<span>34 ACT Colleges: Best Schools That Accept a 34 ACT Score</span>

34 ACT Colleges: Best Schools That Accept a 34 ACT Score

The ACT is a comprehensive standardized test that many colleges and universities consult as part of their application process. Composed of four sections, Math, Science, Reading, and English, the ACT features 215 questions designed to be answered in 2 hours and 55 minutes. There’s also an optional Writing portion to the exam that is scored separately and differently. 

Of the roughly 2 million students who take the ACT every year, the average score hovers around 21. 

 

Is a 34 ACT Score (# Percentile) Good?

With a 34, you can apply to every college and university in the country and be competitive for admission to all of them, including selective schools. Because one of the purposes of the ACT is to generate a wide variety of colleges to choose from, a score of 34 can be judged a complete success.

To fully appreciate what that means, let’s talk percentiles. A 34 ACT score puts you at the 99% percentile, meaning that you scored higher than 99% of all test takers! That’s impressive! 

 

What Colleges Can I Get Into with an ACT Score of 34?

An ACT score of 34 enables you to apply to every college and university throughout the country. We’ve assembled a representative list of those schools below. While no standardized test score automatically leads to admission, all of these schools have established a history of accepting students who earn a 34.

 

Should I Retake the ACT with a 34 Score?

There’s no need to retake the ACT with a score of 34. A 34 makes you eligible and competitive for all colleges and universities, which is the goal! 

For juniors, remember that most colleges weigh ACT scores and GPA about equally. So now is the time to focus on every class to ensure that your GPA is as impressive as your score of 34. As mentioned previously, a score of 34 leads to a huge number of college options and the sheer size of the list can feel intimidating. Pay a visit to your school’s college resource center and ask the college counselor for assistance. After getting to know you better, they’ll be able to recommend a list of schools for further research.

Even if you’re applying to the Ivy League institutions, there isn’t an incredible need to retake the ACT. An ACT score of 34 lands you solidly in their average acceptance area. For an above average score, a 35 would increase competitiveness, but it’s not an easy score to obtain. Analyze the breakdown of your current score and see if there’s a specific area for improvement.

If you’re a senior, the best place to focus your efforts on is making sure the rest of your application is up to the standard you’ve set with an ACT score of 34. Review your college list, which should include safety, reach, and match schools. Take the time to compose a thoughtful and persuasive personal essay and have your college counselor critique it. If any teachers had an impact on your high school years, contact them and ask for a letter of recommendation.

 

34 ACT to SAT Equivalent

A 34 ACT score is equivalent to earning a 1520 to 1550 on the SAT.  There are some differences to these two standardized tests, so what you earn on one test may not be what you earn on the other, but this is a good way to understand how your score compares. 

 

Scholarships for a 34 ACT Score

With a score of 34 on the ACT, you’re eligible for merit aid from both your future college or university and from third-party scholarship providers. On top of applying for merit aid, make sure you apply to scholarships for other things, too, including location, life circumstances, future major, passions, and more. Use our scholarships database to find the right scholarships for you! 

 

View all scholarships

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 34 a good ACT score?

A 34 ACT score makes you eligible for acceptance at every college and university, competitive at even selective institutions, and qualified for merit aid. All of that taken into consideration, a 34 ACT is a very good score. 

 

What colleges can I get into with a 34 ACT score?

You’re eligible to apply to every college, including very selective ones. Among your Target institutions, you can consider the University of Chicago, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Cornell University.   

 

What percentile is a 34 ACT score?

A 34 ACT puts you at the 99th percentile, meaning you scored higher than 99% of all test takers. 

 

What is the SAT equivalent of a 34 ACT score?

A 34 ACT score is equivalent to earning a 1520 to 1550 on the SAT

 

What scholarships can you get with a 34 ACT score?

A 34 ACT score makes you qualified for merit aid from your potential future institution and third-party scholarship providers. Apply for merit scholarships as well as ones for your extracurriculars, future major, life circumstances and more! 

 

View all scholarships

 

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Diverse, curious, passionate, and drawn from nearly 50 states and over 40 countries, Beloit College students love to engage with ideas and the world. Over one-third of students double major, combining interests in creative and original ways. Beloit...

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The teachers here at Beloit are experts in their field and want to share their knowledge with you. Classes are interactive and fun and often relaxed, but you learn an enormous amount of information while enjoying yourself. I was surpised by how much...

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An education from Whitman College is special.

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Founded by leaders of the Presbyterian Church, Centre College is a 4-year liberal arts college in central Kentucky. Centre confers bachelor’s degrees in over 50 fields of study and also allows students to create their own majors in consultation with...

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Centre has fantastic professors who really know their field, and are passionate about teaching it. Classes are difficult, with a lot of work, but fun. The professors like doing different things. I've had professors take us on field trips, hold...

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College does change an individual, and I certainly am no exception. I went to TCNJ expecting to gain better writing skills and become immersed in learning about the journalistic world. In actuality, the real learning came from outside the classroom...

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The University of Dallas is a small, private Catholic institution based in Irving, Texas. The school offers programs in business, liberal arts, and ministry. A majority (approximately 80%) of students participate in the Rome study abroad programs. It...

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Founded in 1826, Mississippi College is the oldest university in the state and has “more selective” admissions. It is affiliated with the Baptist Church and houses the Provone Chapel, which was used as a hospital during the Civil War. It hosts the...

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Holy Cross College offers a meaningful, contemporary liberal arts education rooted in the Catholic tradition. Open to all, the co-ed campus is located in Notre Dame, Indiana and was started by the Brothers of Holy Cross in 1966. The College offers 9...

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New Jersey Institute of Technology is the state’s public polytechnic university and is located in the University Heights neighborhood of downtown Newark, NJ. NJIT offers 120+ programs across its six specialized schools for a population of more than...

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NJIT is a fantastic university. It will take a year to get used to all of the things that happen on campus; however, once you're set, everything goes smoothly. Plus, they've got some great food that is served here!

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The United States Naval Academy is a 4-year service academy in Maryland’s state capital of Annapolis. The academy grants bachelor’s degrees in 25 academic majors and all Navy students are classified with the rank of midshipmen during their time on...

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You will learn a moderate amount in a wide variety of subjects. Be prepared though, there is a strong engineering focus.

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Located along central Florida’s I-4 tech corridor, Florida Polytechnic University is the state’s only STEM-focused public university. Florida Poly confers undergraduate degrees in six STEM fields of study and is also home to a Division of Arts...

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Outstanding facilities.

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Founded in 1787 thanks to a donation from Benjamin Franklin, Franklin & Marshall College is a 4-year liberal arts college in southeast Pennsylvania. Franklin & Marshall grants undergraduate degrees in 60 academic fields of study. For students who...

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Franklin & Marshall is about the liberal arts experience. You are not there to become a doctor, or a lawyer or a business professional; you are there to learn, to create, and to explore. This school emphasizes that this is the ONE CHANCE in your life...

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With Judaic studies in the morning and secular courses in the afternoon, your day is filled with inspiring and useful information.

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Lewis & Clark College is a 4-year liberal arts college in the southwest hills of Portland. Lewis & Clark confers undergraduate degrees in 29 academic majors and 27 minors and all first year students are enrolled in a 2-semester course called...

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I find most of my classes interesting, and all of them challenging. I've learned things about subjects that I never thought would interest me!

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Michigan Tech has a reputation of being a tough school and it's reputation is well earned. Every class I've taken has been a challenge but nothing too extreme. The university takes academic dishonestly very seriously and strives to ensure that every...

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Established in 1826, the Maryland Institute College of Art is one of the oldest visual arts colleges in the nation. Located in Baltimore, MICA offers 19 majors in artistic fields such as Drawing, Ceramics, and Printmaking as well as Liberal Arts...

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The same can be said for many schools, but the education one receives at an art school especially varies from student to student on how seriously they take themselves and their work. After two years at MICA, I can definitely say that it's sometimes...

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Founded in 1876, Hendrix College is a private liberal arts institution based in Conway, Arkansas. Hendrix College is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and provides weekly chapel service, Bible study, and fellowship meals. Hendrix is rated...

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As a Secondary Education student I feel like Hendrix is preparing me to be the best teacher I can be. My classes are challenging, engaging, and just plain incredible. They require a lot of work and thought, but that's what I came here for, to learn!

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Covenant College
Lookout Mountain, GA

Covenant College is a liberal arts school affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. It is located atop Lookout Mountain in Georgia and is rated as having “more selective” admissions. Student-life and the academic curriculum revolves around Reformed...

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The classes at Covenant are challenging in the best way. In my first year of college I was pushed to do things I could not imagine myself being able to accomplish, until I did. The professors are caring and extremely helpful as they push you to do...

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Wheaton College is a 4-year, coeducational college located halfway between Boston and Providence in Norton, Massachusetts. Students can choose between more than 100 majors and minors, all of which are influenced by the requirements-light Compass...

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Wheaton is a small, intensive liberal arts college in Norton, MA. While the town of Norton isn't a great college town and the campus is small, Wheaton has a great campus community with active and engaged students, faculty, and staff. Classes are...

” – Nicholas from Loudonville, NY

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Founded in 1874, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology is a 4-year STEM-focused institution in west central Indiana. Rose-Hulman grants bachelor’s degrees in 25 science, engineering, and mathematics-related fields of study. In addition, the institute...

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If you are looking for a college that have everything you will need for a career in Science, Math, Engineering, or Technology Rose-Hulman has a course for everything.

” – Jacob from New Castle, IN

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John Brown University is an independent Christian institution focused on liberal arts, sciences, and professional skills. JBU is based in the rural town of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, and is rated as having “more selective” admissions. JBU operates an...

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JBU is amazing from what I have read, saw on virtual tour, and heard. the people there are from all over the country. It is a religious school, so (as at all schools) I am sure there will be SOME drinking, but when you go there, you sign an agreement...

” – Crystal from W. MIDDLESEX, PA

College exceeded. A top military college granting Bachelor of Science degrees, the Coast Guard Academy has nine majors that make the world a better place. Once graduated, cadets become commissioned officers in the Coast Guard.

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The Coast Guard Academy is a highly competitive school both academically and militarily. I have been faced with my hardest challenges here. I would make the choice to come here a thousand times over.

” – Chase from Allyn, WA

Originally founded in Japan and guided by Buddhist principles, Soka University of America is a 4-year liberal arts institution in Orange County. SUA hosts a bachelor’s degree-granting program with concentrations in Environmental Studies, Social &...

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I think any college experience will result in learning a lot...weather from professors or friends. So in that respect Soka does not stand out. However it does have excellent, dedicated professors who you get to know if you choose to. Classes are...

” – victor from Seattle, WA