is a 30 a good ACT score?

A 30 lands around the top 5-7% of test takers nationally (approximate percentile below). It clears the published automatic-merit thresholds at many large public universities, where scholarships worth $20,000 or more per year often start at an ACT of 30 with a strong GPA.

For highly selective schools, the middle 50% of admitted students often spans roughly 32-35, so students targeting those sometimes retest from a 30 or 31. For nearly everyone else, a 30 is a done deal: spend the time on essays and activities instead.

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.