Since 2023, the NCAA no longer requires SAT or ACT scores for initial athletic eligibility. This has led many student-athletes to believe that taking the ACT is optional. While you can indeed compete without an ACT score, taking the test can still have a major financial benefit. Your ACT score can help determine how much academic merit aid you may qualify for. A strong ACT score can therefore help reduce your overall college costs and, in some cases, allow you to combine academic and athletic scholarships to create a much more affordable financial package. An ACT score of 30 or higher can open the door to significant merit scholarship opportunities at some US universities. In this article, we explain what different ACT scores can mean for your college scholarship opportunities.
ACT Scores Explained
The New ACT Format: 2025–2026
The ACT is scored on a scale from 1 to 36. Following the recent changes to the ACT, the Composite Score is now based on three sections: English, Math, and Reading. Science is now an optional section and no longer counts toward the Composite Score.
The test is designed to measure your academic readiness for college. Your ACT score can therefore play an important role in both the admissions process and your eligibility for merit-based scholarships.
Your Composite Score is calculated from your English, Math, and Reading scores. A strong overall score can make you a more competitive applicant and may help you qualify for additional academic funding.
What is a good, high, or maximum ACT score?
To determine how strong your ACT score is, colleges look at your score in relation to other applicants. Generally, the higher your ACT score, the more competitive your application and scholarship opportunities can be.
| ACT Score | Percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| 34–36 | Top ~1–3% | Maximum score |
| 30–33 | Top ~2–6% | Excellent |
| 26–29 | Top ~8–14% | Above average |
| 22–25 | Above average | Average |
| 18–21 | Around average | Below average |
Percentile rankings can vary depending on the ACT testing population and reporting year.
ACT Scholarship Table: What Is Your Score Worth?
Many US universities use ACT scores as one factor when awarding academic merit scholarships. A good ACT score can therefore be worth thousands of dollars per year.
As an example, universities such as the University of Alabama publish scholarship awards based on a combination of ACT scores and GPA.
Example: ACT score and merit scholarship opportunities
| Scholarship | ACT | SAT | GPA | Annual value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crimson Legends | 25–26 | 1200–1250 | 3.50+ | $6,000 |
| Capstone | 27 | 1260–1290 | 3.50+ | $8,000 |
| Collegiate | 28 | 1300–1320 | 3.50+ | $10,000 |
| Foundation in Excellence | 29 | 1330–1350 | 3.50+ | $15,000 |
| UA Scholar | 30–31 | 1360–1410 | 3.50+ | $24,000 |
| Presidential | 32–36 | 1420–1600 | 3.50+ | $28,000 |
| Presidential Elite | 36 | 1600 | 4.00+ | Tuition + extras |
Scholarship requirements and award amounts vary by university and can change from year to year. Always check the current scholarship requirements of the university you are considering.
Why Does Made Scholarships Recommend Taking the ACT?
Even though the NCAA no longer requires ACT or SAT scores for initial eligibility in Division I and Division II, we still recommend that many international student-athletes take the ACT.
There are several reasons why.
The NCAA no longer requires test scores, but universities still may
Since 2023, the NCAA Eligibility Center has no longer required standardized test scores for initial eligibility in Division I and Division II. Your academic eligibility is instead determined by factors such as your high school coursework and grades.
However, individual colleges and universities can still have their own admission and scholarship requirements. Some institutions use ACT scores when determining merit-based financial aid. ACT itself notes that test scores can be an important factor in academic scholarships.
You may be able to skip an English proficiency test
At some US universities, an ACT score may help satisfy an English proficiency requirement, depending on the university and your individual circumstances. However, this is not universal, so you should always check the specific requirements of your target university.
A strong ACT score can save you thousands of dollars
A high ACT score can make you eligible for academic merit scholarships that reduce your overall college costs.
NCAA scholarships are only one part of the financial picture. Student-athletes can often combine athletic scholarships with other forms of financial aid, including academic scholarships.
That means a strong academic profile can make a significant difference when you are comparing different college offers.
The ACT Exam: When to Take It, Retake It and Superscore
Plan your test around the recruiting calendar, not the school calendar
American college coaches often begin recruiting well before a student-athlete’s final year of high school. That’s why we recommend taking the ACT early enough that you have an official score available when coaches start seriously considering your profile.
Ideally, you should take the test before your final year of high school. This gives you time to prepare, retake the test if necessary, and send your score to universities during the recruiting process.
Retaking the test can also be useful. Many colleges accept ACT superscores, which combine your best individual section scores from multiple test dates. However, not every university or scholarship program uses superscoring, so always check the specific policy of your target school.
For example, some universities explicitly do not use superscores when awarding merit scholarships.
Get Your ACT Score Working for You
An ACT score can give you an additional tool during the college recruiting process. The higher your score, the more opportunities you may have to qualify for academic merit aid at universities that use standardized test scores as part of their scholarship criteria.
This can be especially valuable for student-athletes because academic aid may be combined with athletic aid, depending on the university and applicable rules.
Would you like to know what ACT score you should aim for based on your academic and athletic profile?
Contact Made Scholarships for a free consultation.
We can help you identify universities where your combination of athletic ability, grades and ACT score gives you the best opportunity to build an affordable college package.