- Improving College & Career Readiness
- About This Report
- College Readiness
- Educational/Career Aspirations
- Access & Preparation
- Academic Performance
- A First Look at STEM
- Looking Back at the Class of 2012
- Academic Achievement & Academic Behaviors
- Policies & Practices to Increase Readiness
- Notes
- 2013 ACT National and State Scores
ACT College Readiness Benchmarks by State
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Of the 31 states where 40% or more of their 2013 high school graduates took the ACT, in only 2 states did more than half of the graduates meet three or more ACT College Readiness Benchmarks. In another 8 states, 40%–49% of graduates met three or four Benchmarks.
In 16 states, 30%–39% of graduates met three or more ACT College Readiness Benchmarks in 2013, while less than 30% of graduates did so in 5 states. In no state did more than 56% of ACT-tested graduates meet three or four Benchmarks.
Percent of ACT-Tested High School Graduates Meeting Three or Four ACT College Readiness Benchmarks by State, 2013
Map reads: In 2013, less than 30% of ACT-tested high school graduates in 5 states (e.g., Louisiana) met three or four ACT College Readiness Benchmarks. Results are not shown for 20 states (e.g., California) within which less than 40% of graduates took the ACT.
| State | Percent Meeting 3 or 4 Benchmarks |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 30%–39% |
| Alaska | Low % ACT-tested |
| Arizona | 30%–39% |
| Arkansas | 30%–39% |
| California | Low % ACT-tested |
| Colorado | 30%–39% |
| Connecticut | Low % ACT-tested |
| Delaware | Low % ACT-tested |
| Florida | 30%–39% |
| Georgia | 30%–39% |
| Hawaii | 30%–39% |
| Idaho | 40%–49% |
| Illinois | 30%–39% |
| Indiana | Low % ACT-tested |
| Iowa | 40%–49% |
| Kansas | 40%–49% |
| Kentucky | Less than 30% |
| Louisiana | Less than 30% |
| Maine | Low % ACT-tested |
| Maryland | Low % ACT-tested |
| Massachusetts | Low % ACT-tested |
| Michigan | 30%–39% |
| Minnesota | 50%–56% |
| Mississippi | Less than 30% |
| Missouri | 40%–49% |
| Montana | 40%–49% |
| Nebraska | 40%–49% |
| Nevada | Low % ACT-tested |
| New Hampshire | Low % ACT-tested |
| New Jersey | Low % ACT-tested |
| New Mexico | 30%–39% |
| New York | Low % ACT-tested |
| North Carolina | Less than 30% |
| North Dakota | 30%–39% |
| Ohio | 40%–49% |
| Oklahoma | 30%–39% |
| Oregon | Low % ACT-tested |
| Pennsylvania | Low % ACT-tested |
| Rhode Island | Low % ACT-tested |
| South Carolina | 30%–39% |
| South Dakota | 40%–49% |
| Tennessee | Less than 30% |
| Texas | Low % ACT-tested |
| Utah | 30%–39% |
| Vermont | Low % ACT-tested |
| Virginia | Low % ACT-tested |
| Washington | Low % ACT-tested |
| West Virginia | 30%–39% |
| Wisconsin | 50%–56% |
| Wyoming | 30%–39% |
“Low % ACT-tested” means that too low a percentage (less than 40%) of graduates took the ACT to allow for a fair comparison.