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
Hendrix College Hendrix CollegeArkansas 2330 60.28%
University of Alabama at Birmingham University of Alabama at BirminghamAlabama 2330 86.68%
University of Dallas University of DallasTexas 2331 58.7%
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BrandywinePennsylvania 2331 96.19%
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington Pennsylvania State University-Penn State AbingtonPennsylvania 2331 93.41%
Lebanon Valley College Lebanon Valley CollegePennsylvania 2331 76.74%
Iona University Iona UniversityNew York 2331 96.4%
Rowan University Rowan UniversityNew Jersey 2331 76.94%
The University of Alabama The University of AlabamaAlabama 2331 80.06%
Utica University Utica UniversityNew York 2332 80.9%
Ramapo College of New Jersey Ramapo College of New JerseyNew Jersey 2332 70.47%
Lynn University Lynn UniversityFlorida 2225 80.11%
Castleton University Castleton UniversityVermont 2226 80.51%
Houston Baptist University Houston Baptist UniversityTexas 2226 84.48%
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh ValleyPennsylvania 2226 94.08%
King's College King's CollegePennsylvania 2226 95.99%
Lasell University Lasell UniversityMassachusetts 2226 73.21%
Viterbo University Viterbo UniversityWisconsin 2227 72.38%
Wisconsin Lutheran College Wisconsin Lutheran CollegeWisconsin 2227 93.83%
Old Dominion University Old Dominion UniversityVirginia 2227 95.14%
Ohio University-Main Campus Ohio University-Main CampusOhio 2227 86.52%
Ohio Dominican University Ohio Dominican UniversityOhio 2227 52.42%
University of North Carolina at Greensboro University of North Carolina at GreensboroNorth Carolina 2227 91.94%
Salisbury University Salisbury UniversityMaryland 2227 91.06%
Carroll University Carroll UniversityWisconsin 2228 72.14%
Bridgewater College Bridgewater CollegeVirginia 2228 90.36%
Roanoke College Roanoke CollegeVirginia 2228 79.76%
George Fox University George Fox UniversityOregon 2228 91.73%
Franciscan University of Steubenville Franciscan University of SteubenvilleOhio 2228 66.65%
Meredith College Meredith CollegeNorth Carolina 2228 73.18%
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