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

With an average composite score of 35 and a range spanning from 34 to 35, Stanford University represents one of the most selective institutions in the country, and earning admission with an ACT score that falls significantly below this range would be extremely difficult. The school has one of the lowest acceptance rates in the nation at around 3.6 to 4 percent, which means the vast majority of admitted students have achieved these exceptionally high scores. Simply meeting or exceeding the average is not a guarantee of acceptance at Stanford, as these numbers reflect the academic component alone of an enormously selective applicant pool where virtually every admitted student has nearly identical test scores.

A good ACT score for Stanford typically means scoring between 34 and 35, with 35 being the target that puts you squarely in the middle of admitted students and gives you the strongest position academically. However, it is crucial to understand that a high ACT score does not guarantee your admission to Stanford. Many applicants with perfect or near-perfect ACT scores are rejected each year because the school evaluates you as a complete person, not just a test taker. Your essays, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, demonstrated intellectual curiosity, personal background, and how you have challenged yourself academically all matter significantly in the decision-making process.

While there is technically no official minimum ACT score required by the university, you should aim for at least a 34 to have a realistic chance of being considered. Scoring below 34 would put you well below the 25th percentile, making acceptance extremely unlikely unless you have truly exceptional qualities elsewhere in your application. That said, Stanford explicitly conducts a comprehensive review process and considers multiple factors beyond test scores, so if your ACT falls short but you have other significant strengths, do not rule out applying. Just be realistic about your odds if your score is notably below their typical range.

Stanford has recently reinstated standardized testing requirements beginning with the 2025-26 application cycle, meaning you are required to submit either an SAT or ACT score for future applications. The school was test-optional from 2020 through 2024, but after internal reviews confirming the value of test scores as predictors of academic performance, Stanford made the decision to bring back the requirement. Applicants who face genuine hardship in accessing testing can request a waiver, but the default expectation is that you will submit one of these exams.

Stanford's approach to the ACT differs from many other selective schools because the university does not superscore your ACT results. This means if you take the ACT multiple times, Stanford will focus on the highest composite score from a single test date rather than combining your strongest individual section scores from different test dates. This is different from how the school treats the SAT, which Stanford does superscore. The implication is that when you take the ACT at Stanford, you want to aim for the best overall performance on one sitting rather than banking on piecing together sections from multiple attempts.

Understanding how Stanford evaluates your ACT score requires recognizing that standardized testing is just one component of a holistic admissions review where academic potential is the primary criterion. Stanford admissions officers examine your coursework rigor, grades, essays, recommendations, leadership, depth of commitment to meaningful activities, and personal qualities alongside your test score. Even applicants with a 35 ACT can be rejected because admissions officers are looking for students who will thrive intellectually and contribute meaningfully to campus life and the Stanford community. Your test score helps confirm that you can handle Stanford's academic demands, but it does not make the case for admission on its own.

At a school as highly selective as Stanford, having a strong ACT score actually narrows down the applicant pool but does not separate you from other high-scoring applicants who are also competing for admission. Instead, admissions officers focus on what makes you unique as a person and student, looking beyond the numbers. They want to understand how you think, what drives you, what challenges you have overcome, and how you will make the Stanford community better and more dynamic. Your ACT score signals that you have the intellectual capability to succeed at Stanford, but the rest of your application demonstrates whether you deserve one of the roughly 2,000 spots they offer to each incoming class. This is why students with 34 ACT scores sometimes receive acceptance letters while students with a 35 ACT are denied, as the full context of each applicant matters far more than a single test score.

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.