University Latest News

Low ACT Score: 10 Colleges Accepting Low ACT Score

Author_Image
Tumul Buch
9.6k views

Appearing for college entrance exams is stressful and not everyone excels in their ACT test for different reasons. But don’t be disheartened because that doesn’t mean that you won’t get into any college. There are several 4-year colleges and universities that accept low ACT scores. 

Here we have prepared a list of universities that admit students who scored in the 25th percentile on the ACT. The ACT score in the 25th percentile indicates that 25% of approved applicants had an ACT score in that range or lower. The 75th percentile ACT score indicates that 75% of approved applicants earned an ACT score that was at or below that level (25 percent scored higher). 

With that in mind, let us explore some of the low ACT score colleges. 

Table Of Contents 

  1. What is the lowest ACT score colleges will accept?
  2. 10 Universities Accepting Low ACT Scores

What is the lowest ACT score colleges will accept?

Colleges generally consider a minimum ACT score of 12 for admission. Scores below this threshold may pose challenges in the admission process, impacting your chances of acceptance. It's important to aim for a score that aligns with the requirements of your target colleges and showcases your academic capabilities effectively. If your score falls below 12, exploring opportunities for improvement and considering colleges with more flexible admission criteria may be beneficial.

10 Universities Accepting Low ACT Scores 

Low ACT scores are no longer “the end” to your dream of pursuing undergraduate studies at best universities abroad. Here is the list of 10 universities that accept low ACT Scores. 

The schools are mentioned in ascending order by 25th percentile score (rather than the 75th percentile score) so you could see the lowest ACT scores allowed for admission to these universities. 

College 

ACT 25th 

ACT 75th 

Claflin University 

12

23

Medgar Evers College (City University Of New York)  

13 

16

Livingstone College 

13

16

Shaw University 

13

16

Rust College 

13

17 

Jarvis Christian College 

13

17

Pine Manor College 

13

18

Langston University 

13 

20 

Paul Quinn College 

14

17 

LeMoyne-Owen College 

14

17

Suggested: ACT Exam Eligibility

Let us now explore the universities that accept low ACT scores in detail and have a look at some of the key aspects. 

  • Claflin University 

Claflin University is a private university founded in 1869 and offers a range of undergraduate courses. The university is moderately selective and expects you to meet their GPA and SAT/ACT scores requirements, but they're more flexible than other schools. It states that there is no minimum ACT score requirement. Thus, it can be considered among the colleges that accept 13 ACT scores. However, if you apply with a 12 or lower, you will have a difficult time getting in unless you have something else particularly exceptional in your application. 

Location

Orangeburg, South Carolina 

Acceptance Rate 

41%

Average GPA 

3.28

Average ACT 

17

Average Tuition Fees 

Anywhere between $8482 to $13,336 per semester + additional costs 

  • Medgar Evers College (City University Of New York) 

Medgar Evers College is a public college located in New York City is the senior college of the City University Of New York, offering baccalaureate and associate degrees. It is among the low ACT score colleges and has 7000+ undergraduate students. The school has an open admissions policy. They accept nearly all students, so you just need to submit an application to get in for the most part. 

Location

Brooklyn, New York

Acceptance Rate 

100%

Average GPA 

2.82

Average ACT 

14

Average Tuition Fees 

$18,600 per year + other costs

Suggested: ACT Test Dates and Centers

  • Livingstone College 

Livingstone College is a private and historically black Christian. It is affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. The college is fairly selective which means that if you meet the college’s GPA, SAT/ACT score requirements and other components, you can get in easily. But if not, you may have a hard time getting accepted even if you meet other admission requirements. 

Location

Salisbury, North Carolina

Acceptance Rate 

37.2%

Average GPA 

2.32

Average ACT 

15

Average Tuition Fees 

$25,491 per year 

  • Shaw University 

Shaw University is a private Baptist historically black university in North Carolina. Shaw is known for many significant historical achievements. It was the first university to offer a four-year medical school, the first to offer a school of pharmacy, and the first to offer a law school for freed slaves in the United States and so on. Although it has no minimum ACT requirement, you might face a few difficulties getting in with an ACT score below 13. 

Location

Raleigh, North Carolina 

Acceptance Rate 

52.5%

Average GPA 

2.6

Average ACT 

15

Average Tuition Fees 

$24,994 per year 

Suggested: How to Calculate ACT Scores?

  • Rust College 

A moderately selective college located in Mississippi, Rust college is the second-oldest private college in the state. Affiliated with the United Methodist Church, it is one of ten historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) founded before 1868 that are still operating. Rust college offers 20 bachelors and 2 associate degrees. The college offers bachelors of science, arts, social work and associate of science degrees. 

Location

Holly Springs, Mississippi 

Acceptance Rate 

52.1%

Average GPA 

2.66

Average ACT 

15

Average Tuition Fees 

$16,700 per year 

  • Jarvis Christian College 

Jarvis university is a historically black liberal art, four-year institution affiliated with the Christian church offering a range of undergraduate courses to prepare students for careers in teaching, ministry, government service, science, business, etc. Jarvis serves an increasingly diverse population focusing on holistic personal development in a Christian environment. The college is moderately selective and doesn't have any minimum ACT requirement. 

Location

Hawkins, Texas 

Acceptance Rate 

54%

Average GPA 

2.77

Average ACT 

15

Average Tuition Fees 

$20,704 per year 

Suggested: SAT vs ACT

  • Pine Manor College 

Pine manor is a private college founded in 1911 and was historically a women's college until 2014.  It currently serves fewer than 400 students, many of whom live on the 40-acre campus. Originally the college was a post-graduate program of Dana Hall School, a girls' preparatory high school, although now it is an independent college serving primarily students of colour. It is among the colleges that accept 15 ACT scores. If you have a score below 15, you may face some difficulties. 

Location

Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 

Acceptance Rate 

41%

Average GPA 

2.6

Average ACT 

15

Average Tuition Fees 

$30,660 per year + additional costs 

  • Langston University 

Based in the central Oklahoma town from which it takes its name, Langston University is the only historically black institution in the state. It is the only HBCU in the state of Oklahoma. The university has 3 campuses located in Langston, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa. The university is moderately selective and doesn’t have minimum ACT requirements. 

Location

Langston, Oklahoma

Acceptance Rate 

53.8%

Average GPA 

2.79

Average ACT 

16

Average Tuition Fees 

$26,775 per year

Suggested: Best online coaching for ACT

  • Paul Quinn College 

Paul Quinn College is the first HBCU to open in Texas in 1872 and is located in Dallas. The mission of Paul Quinn College is to provide a quality, faith-based education that addresses the academic, social, and Christian development of students and prepares them to be servant leaders and agents of change in the global marketplace.  The college is moderately selective & doesn't have a minimum ACT requirement. 

Location

Dallas, Texas, United States

Acceptance Rate 

54%

Average GPA 

2.6

Average ACT 

16

Average Tuition Fees 

$14,431 per year + additional costs 

  • LeMoyne-Owen College 

LeMoyne-Owen college is a liberal arts teaching institution. It is an HBCU located in Memphis, Tennessee. It is an open admission college and accepts nearly all students, so for the most part, you just need to submit an application to get in. But if you don't meet all their application requirements, you'll be among the very few applicants who get rejected. 

Location

Memphis, Tennessee

Acceptance Rate 

100%

Average GPA 

2.5

Average ACT 

16

Average Tuition Fees 

$10,776 per year + additional costs

Suggested: How to Prepare for ACT?

We hope that this blog was able to give you an insight into which colleges to look for if your ACT score is on the lower side. Apart from the ones mentioned in this blog, there are various other colleges that do accept students with a low ACT score for undergraduate studies. Do your research well and find the college that suits you best. 

Get in touch with Yocket professionals today to help you find the college suitable for your profile. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Colleges Accepting Low ACT Scores. 

Which are the colleges that accept low ACT scores? 

Which are the colleges that accept 16 ACT score? 

What is the lowest ACT score colleges will accept? 

Articles you might like