Brown ACT: Average Scores, Ranges, and What You Need to Know

With an average composite score of 35 and a middle 50% range spanning from 34 to 35, Brown University represents one of the most selective institutions in the Ivy League, and landing admission with an ACT score below the 25th percentile of 34 would be extremely challenging given Brown's low acceptance rate. The school maintains one of the lowest acceptance rates among all U.S. colleges, which means the vast majority of admitted students have achieved these exceptionally high scores. Simply meeting or exceeding the average is not enough for acceptance at Brown, as these numbers represent only the academic testing component of an enormously competitive applicant pool.

A good ACT score for Brown University typically means scoring in the range of 34 to 36, with 35 being the target that places you right in the middle of admitted students. However, it is crucial to understand that a high ACT score does not guarantee your admission to Brown. Many applicants with perfect or near-perfect ACT scores are rejected each year because Brown evaluates you as a complete person with depth across multiple dimensions, not just a test taker. Your essays, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, leadership experiences, personal background, intellectual curiosity, and how you have challenged yourself academically all matter significantly in the decision process.

While there is technically no official minimum ACT score required by the university, you should aim for at least a 33 to have a realistic chance of being considered for admission. Scoring below 33 would put you well below the 25th percentile, and an ACT score in the low 30s or below would make acceptance extremely unlikely unless you have truly exceptional qualities elsewhere in your application. That said, Brown explicitly states they conduct a comprehensive review process and consider multiple factors beyond test scores, so if your ACT falls short but you have other significant strengths, you should not rule out applying. Just be realistic about your odds if your score is notably below their typical range.

Brown University requires standardized test scores beginning with the 2024-25 admission cycle, meaning you are required to submit either an SAT or ACT score for your application. The university moved away from test-optional policy after an extensive review of data, returning to a requirement that all first-year applicants demonstrate their academic capabilities through one of these exams. Applicants who face genuine hardship in accessing testing can explain their circumstances in the Additional Information section of your application, but the default expectation is that you will submit one of these exams.

Brown employs a superscoring method for the ACT that works to your advantage in multiple ways when you take the test multiple times. The school considers your highest individual section scores across all ACT administrations and combines them to calculate your best composite score. This means you can take the test multiple times, improve a weak Math score on one attempt and a weak English score on another attempt, and Brown will piece together your strongest composite. The Science and Writing sections are optional, further giving you flexibility in how you present your testing profile to admissions officers.

Understanding how Brown evaluates your ACT score requires recognizing that standardized testing is just one component of a holistic admissions review process. Brown admissions officers examine your coursework rigor, grades, essays, recommendations, leadership experiences, and personal qualities alongside your test score. Even applicants with a 36 ACT can be rejected because admissions officers are looking for students who will thrive intellectually and contribute meaningfully to Brown's community. Your test score helps confirm that you can handle Brown's academic demands and intellectual rigor, but it does not make the case for admission on its own. Brown states clearly that they look at your test scores along with other information about your academic promise as they read your complete application and do not attempt to assess test results in a formulaic way.

At a school as highly selective as Brown, having strong test scores actually narrows down the applicant pool but does not separate you from other high-scoring applicants who submit their applications. Instead, admissions officers focus on what makes you unique as a person and student beyond your test results. They want to understand how you think, what drives you intellectually, what challenges you have overcome, and how you will make the Brown community better through your presence and contributions. Your ACT score signals that you have the intellectual capability to succeed at Brown, but the rest of your application demonstrates whether you deserve one of the roughly 2,400 spots the university offers each year to an applicant pool of over 42,000 students. This is why students with 34 ACT scores sometimes get accepted while students with 36 ACT scores are denied, because your overall profile matters far more than any single number.

AdmitStudio users who have found success at top colleges often approach their applications as a single, cohesive story, not a checklist of impressive achievements. Rather than treating essays, activities, and recommendations as separate pieces, they focus on presenting themselves as a clear, memorable individual with defined values, motivations, and strengths. Their essays help admissions officers understand why they pursued certain activities, how their experiences shaped them, and what kind of person they would be on campus. This clarity makes it easier for readers to grasp who the applicant is within just a few minutes of review.

AdmitStudio users who are successful also tend to use their essays to connect and reinforce the rest of their application, not repeat it. The essay highlights a few core traits, such as curiosity, leadership, resilience, or initiative, while the activities list and recommendations quietly support those same traits with evidence. By aligning every part of the application around a consistent narrative, these students stand out not because they try to be extraordinary, but because they are specific, authentic, and intentional. Admissions officers come away with a strong sense of the applicant's identity and how they would uniquely contribute to the university community.