Is a 28 on the ACT Good: Full Scoring Breakdown

College plans often hinge on one important number: your ACT score.

Students often ask, is a 28 on the ACT good enough for my goals. The answer depends on where you plan to apply.

Colleges view scores differently based on how selective they are. A strong score can boost your confidence and your options. It can also help unlock scholarship money at several schools.

Knowing where your score stands helps you plan your next move wisely. Some schools see this score as excellent, while others expect more. Keep reading to see exactly where your score truly stands.

ACT Exam Overview

The American College Testing (ACT) exam is run by ACT, Inc. and costs $68 for the base registration. Here’s a quick breakdown before diving into what your score actually means:

Every section shares the same 1-36 range, and your composite is their average, as explained on ACT’s official scoring page.

Is a 28 a Good ACT Score?

Yes, a composite score of 28 lands a student in the 91st percentile nationally, meaning only about 9 percent of test takers score higher.

That places it well above the national average of 19.4, a gap wide enough to separate a strong applicant from a typical one at almost any school.

Colleges reviewing transcripts see a 28 as a signal of solid preparation across English, math, reading, and science, not just a single strong section propping up the average.

Counselors often point to this range as the point where scores start opening doors at flagship universities and stronger merit aid packages.

Still, “good” is not a fixed label. A 28 can look outstanding at one school and merely average at another, since selectivity changes the entire context. The next section breaks down exactly where that line falls.

Colleges Where 28s Are Competitive: From Flagships to Open-Access

Not every school treats a 28 the same way. Here is what the range looks like at real institutions, from selective flagships to open-access schools:

A 28 sits comfortably inside the range at Clemson, Purdue, Ohio State, and UT Austin, and it clears the direct-admission bar at Indiana.

Is 26 a Good ACT Score? National Average, ACT Score Ranges Explained

Yes, a 26 sits in the mid-80s percentile nationally, a strong result that lands roughly seven points above the national average near 19.4.

On the SAT scale, a 26 converts to approximately 1230, placing it in a similar percentile band across both tests.

Compared to a 28, the gap looks small on paper but carries real weight in admissions terms, since those two points span several percentile ranks near the top of the distribution.

A 26 remains highly competitive at solid state flagships and a wide range of private universities, often meeting merit aid thresholds and direct-admission benchmarks without issue.

Where the gap starts to matter is at more selective flagships and scholarship tiers that specifically require 27 or higher, since even a small shortfall there can shift an application from competitive to borderline.

Context, as always, decides which side of that line a 26 falls on.

Top Scholarships Tied to ACT Scores

A 28 ACT score can unlock real merit money at several universities, often without a separate application.

Here are seven worth checking:

1. University of Kentucky Provost Scholarship: Awards $5,000 per year at a 28 ACT, with a lower $2,500 tier available starting at 26.
2. Texas Tech University Presidential Merit Scholarship: Automatic tiered awards based on ACT composite and class rank, with higher scores unlocking larger amounts.
3. University of Missouri Global Black & Gold Scholarship: Pays $21,500 per year at 27 ACT or higher for students with a Mizzou-alumni parent.
4. Ohio State University Merit-Based Scholarships: Automatic consideration for applicants who apply by the November 1 priority deadline, factoring ACT scores alongside GPA and class rank.
5. University of Alabama Scholarship Program: Automatic awards ranging from $6,000 to $28,000 annually, with a 28 typically qualifying for a solid mid-tier award.
6. National Merit Scholarship Program: Eligibility starts with the PSAT, but many Finalists also post ACT scores in the high 20s to low 30s.

Checking each school’s official aid page before applying confirms the exact cutoff for the year a student is applying.

Should You Retake the ACT If You Scored 28?

A 28 is a strong score, but whether retaking makes sense depends on the specific college list and scholarship goals. Here is a simple way to think about it:

Reasons to Retake a 28:

• Your target schools have a middle 50% range that sits above 28.
• You are chasing a merit scholarship that requires 29 or higher.
• One weak section is pulling down an otherwise strong composite.
• Superscoring could combine your best section results across attempts.
• Fee waivers make another attempt low-cost if eligible.

Reasons to Keep Your 28:

• Your target schools already consider 28 a competitive score.
• Your GPA and extracurriculars carry real weight in the application.
• Application deadlines leave little room for another test date.
• Diminishing returns set in above this score range.
• Several target schools follow test-optional admission policies.

Students who retake the ACT gain about 1 to 3 composite points on average, with the biggest jump coming from the first retake.

What Students and College Applicants Say About a 28 ACT Score on Reddit

Students bring up this exact question often on Reddit. One student shared a composite of 28, built from a strong 34 in Reading and a 32 in English, dragged down by weaker Math and Science scores.

The student wasn’t targeting ultra-competitive schools and mentioned Fordham as the most selective option on their list.

A college admissions advisor responded with reassurance. The advisor explained that a 28 is a solid score and that schools review both section scores and the overall composite together.

For students pursuing humanities-focused majors like journalism or psychology, strong Reading and English scores can carry real weight, especially when paired with genuine extracurricular interest in that field.

Their advice was straightforward: check each school’s Common Data Set before assuming anything.

Beyond the Score: What Else Colleges Look At

A strong ACT score helps, but it’s rarely the whole application. Here’s what else carries weight once the number is locked in:

• A Genuine Personal Statement: Admissions officers read thousands of essays. The ones that stand out sound like a real person, not a polished list of achievements.
• Extracurricular Depth Over Quantity: Sustained commitment to one or two activities usually reads stronger than a long list of shallow involvements.
• Course Rigor in High School: Colleges often weigh AP, IB, or honors coursework alongside test scores, since it shows sustained academic effort over time.
• Demonstrated Interest in the Major: Activities, projects, or essays tied to an intended field of study help an application feel intentional rather than generic.
• A Clean and Honest Application: Consistency across grades, essays, and recommendations builds trust with the reader far more than any single number can.

None of this replaces a solid ACT score, but it fills in the parts of a student a test alone can’t capture.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does the ACT Superscore Automatically?

No. Superscoring depends entirely on each college’s policy. Some average section highs across attempts, while others only consider your single best composite sitting.

What Happens If You Fail The ACT?

There is no passing or failing score on the ACT. Every composite counts as valid, though colleges may view lower scores as less competitive.

How Long Are ACT Scores Valid?

ACT scores typically remain valid for five years, though some colleges accept older scores. Always confirm directly with each target school’s admissions office.

Final Takeaway

So, is a 28 on the ACT good for your college goals? It depends on the schools on your list. Many flagship universities accept this score without any issue.

Some scholarship programs reward it with real financial support. Selective schools may still expect a slightly higher composite score. Your GPA, essays, and activities matter just as much as your score.

A single number does not tell colleges your whole story. Retaking the test only makes sense if your goals require it.

Check your target schools and plan your next step from there. Share your current score and your dream school in the comments below.