Full Press Release

IOWA CITY, IOWA — (Oct. 14, 2026) — ACT unveiled today its annual Graduating Class Release, a snapshot of students’ college and career readiness for the Class of 2026.

This year’s data — based on the 1.46 million graduating students who took the ACT test at least once between 10th and 12th grade — tells a simple story: readiness is shaped over time with early signals, second chances, and multiple paths to success.

“This is what it looks like when data reflects a student’s journey, not just a single moment,” said ACT CEO Steve Tapp. “These results give us — and, more importantly, give students and families, educators, and decision-makers — real insight into how readiness builds over time.”

Early data support pathways to improved outcomes

More than 1 in 3 ACT-tested graduates — over half a million students — took the PreACT at more than 6,200 schools across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. This represents a 12.5% year-over-year increase and the fourth consecutive year of double-digit growth.

This year marks a decade since North Carolina began administering the PreACT to 10th graders statewide. The state has led the nation in total PreACT tests administered for many years — more than 100,000 students in the last year alone.

North Carolina's average PreACT score was 17.1. Having access to PreACT scores early makes a difference. It allows students and educators to see exactly where the gaps in learning are and provide targeted instruction to close them. Among students in North Carolina who took both the PreACT and ACT, the average ACT score was 18.7 — a reflection of the achievement gains students made, in part because they had actionable data sooner, data that can change a student's trajectory.  

"North Carolina shows us what is possible for states when they put their time to good use,” said Catherine Hofmann, ACT chief commercial officer. “We're proud to stand behind the schools and educators working hard every day to drive positive outcomes for today’s learners."

ACT believes in recognizing potential early, and the PreACT Rising Stars program aims to do just that. In the 2025-26 school year, ACT recognized more than 155,000 students for their achievement on the PreACT 8/9 test. For many of these students, this early recognition is their first sign that college and career success are within reach.

More chances = more opportunities

Of the 1.46 million students in this year’s cohort, 1 in 3 students took the ACT test more than once, increasing their average ACT Composite score by 1.1 points. Compared to these students’ first test attempt, the share meeting all 3 ACT Benchmarks on their latest test attempt increased by 7 percentage points, while the share meeting 0 Benchmarks decreased by the same amount.

Students can retest by registering directly for an ACT National test date, or by taking advantage of state, district, or school-funded programs that offer retesting at no cost. Retesting can unlock college admissions offers and additional scholarship funding for students, and for some states, help schools and districts meet state accountability goals.

This year, 78% of Mississippi students took the ACT test more than once, with Tennessee close behind at 77%. Tennessee and Wyoming have adopted statewide ACT retesting programs to help students improve their scores. All three states offer scholarship programs where students can submit qualifying ACT scores (the Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant, Tennessee HOPE Scholarship and Wyoming’s Hathaway Scholarship), giving students a direct incentive to retest and put their best foot forward.

Mississippi more than doubled the percentage of students meeting all 3 ACT Benchmarks between their first attempt and latest attempt, with each of the two statewide retesting programs increasing their totals between 4-6 percentage points. Mississippi’s schools and districts also leverage ACT performance in the college-and-career readiness component of the state’s accountability system.

Multiple measures provide a full picture of readiness

A single test can only tell part of the student's story. ACT WorkKeys assessments capture something more than the ACT test alone: foundational workplace skills that predict success on the job, not just in the classroom.

This year, approximately 12% of ACT-tested graduates took the three qualifying ACT WorkKeys tests for the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC), a portable credential recognized by nearly 30,000 employers across industries. Of those students, approximately 61% earned a Silver, Gold, or Platinum NCRC. Students who earn a Silver or higher demonstrate the foundational skills needed to be successful in almost two-thirds of jobs mapped in ACT’s JobPro database.

Alabama shows what that can mean for an individual student. About half of this year’s graduating class took both ACT and WorkKeys, and among those students, more than half received a Silver or higher. This provides each student with an additional signal to navigate a rapidly changing landscape.

"Readiness is often thought about with one score and one path in mind,” said Dr. Eric Mackey, Alabama state superintendent of education. “But not every student's future runs through a four-year degree. WorkKeys lets us tell a fuller, truer story about what our students can do — in the classroom and in the workforce. That’s data we can’t afford to leave on the table."

The American Council on Education recommends up to nine college credit hours for NCRC earners. A total of 19 states offered WorkKeys products this year.

Additional highlights

• 23 states and hundreds of districts offered ACT school-day testing this year, with 11 states testing 100% of their students and 5 additional states testing 90% or more. School-day testing removes barriers like cost and transportation, opening doors that might otherwise stay closed.
• ACT invested $19 million in the Fee Waiver Program in FY26, enabling more than 170,000 students to take the ACT National test at no charge — giving every student the chance to show what they know, without cost standing in the way.
• Higher ACT scores are associated with a higher likelihood of finishing a degree on time. Of students who met 0 ACT Benchmarks, 23% completed a bachelor's degree in four years, or an associate's degree/undergraduate certification in two years — compared to 66% of students who met all 3 Benchmarks.

Taken together, these findings reinforce a simple reality: readiness develops over time. Early indicators, continued opportunities to demonstrate growth, and multiple measures of achievement give students, educators, and policymakers a more complete picture of student potential — and a clearer path forward.

The full 2026 Graduating Class Release is available at act.org/gradclass2026.

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About ACT

ACT is a mission-driven organization guiding every learner, along every pathway, every time. Grounded in more than 65 years of research, ACT’s learning resources, assessments, research, and work-ready credentials are trusted by students, job seekers, educators, schools, government agencies, and employers in the U.S. and around the world to help people achieve their education and career goals at every stage of life.