Enrollment by Distance
The median distance to college among all ACT-tested students is 51 miles.
Median Distance to College Among College-Enrolled ACT-Tested High School Graduates by State ACT Participation Rate, 2012
- As state ACT participation rate increases, the median distance between home and college decreases.
- In states where 25% or fewer high school graduates take the ACT, the median distance to college is 82 miles.
- Comparatively, in states administering the ACT statewide, the median distance to college is 36 miles.
Graph reads: In states where 76%–100% of high school graduates take the ACT, the median distance to college is 38 miles.
| State ACT Participation Rate | Distance (in Miles) |
|---|---|
| Less than 26% | 82 |
| 26%–50% | 73 |
| 51%–75% | 51 |
| 76%–100% | 38 |
| Statewide (100%) | 36 |
Median Distance to College Among College-Enrolled ACT-Tested High School Graduates by ACT Composite Score, 2012
- The median distance between home and college increases exponentially as ACT Composite score increases.
- For students with an ACT Composite score in the range of 1–15, the median distance to college is less than 20 miles.
- In contrast, the median distance to college for students with an ACT Composite score in the range of 33–36 is 170 miles.
Graph reads: The median distance to college among students with an ACT Composite score in the score range of 24–27 is 79 miles.
| ACT Composite Score Range | Distance (in Miles) |
|---|---|
| 1–15 | 18 |
| 16–19 | 27 |
| 20–23 | 46 |
| 24–27 | 79 |
| 28–32 | 113 |
| 33–36 | 170 |
Median Distance to College Among College-Enrolled ACT-Tested High School Graduates by Parent Education Level, 2012
- As parent education level increases, ACT-tested students typically attend college farther from home.
- Among ACT-tested first-generation college students, the median distance to college is 24 miles.
- Comparatively, the median distance to college among ACT-tested students whose parents earned a graduate degree is 95 miles.
Graph reads: Among ACT-tested students whose parents earned a bachelor’s degree, the median distance to college is 65 miles.
| Parent Education Level | Distance (in Miles) |
|---|---|
| No College | 24 |
| Some College | 35 |
| Bachelor's Degree | 65 |
| Graduate Degree | 95 |
Note: Based on 84% of college-enrolled ACT-tested high school graduates for whom parent education level is available.
Median Distance to College Among College-Enrolled ACT-Tested High School Graduates by Degree Plans, 2012
- ACT-tested students with higher degree aspirations typically attend college farther from home.
- Among ACT-tested students who plan to obtain an associate’s degree or an undergraduate certificate, the median distance to college is 22 miles.
- In contrast, ACT-tested students who plan to obtain a graduate degree travel a median distance to college of 72 miles.
Graph reads: ACT-tested students who plan to earn a bachelor’s degree travel a median distance of 41 miles to attend college.
| Degree Plans | Distance (in Miles) |
|---|---|
| Less Than Bachelor's Degree | 22 |
| Bachelor's Degree | 41 |
| Graduate Degree | 72 |
Note: Based on 91% of college-enrolled ACT-tested high school graduates for whom degree plans are available.