33 ACT Colleges: Best Schools for 33 ACT Score

A 33 ACT Score is Superior. You have reached the academic ceiling, placing you in the 95th percentile.

2026 Expert Guidance: At this level, your score is no longer a 'variable'—it is a 'filter pass.' With Harvard, Yale, and Caltech reinstating test mandates for 2026, a 33 acts as proof of high-end cognitive proficiency.

Common Data Set Tip: Analysis of CDS data shows that for Ivy League schools, a 33 often represents the 25th to 50th percentile. To stand out, ensure your 'Spike' (unique extracurricular focus) is as strong as your testing data.

Best Colleges for 33 ACT Score

Following is the list of best suited colleges with your 33 ACT Score.

Logo	College	State	ACT 25th Percentile	ACT 75th Percentile	Acceptance Rate	Status
Logo	College	State	ACT 25th Percentile	ACT 75th Percentile	Acceptance Rate	Status
	Vanderbilt University	Tennessee	34	35	6.28%	ELITE REACH
	Brown University	Rhode Island	34	35	5.23%	ELITE REACH
	Carnegie Mellon University	Pennsylvania	34	35	11.4%	ELITE REACH
	University of Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania	34	35	5.87%	ELITE REACH
	Duke University	North Carolina	34	35	6.78%	ELITE REACH
	Columbia University in the City of New York	New York	34	35	4.23%	ELITE REACH
	Princeton University	New Jersey	34	35	4.5%	ELITE REACH
	Franklin W Olin College of Engineering	Massachusetts	34	35	21.66%	HARD REACH
	Johns Hopkins University	Maryland	34	35	7.56%	ELITE REACH
	University of Chicago	Illinois	34	35	4.79%	ELITE REACH
	Stanford University	California	34	35	3.91%	ELITE REACH
	Middlebury College	Vermont	33	34	10.37%	ELITE REACH
	Swarthmore College	Pennsylvania	33	34	6.94%	ELITE REACH
	Colgate University	New York	33	34	11.95%	ELITE REACH
	The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art	New York	33	34	19.05%	COMP. MATCH
	Boston College	Massachusetts	33	34	15.65%	COMP. MATCH
	Haverford College	Pennsylvania	33	35	12.91%	COMP. MATCH
	Cornell University	New York	33	35	8.16%	ELITE REACH
	Jewish Theological Seminary of America	New York	33	35	45.07%	SOLID MATCH
	New York University	New York	33	35	9.41%	ELITE REACH
	Vassar College	New York	33	35	17.73%	COMP. MATCH
	Dartmouth College	New Hampshire	33	35	6.23%	ELITE REACH
	Washington University in St Louis	Missouri	33	35	11.96%	ELITE REACH
	Northeastern University	Massachusetts	33	35	5.65%	ELITE REACH
	Tufts University	Massachusetts	33	35	10.13%	ELITE REACH
	Wellesley College	Massachusetts	33	35	13.91%	COMP. MATCH
	Williams College	Massachusetts	33	35	9.99%	ELITE REACH
	Bowdoin College	Maine	33	35	8.02%	ELITE REACH
	University of Notre Dame	Indiana	33	35	12.38%	COMP. MATCH
	Northwestern University	Illinois	33	35	7.15%	ELITE REACH
	Emory University-Oxford College	Georgia	33	35	17.25%	COMP. MATCH
	Wesleyan University	Delaware	33	35	17.1%	COMP. MATCH
	Yale University	Delaware	33	35	4.5%	ELITE REACH
	Claremont McKenna College	California	33	35	11.12%	ELITE REACH
	Pomona College	California	33	35	6.76%	ELITE REACH
	University of Washington-Bothell Campus	Washington	32	34	91.77%	SOLID MATCH
	University of Virginia-Main Campus	Virginia	32	34	16.86%	COMP. MATCH
	University of Richmond	Virginia	32	34	23.31%	COMP. MATCH
	William & Mary	Virginia	32	34	32.72%	SOLID MATCH
	Villanova University	Pennsylvania	32	34	25.12%	COMP. MATCH
	Wake Forest University	North Carolina	32	34	21.56%	COMP. MATCH
	Barnard College	New York	32	34	7.96%	ELITE REACH
	Carleton College	Minnesota	32	34	22.28%	COMP. MATCH
	Boston University	Massachusetts	32	34	10.85%	ELITE REACH
	Smith College	Massachusetts	32	34	19.73%	COMP. MATCH
	Colby College	Maine	32	34	6.83%	ELITE REACH
	Emory University	Georgia	32	34	11.1%	ELITE REACH
	Georgetown University	District of Columbia	32	34	13.08%	COMP. MATCH
	Scripps College	California	32	34	33.94%	SOLID MATCH
	Washington and Lee University	Virginia	32	35	17.36%	COMP. MATCH
	Case Western Reserve University	Ohio	32	35	28.68%	COMP. MATCH
	Hamilton College	New York	32	35	11.77%	ELITE REACH
	University of Maryland-College Park	Maryland	32	35	44.84%	SOLID MATCH
	University of Southern California	California	32	35	10.02%	ELITE REACH
	Bucknell University	Pennsylvania	31	33	32.01%	SOLID MATCH
	Lehigh University	Pennsylvania	31	33	29.26%	SOLID MATCH
	Mount Holyoke College	Massachusetts	31	33	38.29%	SOLID MATCH
	Bates College	Maine	31	33	13.02%	SOLID MATCH
	Tulane University of Louisiana	Louisiana	31	33	14.59%	SOLID MATCH
	Simpson College	Iowa	31	33	88.88%	SOLID MATCH
	Connecticut College	Connecticut	31	33	38.28%	SOLID MATCH
	Northeastern University Oakland	California	31	33	16.54%	SOLID MATCH
	Kenyon College	Ohio	31	34	30.71%	SOLID MATCH
	Davidson College	North Carolina	31	34	14.48%	COMP. MATCH
	University of Rochester	New York	31	34	35.85%	SOLID MATCH
	Stevens Institute of Technology	New Jersey	31	34	43.44%	SOLID MATCH
	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	Michigan	31	34	17.94%	COMP. MATCH
	Brandeis University	Massachusetts	31	34	35.31%	SOLID MATCH
	Grinnell College	Iowa	31	34	12.68%	COMP. MATCH
	George Washington University	District of Columbia	31	34	43.54%	SOLID MATCH
	Colorado College	Colorado	31	34	20.03%	COMP. MATCH
	Occidental College	California	31	34	39.89%	SOLID MATCH
	Amherst College	Massachusetts	31	35	9.82%	ELITE REACH
	Bennington College	Vermont	30	32	48.04%	PROBABLE
	Bard College	New York	30	32	52.29%	PROBABLE
	Trinity University	Texas	30	33	28.16%	SOLID MATCH
	Rhode Island School of Design	Rhode Island	30	33	13.81%	SOLID MATCH
	Lafayette College	Pennsylvania	30	33	31.47%	SOLID MATCH
	Bryn Mawr College	Pennsylvania	30	33	31.06%	SOLID MATCH
	Oberlin College	Ohio	30	33	32.98%	SOLID MATCH
	Fordham University	New York	30	33	56.28%	SOLID MATCH
	Skidmore College	New York	30	33	22.92%	SOLID MATCH
	Union College	New York	30	33	43.79%	SOLID MATCH
	Macalester College	Minnesota	30	33	28.21%	SOLID MATCH
	Hillsdale College	Michigan	30	33	20.59%	SOLID MATCH
	Babson College	Massachusetts	30	33	19.74%	SOLID MATCH
	Clark University	Massachusetts	30	33	41.67%	SOLID MATCH
	Emerson College	Massachusetts	30	33	47.48%	SOLID MATCH
	University of Miami	Florida	30	33	18.51%	SOLID MATCH
	Trinity College	Delaware	30	33	33.52%	SOLID MATCH
	Santa Clara University	California	30	33	43.84%	SOLID MATCH
	Southern Methodist University	Texas	30	34	61.22%	SOLID MATCH
	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	North Carolina	30	34	18.74%	COMP. MATCH
	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	New York	30	34	58.45%	SOLID MATCH
	Westmont College	California	30	34	79.86%	SOLID MATCH
	University of Vermont	Vermont	29	32	60.02%	PROBABLE
	Franklin and Marshall College	Pennsylvania	29	32	31.83%	LIKELY MATCH
	Denison University	Ohio	29	32	16.93%	LIKELY MATCH
	Ohio State University-Main Campus	Ohio	29	32	50.82%	PROBABLE
	St Lawrence University	New York	29	32	58.47%	PROBABLE
	Bentley University	Massachusetts	29	32	48.44%	PROBABLE
	St. John's College	Maryland	29	32	44.29%	PROBABLE
	Fairfield University	Connecticut	29	32	44.98%	PROBABLE
	University of Denver	Colorado	29	32	71.19%	HIGH SAFETY
	University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus	Pennsylvania	29	33	49.7%	SOLID MATCH
	Rochester Institute of Technology	New York	29	33	71.4%	SOLID MATCH
	Sarah Lawrence College	New York	29	33	58.93%	SOLID MATCH
	University of Massachusetts-Amherst	Massachusetts	29	33	57.77%	SOLID MATCH
	Wheaton College (Massachusetts)	Massachusetts	29	33	71.33%	SOLID MATCH
	American University	District of Columbia	29	33	47.38%	SOLID MATCH
	University of Connecticut	Connecticut	29	33	53.95%	SOLID MATCH
	Colorado School of Mines	Colorado	29	33	59.71%	SOLID MATCH
	Reed College	Oregon	29	34	27.16%	COMP. MATCH
	Binghamton University	New York	29	34	37.73%	SOLID MATCH
	Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology	Indiana	29	34	72.81%	SOLID MATCH
	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign	Illinois	29	34	43.69%	SOLID MATCH
	University of Wisconsin-Madison	Wisconsin	28	32	43.35%	PROBABLE
	DigiPen Institute of Technology	Washington	28	32	68.02%	PROBABLE
	Brigham Young University	Utah	28	32	69.19%	PROBABLE
	Clemson University	South Carolina	28	32	38.05%	LIKELY MATCH

Your best choices will be the schools and colleges where the average ACT score of the admitted students is 31 to 35. 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 33 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 33 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.

FAQ for ACT 33 Score

How does a 33 ACT score compare to the SAT?

A 33 ACT score is equivalent to about a 1540 SAT score. This is an excellent score and places you well within the range of top colleges and universities.

What scholarships are available for a 33 ACT score?

You’re eligible for many high-value scholarships, including some full rides. A 33 puts you in the running for merit-based awards at prestigious schools.

Can I get into Ivy League schools with a 33 ACT score?

Yes, a 33 ACT score is very competitive for Ivy League admissions. It puts you in the upper tier of applicants for top universities like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton.

Should I retake the ACT to improve my score?

Only if you’re aiming for perfection or a competitive scholarship that requires a 35–36. A 33 is a great score, so retaking the ACT is optional unless needed for specific goals.

What is the national average ACT score?

The national average is 20–21, so a 33 is well above average. It places you in the top 5% of test-takers.

Do test-optional colleges consider a 33 ACT score if submitted?

Yes, submitting your 33 ACT can help differentiate you from other applicants, even at test-optional colleges.

What GPA is a 33 ACT?

A 33 ACT is typically associated with a GPA of around 3.7 to 3.9, reflecting strong academic performance and a high likelihood of success at competitive colleges.

Can I get into NYU with a 33 ACT?

Yes, NYU typically accepts ACT scores ranging from 30–34, so a 33 is well within their range and will make you a competitive applicant.

Is 33 a good ACT score for Harvard?

Yes, a 33 is excellent for Harvard. While Harvard often admits students with even higher scores, a 33 places you within the competitive range.

Can I get into MIT with a 33 ACT?

Yes, but MIT tends to favor applicants with scores higher than a 33. A higher score would make your application more competitive, but 33 is still within the acceptable range.

Can I get into Princeton with a 33 ACT score?

Yes, a 33 ACT score is highly competitive for Princeton, although you may want to focus on improving other parts of your application for an even better chance.

What if you improve your ACT score by 2 points (to 35)?

Improving from 33 to 35 could slightly boost your Ivy chances. However, 33 is already excellent and will make you competitive at most top universities.

Best Suited Colleges for ACT Score