ACT and SAT scores in the United States

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The following charts display the average ACT (American College Testing) assessment and SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) scores for all the states and the District of Columbia. The ACT scores are out of 36 possible points, and the SAT scores are for three tests with a total of 2400 possible points. The percentage of students in a state that take a test affects the overall averages for the state and should be taken into consideration when comparing state averages. Thus, for example, in states where the participation rate for taking the SAT is low, the average may be higher because the students taking the test probably rank relatively high in their class and are applying to more selective institutions of higher education.

2013 test scores

ACT test scores, 2013

In 2013, nine different states reported that 100 percent of its graduates took the ACT: Utah, Illinois, Colorado, Michigan, Wyoming, Kentucky, Louisiana, Tennessee and North Carolina.

Massachusetts scored the highest average composite score, at 24.1 out of a possible 36. North Carolina had the lowest average composite score, at 18.7 out of 36.

Note: Click on a column heading to sort the data.
ACT scores in the states by subject and score, 2013
State Percent of Graduates Tested Average Composite Score Average English Score Average Math Score Average Reading Score Average Science Score
Alabama 78 20.4 20.5 19.5 21 20.2
Alaska 37 21.1 20.1 21.2 21.7 21
Arizona 50 19.6 18.5 20.3 19.6 19.4
Arkansas 90 20.2 19.9 19.9 20.5 20.1
California 26 22.2 21.6 22.8 22.3 21.5
Colorado 100 20.4 19.9 20.4 20.5 20.5
Connecticut 27 24 24 23.9 24.4 23.3
Delaware 15 22.9 22.5 22.8 23.4 22.4
District of Columbia 38 20.4 19.8 20.5 21 19.7
Florida 74 19.6 18.7 19.7 20.4 19.1
Georgia 51 20.7 20.2 20.3 21.2 20.5
Hawaii 40 20.1 19 20.8 20 19.9
Idaho 49 22.1 21.5 21.8 22.7 21.8
Illinois 100 20.6 20.2 20.7 20.4 20.5
Indiana 38 21.7 21 21.9 22.1 21.4
Iowa 66 22.1 21.5 21.6 22.5 22.2
Kansas 75 21.8 21.2 21.7 22.3 21.7
Kentucky 100 19.6 19.2 19.2 19.9 19.7
Louisiana 100 19.5 19.4 19.2 19.7 19.2
Maine 8 23.5 23.4 23.3 23.8 22.9
Maryland 21 22.3 21.8 22.3 22.7 21.9
Massachusetts 22 24.1 23.8 24.4 24.4 23.2
Michigan 100 19.9 19.1 19.9 20 20.2
Minnesota 74 23 22.2 23.1 23.1 22.9
Mississippi 95 18.9 18.8 18.3 19.1 18.8
Missouri 74 21.6 21.4 21 21.9 21.6
Montana 72 21.3 20.2 21.4 21.9 21.2
Nebraska 84 21.5 21.1 21.1 21.8 21.5
Nevada 32 21.3 20.4 21.3 21.7 21.1
New Hampshire 19 23.8 23.6 23.6 24.2 23.2
New Jersey 23 23 22.5 23.6 23.1 22.2
New Mexico 70 19.9 19 19.7 20.4 20.1
New York 26 23.4 22.6 23.8 23.7 23.1
North Carolina 100 18.7 17.1 19.6 18.8 18.7
North Dakota 98 20.5 19.5 20.8 20.5 20.7
Ohio 72 21.8 21.2 21.5 22.2 21.8
Oklahoma 75 20.8 20.4 20.1 21.4 20.8
Oregon 34 21.5 20.8 21.6 21.9 21.3
Pennsylvania 18 22.7 22.2 23 23 22.2
Rhode Island 14 22.7 22.4 22.4 23.3 22
South Carolina 51 20.4 19.7 20.3 20.8 20.3
South Dakota 78 21.9 20.9 21.8 22.1 22.1
Tennessee 100 19.5 19.3 19.1 19.8 19.4
Texas 37 20.9 19.8 21.5 21 20.9
Utah 100 20.7 19.9 20.2 21.3 20.8
Vermont 26 23 22.7 22.8 23.4 22.6
Virginia 26 22.6 22.3 22.5 23.1 22.2
Washington 21 22.8 22.1 22.8 23.3 22.5
West Virginia 63 20.6 20.5 19.5 21.3 20.6
Wisconsin 71 22.1 21.5 22 22.3 22.2
Wyoming 100 19.8 18.6 19.7 20.2 20
National scores 54 20.9 20.2 20.9 21.1 20.7
Note: In spring 2012, all public high school 11th graders in the states of Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, North Dakota, Tennessee, and Wyoming were tested with the ACT as required by each state. Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, North Dakota, Tennessee, and Wyoming students who met ACT's 2013 graduating class criteria are included in the 2013 graduating class average score results.

Source: ACT, "2012 States Data," accessed May 25, 2015

SAT scores, 2013

In 2013 Delaware had the highest SAT participation of all the states, at 100 percent. North Dakota had the lowest, meanwhile, at 2 percent. Delaware had the lowest combined scores, at 1351 out of a possible 2400 points. Illinois had the highest composite score, at 1807 out of 2400 points.

SAT scores in the states by subject and score, 2013
State Participation Rate Critical Reading Math Writing Combined Rank
Alabama 7% 544 534 530 1608 22
Alaska 52% 508 505 482 1495 35
Arizona 35% 521 528 502 1551 26
Arkansas 4% 572 570 555 1697 15
California 57% 498 512 495 1505 34
Colorado 14% 578 581 562 1721 13
Connecticut 85% 508 512 512 1532 30
Delaware 100% 451 457 443 1351 51
District of Columbia 91% 473 466 461 1400 48
Florida 67% 492 490 475 1457 42
Georgia 75% 490 487 475 1452 45
Hawaii 64% 481 504 468 1453 44
Idaho 99% 454 459 451 1364 50
Illinois 5% 600 617 590 1807 1
Indiana 70% 493 500 477 1470 39
Iowa 3% 592 601 570 1763 7
Kansas 6% 589 595 568 1752 10
Kentucky 5% 585 584 572 1741 11
Louisiana 5% 556 553 546 1655 19
Maine 95% 462 467 451 1380 49
Maryland 73% 497 500 486 1483 36
Massachusetts 83% 515 529 509 1553 25
Michigan 4% 590 610 582 1782 3
Minnesota 6% 595 608 577 1780 4
Mississippi 3% 568 547 558 1673 18
Missouri 4% 596 595 582 1773 5
Montana 25% 539 540 516 1595 23
Nebraska 4% 584 583 567 1734 12
Nevada 48% 492 494 468 1454 43
New Hampshire 70% 524 528 515 1567 24
New Jersey 78% 499 522 500 1521 32
New Mexico 12% 550 545 531 1626 21
New York 76% 485 501 477 1463 41
North Carolina 62% 495 506 478 1479 38
North Dakota 2% 609 609 581 1799 2
Ohio 17% 548 556 531 1635 20
Oklahoma 5% 571 569 549 1689 16
Oregon 49% 520 520 499 1539 28
Pennsylvania 71% 494 504 482 1480 37
Rhode Island 72% 491 490 487 1468 40
South Carolina 64% 484 487 465 1436 47
South Dakota 3% 592 601 567 1760 8
Tennessee 8% 574 569 566 1709 14
Texas 59% 477 499 461 1437 46
Utah 6% 569 566 549 1684 17
Vermont 61% 516 519 505 1540 27
Virginia 71% 516 514 498 1528 31
Washington 60% 515 523 499 1537 29
West Virginia 15% 514 501 498 1513 33
Wisconsin 4% 591 604 576 1771 6
Wyoming 4% 581 588 588 1757 9
United States 50% 496 514 488 1498 N/A
Commonwealth Foundation, "SAT Scores by State 2013," October 13, 2013

2012 test scores

ACT scores

Note: Click on a column heading to sort the data.
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