31 ACT Colleges: Best Schools for 31 ACT Score

A 31 ACT Score is Superior (95th percentile). You are highly competitive for flagship state universities (e.g., Michigan, UVA, UT Austin).

2026 Strategy: In the current admissions cycle, a 31 is a 'Golden Ticket' for merit scholarships at mid-tier private colleges.

Expert Insight: If you are targeting T20 schools, check their Middle-50% range. If 31 is below their 25th percentile, you may benefit from a test-optional submission, provided your GPA is exceptionally high.

Best Colleges for 31 ACT Score

Following is the list of best suited colleges with your 31 ACT Score.

LogoCollegeStateACT 25th PercentileACT 75th PercentileAcceptance RateStatus
LogoCollegeStateACT 25th PercentileACT 75th PercentileAcceptance RateStatus
Bucknell University Bucknell UniversityPennsylvania 3133 32.01% SOLID MATCH
Lehigh University Lehigh UniversityPennsylvania 3133 29.26% COMP. MATCH
Mount Holyoke College Mount Holyoke CollegeMassachusetts 3133 38.29% SOLID MATCH
Bates College Bates CollegeMaine 3133 13.02% COMP. MATCH
Tulane University of Louisiana Tulane University of LouisianaLouisiana 3133 14.59% COMP. MATCH
Simpson College Simpson CollegeIowa 3133 88.88% SOLID MATCH
Connecticut College Connecticut CollegeConnecticut 3133 38.28% SOLID MATCH
Northeastern University Oakland Northeastern University OaklandCalifornia 3133 16.54% COMP. MATCH
Kenyon College Kenyon CollegeOhio 3134 30.71% SOLID MATCH
Davidson College Davidson CollegeNorth Carolina 3134 14.48% COMP. MATCH
University of Rochester University of RochesterNew York 3134 35.85% SOLID MATCH
Stevens Institute of Technology Stevens Institute of TechnologyNew Jersey 3134 43.44% SOLID MATCH
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor University of Michigan-Ann ArborMichigan 3134 17.94% COMP. MATCH
Brandeis University Brandeis UniversityMassachusetts 3134 35.31% SOLID MATCH
Grinnell College Grinnell CollegeIowa 3134 12.68% COMP. MATCH
George Washington University George Washington UniversityDistrict of Columbia 3134 43.54% SOLID MATCH
Colorado College Colorado CollegeColorado 3134 20.03% COMP. MATCH
Occidental College Occidental CollegeCalifornia 3134 39.89% SOLID MATCH
Amherst College Amherst CollegeMassachusetts 3135 9.82% ELITE REACH
Bennington College Bennington CollegeVermont 3032 48.04% SOLID MATCH
Bard College Bard CollegeNew York 3032 52.29% SOLID MATCH
Trinity University Trinity UniversityTexas 3033 28.16% COMP. MATCH
Rhode Island School of Design Rhode Island School of DesignRhode Island 3033 13.81% COMP. MATCH
Bryn Mawr College Bryn Mawr CollegePennsylvania 3033 31.06% SOLID MATCH
Lafayette College Lafayette CollegePennsylvania 3033 31.47% SOLID MATCH
Oberlin College Oberlin CollegeOhio 3033 32.98% SOLID MATCH
Skidmore College Skidmore CollegeNew York 3033 22.92% COMP. MATCH
Union College Union CollegeNew York 3033 43.79% SOLID MATCH
Fordham University Fordham UniversityNew York 3033 56.28% SOLID MATCH
Macalester College Macalester CollegeMinnesota 3033 28.21% COMP. MATCH
Hillsdale College Hillsdale CollegeMichigan 3033 20.59% COMP. MATCH
Babson College Babson CollegeMassachusetts 3033 19.74% COMP. MATCH
Clark University Clark UniversityMassachusetts 3033 41.67% SOLID MATCH
Emerson College Emerson CollegeMassachusetts 3033 47.48% SOLID MATCH
University of Miami University of MiamiFlorida 3033 18.51% COMP. MATCH
Trinity College Trinity CollegeDelaware 3033 33.52% SOLID MATCH
Santa Clara University Santa Clara UniversityCalifornia 3033 43.84% SOLID MATCH
Southern Methodist University Southern Methodist UniversityTexas 3034 61.22% SOLID MATCH
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of North Carolina at Chapel HillNorth Carolina 3034 18.74% COMP. MATCH
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteNew York 3034 58.45% SOLID MATCH
Westmont College Westmont CollegeCalifornia 3034 79.86% SOLID MATCH
University of Vermont University of VermontVermont 2932 60.02% SOLID MATCH
Franklin and Marshall College Franklin and Marshall CollegePennsylvania 2932 31.83% SOLID MATCH
Denison University Denison UniversityOhio 2932 16.93% COMP. MATCH
Ohio State University-Main Campus Ohio State University-Main CampusOhio 2932 50.82% SOLID MATCH
St Lawrence University St Lawrence UniversityNew York 2932 58.47% SOLID MATCH
Bentley University Bentley UniversityMassachusetts 2932 48.44% SOLID MATCH
St. John's College St. John's CollegeMaryland 2932 44.29% SOLID MATCH
Fairfield University Fairfield UniversityConnecticut 2932 44.98% SOLID MATCH
University of Denver University of DenverColorado 2932 71.19% SOLID MATCH
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPennsylvania 2933 49.7% SOLID MATCH
Sarah Lawrence College Sarah Lawrence CollegeNew York 2933 58.93% SOLID MATCH
Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester Institute of TechnologyNew York 2933 71.4% SOLID MATCH
University of Massachusetts-Amherst University of Massachusetts-AmherstMassachusetts 2933 57.77% SOLID MATCH
Wheaton College (Massachusetts) Wheaton College (Massachusetts)Massachusetts 2933 71.33% SOLID MATCH
American University American UniversityDistrict of Columbia 2933 47.38% SOLID MATCH
University of Connecticut University of ConnecticutConnecticut 2933 53.95% SOLID MATCH
Colorado School of Mines Colorado School of MinesColorado 2933 59.71% SOLID MATCH
Reed College Reed CollegeOregon 2934 27.16% COMP. MATCH
Binghamton University Binghamton UniversityNew York 2934 37.73% SOLID MATCH
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Rose-Hulman Institute of TechnologyIndiana 2934 72.81% SOLID MATCH
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignIllinois 2934 43.69% SOLID MATCH
Muhlenberg College Muhlenberg CollegePennsylvania 2831 64.01% SOLID MATCH
Lewis & Clark College Lewis & Clark CollegeOregon 2831 74.53% SOLID MATCH
Lake Forest College Lake Forest CollegeIllinois 2831 59.41% SOLID MATCH
University of Wisconsin-Madison University of Wisconsin-MadisonWisconsin 2832 43.35% SOLID MATCH
DigiPen Institute of Technology DigiPen Institute of TechnologyWashington 2832 68.02% SOLID MATCH
Brigham Young University Brigham Young UniversityUtah 2832 69.19% SOLID MATCH
Clemson University Clemson UniversitySouth Carolina 2832 38.05% SOLID MATCH
Furman University Furman UniversitySouth Carolina 2832 52.57% SOLID MATCH
Providence College Providence CollegeRhode Island 2832 48.72% SOLID MATCH
Bryant University Bryant UniversityRhode Island 2832 65.65% SOLID MATCH
Ursinus College Ursinus CollegePennsylvania 2832 87.37% SOLID MATCH
North Carolina State University at Raleigh North Carolina State University at RaleighNorth Carolina 2832 39.85% SOLID MATCH
Syracuse University Syracuse UniversityNew York 2832 41.69% SOLID MATCH
St Olaf College St Olaf CollegeMinnesota 2832 52.15% SOLID MATCH
College of the Holy Cross College of the Holy CrossMassachusetts 2832 21.1% COMP. MATCH
Chapman University Chapman UniversityCalifornia 2832 55.61% SOLID MATCH
Rhodes College Rhodes CollegeTennessee 2833 49.68% SOLID MATCH
Touro University Touro UniversityNew York 2833 63.01% SOLID MATCH
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Albany College of Pharmacy and Health SciencesNew York 2833 59.08% SOLID MATCH
Yeshiva University Yeshiva UniversityNew York 2833 63.75% SOLID MATCH
Stony Brook University Stony Brook UniversityNew York 2833 49.01% SOLID MATCH
United States Military Academy United States Military AcademyNew York 2833 13.98% COMP. MATCH
Rutgers University-New Brunswick Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew Jersey 2833 65.35% SOLID MATCH
University of Florida University of FloridaFlorida 2833 24.03% COMP. MATCH
University of Colorado Boulder University of Colorado BoulderColorado 2833 83.28% SOLID MATCH
Marist University Marist UniversityNew York 2730 64.71% PROBABLE
University of Puget Sound University of Puget SoundWashington 2731 76.28% SOLID MATCH
Champlain College Champlain CollegeVermont 2731 66.72% SOLID MATCH
Wofford College Wofford CollegeSouth Carolina 2731 58.59% SOLID MATCH
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia Saint Joseph's University - PhiladelphiaPennsylvania 2731 86.39% SOLID MATCH
Ithaca College Ithaca CollegeNew York 2731 69.94% SOLID MATCH
Hofstra University Hofstra UniversityNew York 2731 70.59% SOLID MATCH
St. John's College St. John's CollegeNew Mexico 2731 49.46% SOLID MATCH
Seton Hall University Seton Hall UniversityNew Jersey 2731 78.9% SOLID MATCH
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinnesota 2731 77.03% SOLID MATCH
Loyola University Chicago Loyola University ChicagoIllinois 2731 81.39% SOLID MATCH
Florida State University Florida State UniversityFlorida 2731 25.38% SOLID MATCH
University of Florida-Online University of Florida-OnlineFlorida 2731 64.38% SOLID MATCH
University of Delaware University of DelawareDelaware 2731 65.11% SOLID MATCH
Lawrence University Lawrence UniversityWisconsin 2732 63.03% SOLID MATCH
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVirginia 2732 57.03% SOLID MATCH
Baylor University Baylor UniversityTexas 2732 50.99% SOLID MATCH
The University of the South The University of the SouthTennessee 2732 50.9% SOLID MATCH
Thomas Jefferson University Thomas Jefferson UniversityPennsylvania 2732 86.14% SOLID MATCH
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusPennsylvania 2732 54.22% SOLID MATCH
Gettysburg College Gettysburg CollegePennsylvania 2732 47.51% SOLID MATCH
Willamette University Willamette UniversityOregon 2732 79.11% SOLID MATCH
The College of Wooster The College of WoosterOhio 2732 54.32% SOLID MATCH
University at Buffalo University at BuffaloNew York 2732 69.3% SOLID MATCH
SUNY at Purchase College SUNY at Purchase CollegeNew York 2732 72.83% SOLID MATCH
Loyola University Maryland Loyola University MarylandMaryland 2732 76.33% SOLID MATCH
Indiana University-Bloomington Indiana University-BloomingtonIndiana 2732 80.37% SOLID MATCH
Wheaton College Wheaton CollegeIllinois 2732 89.98% SOLID MATCH
Whitman College Whitman CollegeWashington 2733 49.99% SOLID MATCH
The University of Texas at Austin The University of Texas at AustinTexas 2733 29.12% COMP. MATCH
Drexel University Drexel UniversityPennsylvania 2733 77.53% SOLID MATCH
Salve Regina University Salve Regina UniversityRhode Island 2630 69.91% PROBABLE
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg Pennsylvania State University-Penn State HarrisburgPennsylvania 2630 96.39% HIGH SAFETY

Your best choices will be the schools and colleges where the average ACT score of the admitted students is 29 to 33. 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 31 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 31 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 31 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 31 Score

How does a 31 ACT score compare to the SAT?

A 31 ACT corresponds to about a 1460 SAT. It’s competitive for many top schools but may not guarantee Ivy League acceptance.

What scholarships are available for a 31 ACT score?

You’re eligible for many merit scholarships, especially if you also have strong extracurriculars and a solid GPA.

Can I get into Ivy League schools with a 31 ACT score?

A 31 is on the lower end for Ivy League schools. You can still be considered if your GPA and extracurriculars are exceptional.

Should I retake the ACT to improve my score?

Retaking is optional unless you're aiming for Ivy League schools, where higher scores are more competitive.

What is the national average ACT score?

The national average ACT score is around 20–21, so a 31 is well above the national average.

Do test-optional colleges consider a 31 ACT score if submitted?

Yes, a 31 ACT will strengthen your application even at test-optional schools.

What GPA is a 31 ACT?

A 31 ACT typically aligns with a GPA of 3.6–3.8, indicating strong academic performance.

Can I get into NYU with a 31 ACT?

Yes, NYU accepts students with ACT scores around 28–32, so a 31 places you well within their typical range.

Is 31 a good ACT score for Harvard?

Harvard generally expects scores closer to 34, but a 31 may still be considered if your application is exceptional in other areas.

Can I get into MIT with a 31 ACT?

MIT usually looks for scores in the 34–36 range, so a 31 is slightly below their typical range. However, other academic strengths can help.

Can I get into Princeton with a 31 ACT score?

Princeton’s average ACT score is closer to 34, but a 31 is still within reach, especially with strong grades and extracurricular activities.

What if you improve your ACT score by 2 points (to 33)?

A score of 33 would place you in a stronger position for Ivy League and other top-tier schools.

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