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

With an average composite score of 33 and a middle 50% range from 31 to 34, University of Michigan is an extremely competitive school where most enrolled students have achieved strong standardized test scores. This means that if you score below the 25th percentile of 31, your application will face a significant uphill battle unless you have truly exceptional qualities elsewhere in your profile. The school's low acceptance rate of approximately 16% reflects how selective Michigan has become in recent years, and test scores are a critical initial filter that admissions officers use to assess your academic readiness.

A good ACT score for University of Michigan typically means scoring somewhere within the range of 31 to 34, with 33 being the target that aligns you with the middle of admitted students. However, it is crucial to understand that a 34 or even a perfect 36 ACT score does not guarantee your admission to Michigan. Many applicants with ACT scores in the upper range are rejected annually because the school evaluates you as a complete person with multiple dimensions, not just as a test-taker. Your GPA, course rigor, essays, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and demonstrated interest in the university all weigh heavily in the final decision.

While Michigan does not publicize a strict minimum ACT score requirement, you should realistically aim for at least a 31 to have a competitive chance at admission. Scoring below 31 would put you below the 25th percentile of admitted students, and any score in the low 20s would make acceptance extremely unlikely unless you bring truly exceptional talents or achievements to your application. That said, Michigan does emphasize holistic review, so if your test score falls short but you have demonstrated remarkable achievements in music, art, athletics, community leadership, or other areas, your application will not be automatically rejected based on test scores alone. Still, be realistic about your odds if your ACT is notably below their typical range.

University of Michigan maintains a test-optional policy for the 2025-2026 admissions cycle, which means you are not required to submit your ACT or SAT score with your application. If you choose not to submit scores, admissions officers will not penalize you or view your application as incomplete. However, the fact remains that approximately 51% of admitted students submitted SAT scores and 18% submitted ACT scores, indicating that submitting strong scores can enhance your chances if you have them. The writing section of the ACT is optional, so you do not need to include it with your submission.

The University of Michigan does employ a superscoring method for the ACT, which works significantly in your favor if you plan to take the test multiple times. When you submit multiple ACT scores, Michigan considers your highest individual section scores from across all test dates to calculate your best possible composite score. This means that if you score a 33 in Math on one test date and a 34 in Reading on another date, the school will piece together your strongest composite from those individual results. You have the flexibility to either submit your best single composite score or provide all your test scores and let the university calculate your superscore for you.

Understanding how Michigan evaluates your ACT score requires recognizing that standardized testing is only one component of a comprehensive and individualized review of your application. The admissions office reviews your test scores alongside your high school grades, the rigor of your coursework, your extracurricular activities, your teacher and counselor recommendations, and your personal essays. An applicant with a 34 ACT score can be rejected if their other qualities do not align with what Michigan seeks, while another student with a 31 ACT can be accepted if the full picture of their application is compelling. Your test score helps demonstrate that you have the academic foundation to succeed in Michigan's rigorous environment, but the admissions committee is really interested in understanding who you are as a person and what you will contribute to campus life.

At a school as selective as Michigan, having a strong ACT score narrows down the applicant pool but does not distinguish you from other high-scoring applicants in any meaningful way. Instead, admissions officers focus intently on what makes you different as a student and individual, what you are passionate about, what challenges you have overcome, and how you will participate in the Michigan community. Your ACT score signals that you can handle Michigan's challenging academics, but the rest of your application demonstrates whether you deserve one of the roughly 7,500 spots the university offers to domestic and international freshmen each year. This is why it is entirely possible for a student with a 33 ACT to gain admission while another applicant with a 35 ACT is denied, because Michigan is genuinely committed to evaluating the whole person.

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.