35 ACT Colleges: Best Schools for 35 ACT Score

A 35 ACT Score is Elite. You have reached the academic ceiling, placing you in the 99th 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 35 acts as proof of high-end cognitive proficiency.

Common Data Set Tip: Analysis of CDS data shows that for Ivy League schools, a 35 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 35 ACT Score

Following is the list of best suited colleges with your 35 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
	University of Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania	34	35	5.87%	ELITE REACH
	Carnegie Mellon University	Pennsylvania	34	35	11.4%	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%	SOLID MATCH
	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
	Rice University	Texas	34	36	7.88%	ELITE REACH
	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Massachusetts	34	36	4.74%	ELITE REACH
	Harvard University	Massachusetts	34	36	3.45%	ELITE REACH
	Harvey Mudd College	California	34	36	13.06%	COMP. MATCH
	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%	LIKELY MATCH
	Boston College	Massachusetts	33	34	15.65%	LIKELY MATCH
	Haverford College	Pennsylvania	33	35	12.91%	SOLID 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%	SOLID 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
	Williams College	Massachusetts	33	35	9.99%	ELITE REACH
	Tufts University	Massachusetts	33	35	10.13%	ELITE REACH
	Wellesley College	Massachusetts	33	35	13.91%	SOLID MATCH
	Bowdoin College	Maine	33	35	8.02%	ELITE REACH
	University of Notre Dame	Indiana	33	35	12.38%	SOLID MATCH
	Northwestern University	Illinois	33	35	7.15%	ELITE REACH
	Emory University-Oxford College	Georgia	33	35	17.25%	SOLID MATCH
	Yale University	Delaware	33	35	4.5%	ELITE REACH
	Wesleyan University	Delaware	33	35	17.1%	SOLID MATCH
	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%	HIGH SAFETY
	University of Virginia-Main Campus	Virginia	32	34	16.86%	LIKELY MATCH
	University of Richmond	Virginia	32	34	23.31%	LIKELY MATCH
	William & Mary	Virginia	32	34	32.72%	LIKELY MATCH
	Villanova University	Pennsylvania	32	34	25.12%	LIKELY MATCH
	Wake Forest University	North Carolina	32	34	21.56%	LIKELY MATCH
	Barnard College	New York	32	34	7.96%	ELITE REACH
	Carleton College	Minnesota	32	34	22.28%	LIKELY MATCH
	Smith College	Massachusetts	32	34	19.73%	LIKELY MATCH
	Boston University	Massachusetts	32	34	10.85%	ELITE REACH
	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%	LIKELY MATCH
	Scripps College	California	32	34	33.94%	LIKELY MATCH
	Washington and Lee University	Virginia	32	35	17.36%	SOLID MATCH
	Case Western Reserve University	Ohio	32	35	28.68%	SOLID 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
	Kenyon College	Ohio	31	34	30.71%	LIKELY MATCH
	Davidson College	North Carolina	31	34	14.48%	LIKELY MATCH
	University of Rochester	New York	31	34	35.85%	LIKELY MATCH
	Stevens Institute of Technology	New Jersey	31	34	43.44%	PROBABLE
	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	Michigan	31	34	17.94%	LIKELY MATCH
	Brandeis University	Massachusetts	31	34	35.31%	LIKELY MATCH
	Grinnell College	Iowa	31	34	12.68%	LIKELY MATCH
	George Washington University	District of Columbia	31	34	43.54%	PROBABLE
	Colorado College	Colorado	31	34	20.03%	LIKELY MATCH
	Occidental College	California	31	34	39.89%	LIKELY MATCH
	Amherst College	Massachusetts	31	35	9.82%	ELITE REACH
	Southern Methodist University	Texas	30	34	61.22%	PROBABLE
	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	North Carolina	30	34	18.74%	LIKELY MATCH
	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	New York	30	34	58.45%	PROBABLE
	Westmont College	California	30	34	79.86%	HIGH SAFETY
	Reed College	Oregon	29	34	27.16%	LIKELY MATCH
	Binghamton University	New York	29	34	37.73%	LIKELY MATCH
	Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology	Indiana	29	34	72.81%	HIGH SAFETY
	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign	Illinois	29	34	43.69%	PROBABLE
	Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus	Georgia	28	34	16.46%	LIKELY MATCH
	Purdue University-Main Campus	Indiana	27	34	50.3%	PROBABLE

Your best choices will be the schools and colleges where the average ACT score of the admitted students is 33 to 36. 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 35 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 35 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 35 Score

How does a 35 ACT score compare to the SAT?

A 35 ACT roughly equals a 1570–1580 SAT score, placing you in the top 1% of test-takers. It’s an excellent score for top-tier colleges.

What scholarships are available for a 35 ACT score?

With a 35 ACT, you are eligible for prestigious merit-based scholarships, including partial and full-ride scholarships at elite universities.

Can I get into Ivy League schools with a 35 ACT score?

Yes, a 35 ACT is highly competitive for Ivy League schools. You would be considered an outstanding applicant for universities like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton.

Should I retake the ACT to improve my score?

Only if your dream school’s average is exactly 36 and you’re aiming for perfection. A 35 is an excellent score, so it’s not necessary unless aiming for an ideal score for a specific scholarship.

What is the national average ACT score?

The national average ACT score is around 20–21. A 35 is well above average and places you among the top students in the nation.

Do test-optional colleges consider a 35 ACT score if submitted?

Absolutely, a 35 ACT score is a strong asset even at test-optional colleges. It will help your application stand out among other applicants.

What GPA is a 35 ACT?

A 35 ACT typically corresponds to a GPA of 3.9 to 4.0, showing excellent academic performance and a strong foundation for success in college.

Can I get into NYU with a 35 ACT?

Definitely. 35 exceeds NYU’s average ACT range, making you a very strong candidate for admission.

Is 35 a good ACT score for Harvard?

Yes, a 35 is excellent for Harvard, placing you among the top applicants for admission.

Can I get into MIT with a 35 ACT?

Yes, 35 is within MIT’s top applicant range. Your chances of admission would be very strong with this score.

Can I get into Princeton with a 35 ACT score?

Yes, a 35 ACT score is highly competitive for Princeton and other top-tier universities.

What if you improve your ACT score by 2 points (to 37)?

The ACT maxes at 36—35 is nearly perfect already! You’ve achieved a top-tier score that will help you get into the most competitive schools.

Best Suited Colleges for ACT Score