Is a 23 a good ACT score? It's the 76th percentile (above average), in range at many state universities. See colleges, scholarships, and retake advice.
Larry Learns
A 23 ACT puts you in the 76th percentile, above average and in range at many state universities. Here's where a 23 is competitive, which reach schools to aim for, the modest scholarship doors it opens, and the concrete next steps to push your score higher.
A 23 is an above-average ACT score, landing in the 76th percentile and beating roughly three-quarters of all test-takers. It's a genuinely strong number for a wide swath of state universities, especially if you're aiming at large public flagships in the South and Midwest where a 23 sits at or above the typical admitted student.
What Percentile Is a 23 ACT Score?
A 23 ACT places you in the 76th percentile nationally, meaning you scored higher than about 76% of test-takers. That's well above the national average composite of 19.4 for the 2025 graduating class. On the official 2018 ACT/SAT concordance, a 23 converts to an SAT score of roughly 1140.
A 23 puts you in range at a broad set of well-known state universities. Below are real, verified middle-50% ACT ranges pulled directly from each school's official 2024-25 Common Data Set. One important caveat: most of the schools here are test-optional, so each range reflects only the share of enrolled freshmen who actually submitted ACT scores (noted per school below) and those submitter pools skew higher than the full class.
College
Middle 50% ACT
Where a 23 Lands
University of Alabama
22-30
Within range. Just above the 25th percentile (22), below the median (26). Range reflects the 54% who submitted ACT scores.
University of Iowa
21-28
Within range. Above the 25th percentile (21), just below the median (24). Range reflects the ~57% who submitted ACT scores.
University of Kansas
20-28
Within range. Comfortably above the 25th percentile (20), below the median (24). Range reflects the 55% who submitted ACT scores.
University of Kentucky
21-28
Within range. Above the 25th percentile (21), below the median (25). Range reflects the 50% who submitted ACT scores.
University of Cincinnati
24-29
Just below the 25th percentile (24). A stretch on test scores alone; a strong GPA helps. Range reflects ~31% who submitted ACT scores.
Below the 25th percentile (25). Competitive admission would lean on GPA and the rest of the application. Range reflects the 81% who submitted ACT scores.
Below range. Falls under the 25th percentile (26); a reach on test scores alone. Range reflects the 76% who submitted ACT scores.
The pattern is clear: a 23 is in range at Alabama, Iowa, Kansas, and Kentucky, a stretch at Cincinnati, and below the submitted-score band at Tennessee and Auburn. Because these are all test-optional, a strong transcript can carry an application even where your score sits below the median. For broader context on what counts as competitive, see our guide to a good ACT score and the college score expectations overview.
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Reach Schools to Aim For
If you want to stretch a notch above this band, the same data points to a couple of flagships where a 23 currently sits below the submitted-score range but admission remains realistic with a strong overall application:
University of Tennessee, Knoxville (middle 50%: 25-31). A 23 is below the 25th percentile of 25. Admissible with a strong GPA, but the test score is below this flagship's submitted range.
Auburn University (middle 50%: 26-31). A 23 is below the 25th percentile of 26, making it a reach on scores alone. A higher score, or a test-optional application backed by a strong transcript, improves your odds.
Pushing your score up even a few points changes which of these schools become realistic targets rather than reaches. If you're weighing which test fits you best before committing, our guides on choosing between the SAT and ACT and whether the SAT or ACT is easier can help.
Does a 23 ACT Qualify for Scholarships?
A 23 is above average, so it does open real but modest merit-aid doors, primarily at large public universities that publish automatic scholarship grids tied to GPA and test score. The catch: the headline automatic awards at the most generous flagships sit well above 23. The University of Alabama's automatic merit tiers, for instance, generally start around a 29-30 ACT paired with a qualifying GPA, so a 23 typically falls below Alabama's automatic out-of-state scholarship thresholds.
At less selective public universities where a 23 is at or above the median, such as Kansas, Kentucky, Iowa, and Arizona State, a 23 paired with a solid GPA can qualify for smaller automatic or competitive merit awards rather than full rides. Keep in mind that several schools are moving away from published grids: the University of Missouri is shifting to a fully merit-reviewed model and will stop publishing automatic GPA/score grids effective Fall 2027.
Bottom line: at a 23, expect partial merit aid at schools where you're at or above the median, treat full-ride and full-tuition automatic awards (which usually require ~30+ ACT) as out of reach on score alone, and always confirm current-year thresholds directly with each school since they change yearly.
Should You Retake the ACT With a 23?
A retake is worth considering if your target schools have median ACTs of 24 or higher (for example, Cincinnati, Tennessee, or Auburn) or if you want to cross automatic merit-scholarship thresholds, which often jump meaningfully at 24, 26, and 29. A 23 already beats roughly three-quarters of test-takers, so the decision should be goal-driven.
The math is encouraging. Per ACT's own data, among 2025 graduates who tested two or more times, students raised their superscore by an average of about 2.4 points. That means moving from a 23 into the 25-26 range, enough to clear more selective flagships and bigger merit tiers, is a realistic, high-value target. If you're already at or above the median at your target schools and not chasing a specific scholarship cutoff, your time may be better spent on GPA, essays, and applications than on a retake. Before you commit, check the upcoming ACT test dates.
How to Raise a 23 ACT Score
At a 23 composite, the fastest gains usually come from a few focused moves:
Pinpoint your weakest section. The composite is an average across English, Math, Reading, and Science, so lifting one or two sections by a few points each is usually the quickest path up. Use your score report's sub-scores to find the lowest-hanging fruit.
Drill timing and pacing. Take full-length, officially timed practice tests. Many students in the low-20s lose points to running out of time rather than to content gaps, especially on ACT Reading and Science, where the pace is fast.
Master Math formulas and Science data-interpretation. ACT Math rewards knowing core formulas cold, and ACT Science is mostly about reading graphs and tables quickly rather than outside knowledge. Targeted practice on those question types yields quick gains.
A 23 is solidly above average, beating about 76% of test-takers and clearing the national average of 19.4 by several points. It puts you in range at many state universities, above the 25th percentile at Alabama, Iowa, Kansas, and Kentucky, while sitting below the 25th at more selective flagships like Cincinnati, Tennessee, and Auburn. It's a score you can confidently build an application around, and one that's well within reach of a meaningful bump if you decide to retake. If you're curious how the next tiers up compare, see our guides to a 24, 25, and 26 ACT score.
Frequently Asked Questions About a 23 ACT Score
Is a 23 ACT score good?
Yes. A 23 is above average, landing in the 76th percentile and beating about three-quarters of test-takers. It's comfortably above the national average composite of 19.4 and puts you in range at many state universities.
What SAT score is equivalent to a 23 ACT?
On the official 2018 ACT/SAT concordance, a 23 ACT corresponds to roughly a 1140 SAT. You can see how the full scales line up in our ACT to SAT conversion guide.
What colleges can I get into with a 23 ACT?
A 23 is in range at schools like the University of Alabama (22-30), University of Iowa (21-28), University of Kansas (20-28), and University of Kentucky (21-28). It's a stretch at the University of Cincinnati (24-29) and below the submitted-score range at Tennessee (25-31) and Auburn (26-31). Since most of these schools are test-optional, a strong GPA can carry an application even where your score is below the median.
Should I retake the ACT if I got a 23?
Consider it if your target schools have median ACTs of 24 or higher, or if you want to cross merit-scholarship thresholds that jump at 24, 26, and 29. Students who tested twice or more raised their superscore by about 2.4 points on average, making a move into the 25-26 range a realistic goal.
Does a 23 ACT qualify for scholarships?
It can qualify for modest, often partial merit aid at public universities where a 23 is at or above the median. The largest automatic awards at generous flagships typically require around a 29-30 ACT, so full rides are generally out of reach on score alone. Always confirm current thresholds directly with each school.
