Is 28 a good ACT score?
Yes. A 28 is a strong ACT score. On ACT's current national ranks it sits at the 91st percentile, so you scored as high as or higher than 91 percent of recent test takers. The national average is 19.2. A 28 is competitive at most state flagships and many selective colleges, but it sits below the usual range at the most selective schools.
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In more detail
The ACT Composite runs from 1 to 36. Since September 2025 it is the average of English, Math and Reading, rounded to the nearest whole number. Science is optional and reported on its own. So a 28 can come from 27, 28 and 29, or from a lopsided 32, 26 and 26, and colleges see the section scores too.
Good depends on where you apply. ACT itself calls 24 to 28 a strong score for more selective colleges. Look up the middle 50 percent ACT range of each school on your list. If your 28 sits at or above the midpoint, you are in good shape. If it sits near the bottom of the range, a retake can help.
A 28 also matters for money. Many public universities tie automatic merit scholarships to ACT bands, and the cutoffs often sit in the high 20s. Check each school's scholarship page, because one or two points can change the award.
Where 28 sits on the ACT scale
| Composite | National rank | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 63rd percentile | Close to the national average |
| 24 | 80th percentile | Solid at many state universities |
| 28 | 91st percentile | Strong, competitive at selective colleges |
| 30 | 94th percentile | Competitive at highly selective colleges |
| 34 | 99th percentile | Top range for the most selective schools |
Step by step
- 1
Write down the middle 50 percent ACT range for every school on your list.
- 2
Compare your 28 to each midpoint. At or above it, a retake is optional.
- 3
Check the merit scholarship cutoffs. If one or two points unlock a bigger award, plan a retake.
- 4
Look at your section scores and find the one that is clearly lowest.
- 5
Give yourself six to eight weeks. Take one full timed practice test, then drill that section most days.
- 6
Retake once or twice at most. Many colleges superscore, so check each school's policy first.
How StudyPDF helps
If you retake, StudyPDF can turn your prep book chapters, class notes and practice test explanations into quizzes and timed practice exams, each question linked to the page it came from. It tracks which concepts you keep missing, so the next set drills those. The questions are not official ACT questions, so keep the official practice tests for your real score check.
Sources
See also
- AnswerIs 20 a good ACT score?
- AnswerWhat is a good GMAT score?
- AnswerWeighted vs unweighted GPA: how do they differ?
- AnswerWhat is the average SAT score?
- Practice testACT Practice Questions
- AnswerSAT vs ACT: which test should you take?
- AnswerHow is the ACT scored?
- AnswerIs 30 a good ACT score?
- AnswerIs 25 a good ACT score?
- AnswerHow much does the ACT cost?
- StudyPDFAI Practice Exams
More questions
Is a 28 good enough for an Ivy League school?
It is usually below their typical range. The most selective schools report middle 50 percent ACT ranges in the 30s, often 33 or higher. A 28 does not rule you out, especially at test optional schools, but the rest of your application has to carry more weight.
What SAT score is a 28 ACT equal to?
On the official ACT and SAT concordance tables from 2018, a 28 matches about 1310 on the SAT, within a range of 1300 to 1320. Treat it as an estimate, not a promise of the same result on the other test.
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