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Colleges that accept a 34 ACT

Updated Federal and Common Data Set numbers, each with its year

The short answer

A 34 ACT is in the middle 50% of first-year scores at 86 four-year colleges, including Purdue, Rutgers and Illinois.

Each college reports the ACT scores of the first-year students who sent one: a quarter scored below the 25th percentile and a quarter above the 75th. When 34 falls between the two, it's a typical score there. Many of these colleges are test-optional, so the range describes only the students who chose to send a score.

The list (86)

Four-year colleges with 500 or more undergraduates where 34 is between the 25th and 75th percentile ACT composite, closest to the middle first. Score ranges come from each college's own Common Data Set (fall 2025) for 67 colleges, IPEDS (fall 2024) for 16 colleges and each college's own Common Data Set (fall 2024) for 3 colleges.

  1. Cornell University ACT 33–35 Ithaca, NY · Admitted 8.4% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) SAT or ACT required for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  2. Boston College ACT 33–35 Chestnut Hill, MA · Admitted 16% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2024
  3. University of Notre Dame ACT 33–35 Notre Dame, IN · Admitted 9.4% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  4. Washington University in St Louis ACT 33–35 St. Louis, MO · Admitted 12% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  5. Harvard University ACT 33–35 Cambridge, MA · Admitted 4.2% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) SAT or ACT required for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  6. Emory University ACT 33–35 Atlanta, GA · Admitted 10% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  7. Tufts University ACT 33–35 Medford, MA · Admitted 11% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  8. Yale University ACT 33–35 New Haven, CT · Admitted 4.7% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) SAT or ACT required for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  9. Colgate University ACT 33–35 Hamilton, NY · Admitted 18% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  10. Middlebury College ACT 33–35 Middlebury, VT · Admitted 13% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  11. Wellesley College ACT 33–35 Wellesley, MA · Admitted 15% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  12. Hamilton College ACT 33–35 Clinton, NY · Admitted 14% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  13. Amherst College ACT 33–35 Amherst, MA · Admitted 7.7% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  14. Bowdoin College ACT 33–35 Brunswick, ME · Admitted 6.8% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  15. Pomona College ACT 33–35 Claremont, CA · Admitted 7.1% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  16. Swarthmore College ACT 33–35 Swarthmore, PA · Admitted 7.5% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  17. Claremont McKenna College ACT 33–35 Claremont, CA · Admitted 9.4% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  18. University of Maryland ACT 32–35 College Park, MD · Admitted 45% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  19. New York University ACT 34–35 New York, NY · Admitted 9.1% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  20. University of Southern California ACT 32–35 Los Angeles, CA · Admitted 11% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  21. Boston University ACT 33–34 Boston, MA · Admitted 13% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  22. University of Virginia ACT 32–35 Charlottesville, VA · Admitted 17% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2024
  23. Northeastern University ACT 33–34 Boston, MA · Admitted 5.6% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  24. Northwestern University ACT 34–35 Evanston, IL · Admitted 7.5% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  25. Columbia University in the City of New York ACT 34–35 New York, NY · Admitted 4.9% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  26. Georgetown University ACT 32–35 Washington, DC · Admitted 14% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) SAT or ACT required for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  27. University of Chicago ACT 34–35 Chicago, IL · Admitted 4.5% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  28. Brown University ACT 34–35 Providence, RI · Admitted 5.4% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) SAT or ACT required for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2024
  29. Vanderbilt University ACT 34–35 Nashville, TN · Admitted 5.4% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  30. Duke University ACT 34–35 Durham, NC · Admitted 5.2% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  31. Princeton University ACT 34–35 Princeton, NJ · Admitted 4.4% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  32. Dartmouth College ACT 32–35 Hanover, NH · Admitted 6% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) SAT or ACT required for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  33. Massachusetts Institute of Technology ACT 34–35 Cambridge, MA · Admitted 4.6% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) SAT or ACT required for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  34. Barnard College ACT 32–35 New York, NY · Admitted 10% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  35. Wesleyan University ACT 32–35 Middletown, CT · Admitted 16% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  36. University of Richmond ACT 33–34 University of Richmond, VA · Admitted 22% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  37. Vassar College ACT 33–34 Poughkeepsie, NY · Admitted 21% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  38. Carleton College ACT 32–35 Northfield, MN · Admitted 22% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  39. Williams College ACT 34–35 Williamstown, MA · Admitted 8.6% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  40. Washington and Lee University ACT 33–34 Lexington, VA · Admitted 14% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  41. Haverford College ACT 33–34 Haverford, PA · Admitted 13% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  42. Bennington College ACT 33–34 Bennington, VT · Admitted 37% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  43. University of Michigan ACT 32–34 Ann Arbor, MI · Admitted 16% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  44. Georgia Tech ACT 31–35 Atlanta, GA · Admitted 13% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) SAT or ACT required for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  45. University of Pennsylvania ACT 34–36 Philadelphia, PA · Admitted 4.9% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) SAT or ACT required for fall 2027 Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  46. Tulane University ACT 32–34 New Orleans, LA · Admitted 14% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  47. Stanford University ACT 34–36 Stanford, CA · Admitted 3.8% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) SAT or ACT required for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  48. Carnegie Mellon University ACT 34–36 Pittsburgh, PA · Admitted 11% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Scores required for some, fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  49. William & Mary ACT 32–34 Williamsburg, VA · Admitted 37% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  50. Villanova University ACT 32–34 Villanova, PA · Admitted 28% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  51. Case Western Reserve University ACT 32–34 Cleveland, OH · Admitted 35% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  52. Wake Forest University ACT 32–34 Winston-Salem, NC · Admitted 21% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  53. Rice University ACT 34–36 Houston, TX · Admitted 8% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  54. Stevens Institute of Technology ACT 32–34 Hoboken, NJ · Admitted 51% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  55. Smith College ACT 32–34 Northampton, MA · Admitted 22% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  56. Colby College ACT 32–34 Waterville, ME · Admitted 7.1% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  57. Davidson College ACT 32–34 Davidson, NC · Admitted 13% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  58. Scripps College ACT 32–34 Claremont, CA · Admitted 40% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  59. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ACT 31–34 Champaign, IL · Admitted 37% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  60. George Washington University ACT 31–34 Washington, DC · Admitted 47% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  61. University of Rochester ACT 31–34 Rochester, NY · Admitted 42% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  62. Lehigh University ACT 31–34 Bethlehem, PA · Admitted 29% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  63. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ACT 31–34 Troy, NY · Admitted 67% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  64. Brandeis University ACT 31–34 Waltham, MA · Admitted 45% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  65. Babson College ACT 31–34 Wellesley, MA · Admitted 17% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  66. Rhode Island School of Design ACT 31–34 Providence, RI · Admitted 19% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  67. Occidental College ACT 31–34 Los Angeles, CA · Admitted 44% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  68. Bates College ACT 31–34 Lewiston, ME · Admitted 15% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  69. Kenyon College ACT 31–34 Gambier, OH · Admitted 30% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  70. Grinnell College ACT 31–34 Grinnell, IA · Admitted 14% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  71. University of Washington ACT 30–34 Seattle, WA · Admitted 42% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-free for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  72. UMass Amherst ACT 30–34 Amherst, MA · Admitted 60% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  73. Stony Brook University ACT 30–34 Stony Brook, NY · Admitted 48% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  74. Southern Methodist University ACT 30–34 Dallas, TX · Admitted 63% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  75. Trinity University ACT 30–34 San Antonio, TX · Admitted 25% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  76. Trinity College ACT 30–34 Hartford, CT · Admitted 30% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  77. Rutgers University–New Brunswick ACT 29–34 New Brunswick, NJ · Admitted 59% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  78. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ACT 29–34 Chapel Hill, NC · Admitted 17% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Scores required for some, fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  79. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology ACT 29–34 Terre Haute, IN · Admitted 77% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  80. Reed College ACT 29–34 Portland, OR · Admitted 29% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-free for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  81. Purdue University ACT 28–34 West Lafayette, IN · Admitted 43% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) SAT or ACT required for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  82. Colorado College ACT 28–34 Colorado Springs, CO · Admitted 22% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  83. Cooper Union ACT 28–34 New York, NY · Admitted 21% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Scores required for some, fall 2027 Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  84. New Jersey Institute of Technology ACT 27–34 Newark, NJ · Admitted 65% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  85. Simmons University ACT 26–34 Boston, MA · Admitted 70% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  86. University of Tulsa ACT 25–34 Tulsa, OK · Admitted 62% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
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What colleges accept a 34 ACT score?

A 34 ACT is in the middle 50% of first-year scores at 86 four-year colleges, including Purdue, Rutgers and Illinois. Colleges don't set a minimum score, so a 34 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?

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology admitted 77% of fall 2024 applicants, Simmons University admitted 70% of fall 2024 applicants and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admitted 67% of fall 2025 applicants. Among the 86 colleges listed, 1 admitted three in four applicants or more.

Which colleges on this list are hardest to get into?

Stanford admitted 3.8% of fall 2025 applicants, Harvard admitted 4.2% of fall 2025 applicants and Princeton admitted 4.4% of fall 2025 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 70 colleges on this list: 11 require a score, 54 are test-optional, 3 require it for some applicants, 2 won't look at scores. For the others, check the college's admissions page before you decide.

Numbers change each year when colleges and the Department of Education publish new data. Confirm costs and admission rules with the college before you apply.

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