In Minnesota, the most commonly taken standardized college entrance exam is the ACT. In total, 61,253 students (11th and 12th graders in 2018) took the test with a Composite score average of 21.3.
ACT data on individual high schools can be viewed via SLEDS. Alternatively, ACT test-taker scores at individual Minnesota public high schools are available from the Minnesota Department of Education in a downloadable spreadsheet. The Minnesota Office of Higher Education only receives state-level data.
A higher percent of Minnesota test-takers are more college ready than national according to ACT data.
College-Readiness* of ACT Test-Takers in Minnesota and Nation, 2018
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*Percent of test-takers meeting college-ready benchmark scores. A benchmark score is the minimum needed on an ACT subject-area test to indicate a 50 percent chance of obtaining a B or higher or about a 75 percent chance of obtaining a C or higher in the corresponding credit-bearing college course.
Source: ACT
Average ACT Composite Scores by Race and Core Curriculum Status*, 2018
All student groups taking ACT recognized Core Curriculum* have higher ACT composite scores.
*Core results correspond to students taking four or more years of English AND three or more years each of math, social studies and natural science.
Source: ACT
Reports released by ACT emphasize the need for students to take a specific sequence of courses in secondary school to be ready for college and work beyond high school. For over 20 years ACT has recommended that high school students take a certain number of courses in high school to be ready for college. ACT stresses the need for high school students to take challenging courses. Additional research found that "the level of academic achievement that students attain by 8th grade has a larger impact on their college and career readiness by the time they graduate high school than anything that happens academically in high school."
Mean Composite Score | Total Students | English | Math | Reading | Science | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | MN | National | MN | National | MN | National | MN | National | MN | National | MN | National |
2007 | 22.5 | 21.2 | 43,534 | 1,300,599 | 21.8 | 20.7 | 22.5 | 21.0 | 22.8 | 21.5 | 22.5 | 21.0 |
2008 | 22.6 | 21.1 | 44,863 | 1,421,941 | 21.9 | 20.6 | 22.6 | 21.0 | 23.0 | 21.1 | 22.5 | 20.8 |
2009 | 22.7 | 21.1 | 43,642 | 1,480,469 | 22.0 | 20.6 | 22.7 | 21.0 | 23.1 | 21.4 | 22.6 | 20.9 |
2010 | 22.9 | 21.0 | 44,323 | 1,568,835 | 22.3 | 20.5 | 22.9 | 21.0 | 23.2 | 21.3 | 22.8 | 20.9 |
2011 | 22.9 | 21.1 | 44,952 | 1,623,112 | 22.3 | 20.6 | 23.0 | 21.1 | 22.9 | 21.3 | 22.8 | 20.9 |
2012 | 22.8 | 21.1 | 44,977 | 1,666,017 | 22.1 | 20.5 | 23.0 | 21.1 | 22.9 | 21.3 | 22.7 | 20.9 |
2013 | 23.0 | 20.9 | 44,676 | 1,799,243 | 22.2 | 20.2 | 23.1 | 20.9 | 23.1 | 21.1 | 22.9 | 20.7 |
2014 | 22.9 | 21.0 | 45,305 | 1,845,787 | 22.1 | 20.3 | 23.0 | 20.9 | 23.1 | 21.3 | 22.9 | 20.8 |
2015 | 22.7 | 21.0 | 46,862 | 1,924,436 | 21.8 | 20.4 | 22.8 | 20.8 | 23.0 | 21.4 | 22.7 | 20.9 |
2016 | 21.1 | 20.8 | 64,145 | 2,090,342 | 20.0 | 20.1 | 21.2 | 20.6 | 21.3 | 21.3 | 21.3 | 20.8 |
2017 | 21.5 | 21.0 | 61,101 | 2,030,038 | 20.4 | 20.3 | 21.5 | 20.7 | 21.8 | 21.4 | 21.6 | 21.0 |
2018 | 21.3 | 20.8 | 61,253 | 1,914,817 | 20.2 | 20.2 | 21.4 | 20.5 | 21.7 | 21.3 | 21.4 | 20.7 |
Source: ACT
Year | All Students | African American/Black | American Indian/Alaskan Native | Hispanic | Asian American/Pacific Islander | White | Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander | Two or More Races | Other/No Response |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | 22.5 | 17.4 | 19.7 | 20.5 | 20.4 | 22.9 | 22.1 | 22.8 | |
2008 | 22.6 | 17.6 | 20.6 | 20.3 | 20.4 | 23.0 | 22.0 | 23.2 | |
2009 | 22.7 | 17.8 | 20.2 | 20.4 | 20.4 | 23.2 | 21.9 | 22.8 | |
2010 | 22.9 | 17.7 | 20.5 | 20.0 | 20.8 | 23.5 | 22.2 | 22.5 | |
2011 | 22.9 | 17.9 | 20.2 | 20.1 | 20.6 | 23.5 | 21.2 | 21.9 | 23.2 |
2012 | 22.8 | 17.9 | 20.3 | 20.4 | 20.7 | 23.4 | 19.5 | 22.2 | 23.7 |
2013 | 23.0 | 18.0 | 19.7 | 20.2 | 20.7 | 23.6 | 20.4 | 22.3 | 23.5 |
2014 | 22.9 | 17.9 | 19.9 | 19.8 | 20.7 | 23.7 | 20.0 | 22.3 | 23.0 |
2015 | 22.7 | 17.6 | 19.3 | 19.8 | 20.7 | 23.7 | 20.1 | 22.2 | 21.3 |
2016 | 21.1 | 16.5 | 16.6 | 17.9 | 20.2 | 22.2 | 18.4 | 20.4 | 19.8 |
2017 | 21.5 | 17.0 | 17.0 | 18.4 | 20.6 | 22.6 | 18.9 | 20.8 | 20.3 |
2018 | 21.3 | 16.9 | 17.2 | 18.5 | 20.5 | 22.5 | 19.3 | 20.9 | 19.8 |
Source: ACT
Year | All Students | African American/Black | American Indian/Alaskan Native | Hispanic | Asian American/Pacific Islander | White | Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander | Two or More Races | Other/No Response |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | 43,534 | 1,324 | 290 | 681 | 1,939 | 32,692 | 587 | 6,608 | |
2008 | 44,863 | 1,629 | 239 | 812 | 2,133 | 35,010 | 712 | 5,040 | |
2009 | 43,642 | 1,786 | 275 | 871 | 2,265 | 35,563 | 784 | 2,882 | |
2010 | 44,323 | 1,995 | 307 | 976 | 2,375 | 36,213 | 943 | 2,457 | |
2011 | 44,952 | 2,095 | 232 | 1,389 | 2,641 | 36,070 | 20 | 1,033 | 1,472 |
2012 | 44,977 | 2,047 | 211 | 1,757 | 2,628 | 35,159 | 45 | 1,459 | 1,671 |
2013 | 44,676 | 2,140 | 210 | 1,913 | 2,535 | 34,279 | 35 | 1,557 | 2,007 |
2014 | 45,305 | 2,412 | 208 | 2,204 | 2,790 | 33,895 | 34 | 1,675 | 2,087 |
2015 | 46,862 | 2,744 | 220 | 2,562 | 2,913 | 33,796 | 34 | 1,683 | 2,910 |
2016 | 64,145 | 3,812 | 520 | 4,271 | 3,354 | 42,495 | 82 | 2,710 | 6,910 |
2017 | 61,101 | 3,863 | 453 | 4,301 | 3,412 | 39,798 | 67 | 2,533 | 6,674 |
2018 | 61,253 | 4,109 | 425 | 4,207 | 3,706 | 38,665 | 74 | 2,443 | 7,624 |
Source: ACT
Composite | English | Math | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Institution Name | Number submitting ACT scores | Percent submitting ACT scores | 25th Percentile score | 75th Percentile score | 25th Percentile score | 75th Percentile score | 25th Percentile score | 75th Percentile score |
Public Universities | ||||||||
University of Minnesota-Crookston | 192 | 92% | 20 | 24 | 18 | 23 | 18 | 25 |
University of Minnesota-Duluth | 2,110 | 99% | 22 | 26 | 20 | 26 | 22 | 27 |
University of Minnesota-Morris | 357 | 95% | 22 | 28 | 21 | 28 | 22 | 27 |
University of Minnesota-Rochester | 142 | 98% | 22 | 27 | 21 | 26 | 22 | 26 |
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | 5,467 | 93% | 26 | 31 | 25 | 32 | 25 | 31 |
Bemidji State University | 790 | 97% | 20 | 24 | 18 | 23 | 18 | 25 |
Minnesota State University Moorhead | 790 | 91% | 20 | 25 | 19 | 25 | 19 | 25 |
Minnesota State University-Mankato | 2,274 | 93% | 20 | 24 | 19 | 25 | 18 | 23 |
Saint Cloud State University | 1,587 | 88% | 18 | 24 | 20 | 23 | 19 | 25 |
Southwest Minnesota State University | 406 | 82% | 18 | 23 | 16 | 22 | 17 | 24 |
Winona State University | 1,555 | 98% | 20 | 25 | 20 | 25 | 19 | 25 |
Private Colleges | ||||||||
Augsburg College | 456 | 96% | 19 | 25 | 18 | 24 | 18 | 25 |
Bethany Lutheran College | 124 | 90% | 20 | 27 | 20 | 27 | 19 | 25 |
Bethel University | 537 | 96% | 21 | 28 | 20 | 28 | 20 | 27 |
Bethlehem College & Seminary | 12 | 54% | 21 | 28 | 23 | 27 | 18 | 31 |
Carleton College | 365 | 64% | 30 | 33 | ||||
College of Saint Benedict | 474 | 95% | 22 | 28 | 21 | 29 | 22 | 27 |
College of Saint Scholastica | 426 | 95% | 21 | 26 | 20 | 25 | 21 | 26 |
Crown College | 118 | 84% | 19 | 25 | 18 | 25 | 18 | 24 |
Hamline University | 521 | 95% | 21 | 27 | 20 | 27 | 21 | 26 |
Macalester College | 318 | 63% | 29 | 33 | 30 | 35 | 27 | 32 |
Martin Luther College | 189 | 96% | 21 | 27 | 21 | 27 | 22 | 27 |
Minneapolis College of Art and Design | 136 | 83% | 20 | 26 | 20 | 27 | 17 | 24 |
North Central University | 198 | 89% | 19 | 25 | 17 | 25 | 17 | 25 |
Oak Hills Christian College | 13 | 72% | 16 | 21 | 14 | 23 | 15 | 19 |
Saint Johns University | 427 | 93% | 22 | 28 | 21 | 27 | 22 | 28 |
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota | 262 | 92% | 20 | 26 | 19 | 25 | 19 | 26 |
St Catherine University | 392 | 95% | 19 | 25 | 18 | 25 | 18 | 24 |
St Olaf College | 668 | 81% | 26 | 31 | 26 | 33 | 25 | 30 |
University of Northwestern-St Paul | 393 | 95% | 21 | 27 | 21 | 29 | 19 | 27 |
University of St Thomas | 1,307 | 98% | 24 | 29 | 23 | 29 | 24 | 28 |
At 25th percentile: 25 percent of students scored at or below score posted
At 75th percentile: 25 percent of students scored above score posted
The highest ACT score is 36
Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Institutional Characteristics Survey
The ACT test comprises four subject areas: English, reading, mathematics, science and an optional writing test. The ACT assessment helps colleges determine how well students are prepared for college. Colleges use the ACT scores for student admissions, advising, and placement. Minnesota's state universities generally require a composite score of 21 or higher for admission. The highest possible ACT score is 36. Nationally 60 percent of U.S. graduating class took the ACT test.
In 2018, 123 Minnesota students achieved a perfect composite score; meaning they scored a 36 in all four subject areas.
A perfect score was achieved in the following subject tests by Minnesota test takers:
The ACT is a research-based nonprofit organization.
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