26 ACT Colleges: Best Schools for 26 ACT Score

26 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 26 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 23 to 28. 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 26 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 26 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 26 ACT Score

Following is the list of best suited colleges with your 26 ACT Score.

LogoCollegeStateACT 25th PercentileACT 75th PercentileAcceptance Rate
New York Institute of Technology New York Institute of TechnologyNew York 2431 75.72%
Michigan Technological University Michigan Technological UniversityMichigan 2431 93.68%
Hope College Hope CollegeMichigan 2431 80.45%
DePauw University DePauw UniversityIndiana 2431 65.8%
New Saint Andrews College New Saint Andrews CollegeIdaho 2431 82.96%
Agnes Scott College Agnes Scott CollegeGeorgia 2431 66.52%
New College of Florida New College of FloridaFlorida 2431 75.41%
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-PrescottArizona 2431 68%
The University of Texas at Dallas The University of Texas at DallasTexas 2432 84.74%
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Albany College of Pharmacy and Health SciencesNew York 2432 66.29%
Earlham College Earlham CollegeIndiana 2432 73.24%
Covenant College Covenant CollegeGeorgia 2432 84.13%
Dominican University of California Dominican University of CaliforniaCalifornia 2325 93.18%
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York Pennsylvania State University-Penn State YorkPennsylvania 2326 92.87%
Methodist University Methodist UniversityNorth Carolina 2326 75.68%
Randolph-Macon College Randolph-Macon CollegeVirginia 2327 85.45%
Citadel Military College of South Carolina Citadel Military College of South CarolinaSouth Carolina 2327 98.58%
York College of Pennsylvania York College of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania 2327 95.61%
University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg University of Pittsburgh-GreensburgPennsylvania 2327 97.6%
St. Joseph's University-New York St. Joseph's University-New YorkNew York 2327 76.71%
The College of Saint Scholastica The College of Saint ScholasticaMinnesota 2327 96.61%
Berea College Berea CollegeKentucky 2327 24.58%
Texas Tech University Texas Tech UniversityTexas 2328 67.34%
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BerksPennsylvania 2328 97.29%
Delaware Valley University Delaware Valley UniversityPennsylvania 2328 95.43%
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeLouisiana 2328 75.72%
Ball State University Ball State UniversityIndiana 2328 68.95%
Hampden-Sydney College Hampden-Sydney CollegeVirginia 2329 39.79%
James Madison University James Madison UniversityVirginia 2329 78.31%
Westminster College Westminster CollegeUtah 2329 69.75%
LogoCollegeStateACT 25th PercentileACT 75th PercentileAcceptance Rate
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FAQ for ACT 26 Score

How does a 26 ACT score compare to the SAT?

A 26 ACT is roughly equivalent to a 1250 SAT. It’s a decent score for mid-tier schools.

What scholarships are available for a 26 ACT score?

Many schools offer merit scholarships for scores in this range. You may qualify for partial merit-based scholarships.

Can I get into Ivy League schools with a 26 ACT score?

Ivy League schools typically require scores above 30, but a 26 will still keep you competitive for state schools or mid-tier colleges.

Should I retake the ACT to improve my score?

If your target is an Ivy League or a highly selective university, retaking could help. Otherwise, this score is solid for many colleges.

What is the national average ACT score?

The national average ACT score is around 20–21, so a 26 places you above average and in the top 25% of test-takers.

Do test-optional colleges consider a 26 ACT score if submitted?

Yes, submitting a 26 ACT will help strengthen your application even at test-optional schools.

What GPA is a 26 ACT?

A 26 ACT typically aligns with a GPA of around 2.9–3.2, suggesting a good but not exceptional academic record.

Can I get into NYU with a 26 ACT?

NYU generally prefers higher scores, but a 26 could still make you a competitive candidate if you have strong extracurriculars and a good GPA.

Is 26 a good ACT score for Harvard?

Harvard typically admits students with scores above 30, so a 26 is lower than their average. However, with exceptional academic achievements, you could still be considered.

Can I get into MIT with a 26 ACT?

MIT requires scores above 30, so a 26 would fall short. Consider retaking if MIT is your top choice.

Can I get into Princeton with a 26 ACT score?

Princeton usually expects scores above 30, but a 26 may still keep you competitive for many other universities.

What if you improve your ACT score by 2 points (to 28)?

Improving to a 28 would make you more competitive for better-ranked colleges and increase your chances for scholarships.

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