Colleges that accept a 26 ACT

The list (100 of 434)

Four-year colleges with 500 or more undergraduates where 26 is between the 25th and 75th percentile ACT composite, closest to the middle first, 100 of 434 shown. Score ranges come from IPEDS (fall 2024) for 88 colleges, each college's own Common Data Set (fall 2025) for 11 colleges and each college's own Common Data Set (fall 2024) for 1 college.

1. University of Houston ACT 23–29 Houston, TX · Admitted 74% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
2. Virginia Commonwealth University ACT 22–30 Richmond, VA · Admitted 93% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
3. Grand Valley State University ACT 22–30 Allendale, MI · Admitted 83% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
4. Rowan University ACT 23–29 Glassboro, NJ · Admitted 78% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
5. West Chester University of Pennsylvania ACT 24–28 West Chester, PA · Admitted 78% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
6. University of Toledo ACT 23–29 Toledo, OH · Admitted 92% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
7. University of Michigan-Dearborn ACT 24–28 Dearborn, MI · Admitted 56% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
8. State University of New York at Oswego ACT 23–29 Oswego, NY · Admitted 81% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
9. Ramapo College of New Jersey ACT 22–30 Mahwah, NJ · Admitted 71% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
10. Suffolk University ACT 24–28 Boston, MA · Admitted 82% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
11. University of Southern Maine ACT 24–28 Portland, ME · Admitted 79% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
12. University of North Carolina Asheville ACT 23–29 Asheville, NC · Admitted 92% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
13. The Evergreen State College ACT 23–29 Olympia, WA · Admitted 96% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
14. SUNY Polytechnic Institute ACT 22–30 Utica, NY · Admitted 81% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
15. Union University ACT 22–30 Jackson, TN · Admitted 60% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
16. University of St Francis ACT 20–32 Joliet, IL · Admitted 65% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
17. Juniata College ACT 22–30 Huntingdon, PA · Admitted 79% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
18. Meredith College ACT 23–29 Raleigh, NC · Admitted 74% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
19. Austin College ACT 22–30 Sherman, TX · Admitted 48% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
20. Coe College ACT 23–29 Cedar Rapids, IA · Admitted 64% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
21. Hanover College ACT 23–29 Hanover, IN · Admitted 84% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
22. Wisconsin Lutheran College ACT 23–29 Milwaukee, WI · Admitted 78% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
23. Washington College ACT 22–30 Chestertown, MD · Admitted 64% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
24. Westminster University ACT 23–29 Salt Lake City, UT · Admitted 67% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
25. Cleveland Institute of Art ACT 23–29 Cleveland, OH · Admitted 61% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
26. The University of Alabama ACT 22–31 Tuscaloosa, AL · Admitted 71% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Scores required for some, fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
27. Texas Tech University ACT 23–28 Lubbock, TX · Admitted 73% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
28. University of Cincinnati ACT 24–29 Cincinnati, OH · Admitted 85% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
29. University of Utah ACT 22–29 Salt Lake City, UT · Admitted 90% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
30. University of Missouri ACT 23–30 Columbia, MO · Admitted 79% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
31. University of Oklahoma ACT 23–28 Norman, OK · Admitted 78% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
32. James Madison University ACT 24–29 Harrisonburg, VA · Admitted 72% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
33. University of Oregon ACT 22–29 Eugene, OR · Admitted 87% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
34. Old Dominion University ACT 24–29 Norfolk, VA · Admitted 90% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
35. Wayne State University ACT 23–28 Detroit, MI · Admitted 84% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
36. University of North Carolina Wilmington ACT 24–29 Wilmington, NC · Admitted 64% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
37. University of Louisiana at Lafayette ACT 23–28 Lafayette, LA · Admitted 87% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
38. University of Alabama at Birmingham ACT 23–30 Birmingham, AL · Admitted 88% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
39. University of Massachusetts-Boston ACT 22–29 Boston, MA · Admitted 84% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
40. St. John's University-New York ACT 24–29 Queens, NY · Admitted 83% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
41. University of Maine ACT 23–30 Orono, ME · Admitted 96% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
42. Pace University ACT 24–29 New York, NY · Admitted 76% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
43. University of Minnesota-Duluth ACT 23–28 Duluth, MN · Admitted 89% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
44. Elon University ACT 23–28 Elon, NC · Admitted 66% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
45. Long Island University ACT 21–30 Brookville, NY · Admitted 86% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
46. Purdue University Fort Wayne ACT 22–29 Fort Wayne, IN · Admitted 84% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
47. Xavier University ACT 22–29 Cincinnati, OH · Admitted 86% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
48. Seattle University ACT 23–30 Seattle, WA · Admitted 77% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
49. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg ACT 22–31 Middletown, PA · Admitted 98% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
50. Cedarville University ACT 22–29 Cedarville, OH · Admitted 65% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
51. Roger Williams University ACT 24–29 Bristol, RI · Admitted 88% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
52. Monmouth University ACT 24–29 West Long Branch, NJ · Admitted 89% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
53. Biola University ACT 24–29 La Mirada, CA · Admitted 74% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
54. Florida Institute of Technology ACT 23–28 Melbourne, FL · Admitted 58% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
55. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott ACT 24–29 Prescott, AZ · Admitted 77% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
56. Anderson University ACT 22–29 Anderson, SC · Admitted 55% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
57. St. Joseph's University-New York ACT 24–29 Brooklyn, NY · Admitted 72% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
58. Elmhurst University ACT 23–30 Elmhurst, IL · Admitted 74% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
59. Lipscomb University ACT 23–30 Nashville, TN · Admitted 68% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
60. Iona University ACT 24–29 New Rochelle, NY · Admitted 87% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
61. Jacksonville University ACT 23–28 Jacksonville, FL · Admitted 57% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
62. Franciscan University of Steubenville ACT 22–29 Steubenville, OH · Admitted 58% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
63. Baldwin Wallace University ACT 22–29 Berea, OH · Admitted 76% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
64. SUNY at Fredonia ACT 23–28 Fredonia, NY · Admitted 78% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
65. Regis University ACT 22–29 Denver, CO · Admitted 87% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
66. St. John Fisher University ACT 23–28 Rochester, NY · Admitted 66% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
67. Drake University ACT 24–29 Des Moines, IA · Admitted 64% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
68. Ohio Northern University ACT 24–29 Ada, OH · Admitted 74% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
69. North Central College ACT 24–29 Naperville, IL · Admitted 77% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
70. Benedictine College ACT 22–29 Atchison, KS · Admitted 98% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
71. Bellarmine University ACT 23–28 Louisville, KY · Admitted 86% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
72. Wilkes University ACT 22–29 Wilkes-Barre, PA · Admitted 91% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
73. Moravian University ACT 24–29 Bethlehem, PA · Admitted 54% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
74. Eckerd College ACT 24–29 Saint Petersburg, FL · Admitted 76% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
75. Wagner College ACT 23–28 Staten Island, NY · Admitted 88% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
76. Delaware Valley University ACT 23–30 Doylestown, PA · Admitted 93% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
77. Marymount Manhattan College ACT 24–27 New York, NY · Admitted 83% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
78. Berea College ACT 23–28 Berea, KY · Admitted 19% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
79. LeTourneau University ACT 21–30 Longview, TX · Admitted 38% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
80. Alfred University ACT 24–29 Alfred, NY · Admitted 74% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
81. University of Dallas ACT 22–29 Irving, TX · Admitted 53% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
82. Drury University ACT 22–29 Springfield, MO · Admitted 58% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
83. Luther College ACT 22–29 Decorah, IA · Admitted 72% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
84. Oglethorpe University ACT 22–31 Atlanta, GA · Admitted 88% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
85. Chatham University ACT 21–30 Pittsburgh, PA · Admitted 62% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
86. Knox College ACT 21–32 Galesburg, IL · Admitted 71% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
87. Cornell College ACT 23–30 Mount Vernon, IA · Admitted 80% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
88. United States Merchant Marine Academy ACT 22–29 Kings Point, NY · Admitted 34% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
89. Hampden-Sydney College ACT 23–28 Hampden-Sydney, VA · Admitted 41% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
90. University of North Carolina School of the Arts ACT 22–29 Winston Salem, NC · Admitted 30% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
91. Covenant College ACT 23–30 Lookout Mountain, GA · Admitted 87% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
92. Wabash College ACT 23–28 Crawfordsville, IN · Admitted 63% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
93. University of Arizona ACT 21–29 Tucson, AZ · Admitted 86% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
94. University of South Florida ACT 25–29 Tampa, FL · Admitted 41% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
95. LSU ACT 24–30 Baton Rouge, LA · Admitted 73% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Scores required for some, fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2024
96. University of Mississippi ACT 21–29 University, MS · Admitted 97% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
97. Ohio University ACT 22–28 Athens, OH · Admitted 85% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
98. Mississippi State University ACT 21–29 Mississippi State, MS · Admitted 84% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
99. Indiana University-Indianapolis ACT 21–29 Indianapolis, IN · Admitted 76% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
100. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach ACT 24–30 Daytona Beach, FL · Admitted 65% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024

What colleges accept a 26 ACT score?

A 26 ACT is in the middle 50% of first-year scores at 434 four-year colleges. The 100 below are the ones where 26 sits closest to the middle of the range, including University of Arizona, University of Houston and University of South Florida. Colleges don't set a minimum score, so a 26 inside a college's middle 50% means it is a typical score among the first-years who sent one.

Which of these colleges admit the most applicants?

Benedictine College admitted 98% of fall 2024 applicants, Penn State Harrisburg admitted 98% of fall 2024 applicants and University of Mississippi admitted 97% of fall 2025 applicants. Among the 100 colleges listed, 56 admitted three in four applicants or more.

Which colleges on this list are hardest to get into?

Berea College admitted 19% of fall 2024 applicants, University of North Carolina School of the Arts admitted 30% of fall 2024 applicants and United States Merchant Marine Academy admitted 34% of fall 2024 applicants: the lowest rates on this list.

Do I have to send my ACT score to these colleges?

It depends on the college. We read the fall 2027 rule on the college's own site for 6 colleges on this list: 4 are test-optional, 2 require it for some applicants. For the others, check the college's admissions page before you decide.