOLID MATCH
Berea College Berea CollegeKentucky 2327 24.58% COMP. MATCH
Texas Tech University Texas Tech UniversityTexas 2328 67.34% SOLID MATCH
Delaware Valley University Delaware Valley UniversityPennsylvania 2328 95.43% SOLID MATCH
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BerksPennsylvania 2328 97.29% SOLID MATCH
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeLouisiana 2328 75.72% SOLID MATCH
Ball State University Ball State UniversityIndiana 2328 68.95% SOLID MATCH
Hampden-Sydney College Hampden-Sydney CollegeVirginia 2329 39.79% SOLID MATCH
James Madison University James Madison UniversityVirginia 2329 78.31% SOLID MATCH
Westminster College Westminster CollegeUtah 2329 69.75% SOLID MATCH
University of Houston University of HoustonTexas 2329 66.24% SOLID MATCH
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologySouth Dakota 2329 82.69% SOLID MATCH
DeSales University DeSales UniversityPennsylvania 2329 77.17% SOLID MATCH

Your best choices will be the schools and colleges where the average ACT score of the admitted students is 23 to 27. 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 25 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 25 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.

Data Methodology & Expert Verification

The admission statuses (Elite Reach, Competitive Match, etc.) displayed on this page are calculated using a proprietary 7-tier multivariate logic. Unlike static lists, our algorithm cross-references the student's score of 25 against:

  • 2024-2025 Common Data Set (CDS): Specifically Section C8 (Standardized Testing) and Section C9 (Percentiles).
  • IPEDS Analytics: Latest federal reporting on institutional acceptance rates.
  • 2026 Trend Analysis: Adjustments for schools that have recently reinstated mandatory testing (e.g., Brown, Dartmouth, Harvard).

Note: Standardized test scores are one component of a holistic application. For 2026, many institutions place "Very Important" weight on the rigors of your secondary school record and GPA.

FAQ for ACT 25 Score

How does a 25 ACT score compare to the SAT?

A 25 ACT is approximately equivalent to a 1200 SAT. It’s still a respectable score for many colleges.

What scholarships are available for a 25 ACT score?

At this score, you may qualify for some partial merit scholarships, especially at mid-tier universities.

Can I get into Ivy League schools with a 25 ACT score?

Ivy League schools typically require higher scores. While a 25 is below their average, it may help with state schools and less selective colleges.

Should I retake the ACT to improve my score?

If you’re aiming for an Ivy League school, retaking the ACT may be beneficial. This score is fine for many schools, but top-tier schools will require higher scores.

What is the national average ACT score?

The national average ACT score is 20–21. A 25 places you well above average.

Do test-optional colleges consider a 25 ACT score if submitted?

Yes, even if a school is test-optional, submitting a 25 will strengthen your application and help you stand out.

What GPA is a 25 ACT?

A 25 ACT usually corresponds to a GPA between 2.8–3.0, which indicates a decent academic standing.

Can I get into NYU with a 25 ACT?

NYU typically admits students with ACT scores closer to 30, but a 25 may still make you a strong candidate if your GPA and extracurriculars are impressive.

Is 25 a good ACT score for Harvard?

Harvard’s average score is significantly higher than 25. A 25 is lower than their typical range, but it could still be considered with outstanding grades and accomplishments.

Can I get into MIT with a 25 ACT?

MIT's average score is around 34, so a 25 is too low. Retaking the test would be necessary for a competitive application.

Can I get into Princeton with a 25 ACT score?

Princeton expects scores of 30 and above, so a 25 would not be competitive there. Consider improving your score for better options.

What if you improve your ACT score by 2 points (to 27)?

Improving to 27 would increase your chances at more competitive schools and increase scholarship opportunities.

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