is a 28 a good ACT score?

A 28 is well above the national average (around 19-20) and sits in roughly the top 12% of test takers. It's competitive at the large majority of US colleges and earns meaningful merit money at many of them.

The interesting math at this level: the jump from 28 to 30+ is usually worth more than any other three points, because published automatic scholarships at many universities step up sharply at 30. If your practice tests show a 30 within reach, one focused retest cycle often pays for itself many times over.

Percentiles are approximate, rounded from ACT's published national norms, which shift slightly each year. Since 2025 the ACT composite is the average of English, Math and Reading. Science is an optional section reported separately.