What ACT score is required for Harvard? Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University is well-known as an extremely difficult school to get into. Ranking at #3 for 2026 Best National Universities compiled by U.S. News, Harvard is definitely seen as an elite Ivy League University. In this blog, we’ll cover the average ACT score range of enrolled Harvard students to help students better understand what range of scores is competitive.
The average ACT Composite score for a freshman who has enrolled at Harvard is 35. Their average ACT Math subscore is 34, while their ACT English subscore average is 35.5. Their average Reading subscore is 35, and their average Science subscore is 34.5. Most students score in the 30s or higher on their subscores. 90% of all accepted students had at least a 30 in Math, 97% of students had at least a 30 in English, 98% had at least a 30 in Reading, and 93% had at least a 30 in Science. Below is a table that breaks down the 25th and 75th Percentile scores for the ACTs of freshmen students enrolled at Harvard.
| Assessment | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 32 | 36 | 34 |
| ACT English | 35 | 36 | 35.5 |
| ACT Reading | 34 | 36 | 35 |
| ACT Science | 33 | 36 | 34.5 |
Continuing the trend of many US Universities, Harvard will be test-required for this application cycle. All students applying will be required to submit SAT or ACT test results.
Ideally, you should aim to have your scores hit the 75th percentile in order to increase your chances of being accepted. Of course, Harvard looks at many different aspects of a candidate’s application, but higher scores can increase your odds of admission.
If you’re looking to up your ACT score and get into Harvard, check out our self paced ACT course! Want even more help? We have multiple online 1:1 tutors available at a variety of budget points.