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.
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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.
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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 |
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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
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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 |
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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?
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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 |
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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
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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 |
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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
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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 |
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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.
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