If you are researching the ACT score required for Auburn, here is what you need to know upfront: Auburn University is a moderately selective school with an acceptance rate of 45.9%. That means nearly half of all applicants are rejected. Your ACT score is one of the most actionable variables in your application, and knowing exactly where you need to be before you apply is worth more than any last-minute preparation tip.

Here is the full picture.

Auburn ACT Score Requirements at a Glance

What Is the Average ACT Score for Auburn?

The average ACT score for Auburn is 27. Here is how the full score range breaks down:

• 25th percentile: 26 (below this range puts you at a significant disadvantage)
• Average: 27 (right at the competitive midpoint)
• 75th percentile: 31 (above this range makes you a very strong candidate)

A score of 26 is the practical floor. Applying with anything below that requires an exceptionally strong application in every other dimension. A score of 27 puts you right at the average. A score of 31 or above puts you in the top quarter and gives your application a strong academic foundation.

Auburn ACT Score Requirements by Section

The Auburn ACT score requirements go beyond the composite. Here is how each section breaks down for admitted students:

What this tells you is that the Reading and English sections show the widest spread among admitted students. If your composite is at or near 27 but your Reading or English scores are pulling it down, those are your highest-leverage sections to target before applying.

What ACT Score Is Competitive for Auburn?

Auburn is moderately selective. Its 45.9% acceptance rate means the school has genuine academic standards and is not simply admitting everyone who applies. Here is how to read your score in the context of Auburn admissions.

Score of 25 or below: You are below the 25th percentile. Admission is possible but your GPA, essays, and extracurriculars need to be exceptional to compensate. At this level your ACT score is a weakness in your application, not a neutral factor.

Score of 26 to 27: You are within the competitive range but on the lower end. Your application is viable but the rest of your file, including GPA, coursework rigor, and personal statement, needs to be strong to carry weight alongside an average or below-average test score.

Score of 28 to 30: You are above the average and in a solid position. Your ACT score is a strength and will not raise concerns during the review process.

Score of 31 and above: You are in the top quarter of admitted students. At this level your score is an asset that actively strengthens your application and positions you well for merit scholarship consideration.

How GPA Interacts With Your ACT Score

The average GPA for admitted Auburn students is 4.09, which is a weighted GPA. That means Auburn expects students at or near the top of their class, typically with mostly A’s and a strong lineup of AP or IB courses.

If your GPA is at or below 4.09, your ACT score becomes more important in the review process. A student with a 3.8 GPA and a 30 ACT is in a meaningfully better position than a student with a 3.8 GPA and a 26 ACT. The two numbers work together and a strong test score can offset a GPA that is slightly below the average.

If you are a junior or senior whose GPA is difficult to change at this stage, your ACT score is the most actionable variable left in your application. Improving it before you apply is the single highest-leverage move you can make.

Auburn’s ACT Score Sending Policy

When you send ACT scores to Auburn, you have complete control over which scores you submit. You can take the ACT multiple times and choose to send only your highest score. Auburn will see only the score you submit.

This matters for your preparation strategy. There is no penalty for retaking the ACT at Auburn. If your current score is below 27, retaking is almost always worth the investment of time and preparation, particularly if you are targeting merit scholarships that require scores in the 28 to 31 range.

Auburn ACT Requirements Compared to Similar Schools

To put the auburn act scores requirement in context, here is how Auburn compares to schools at a similar and higher level of selectivity:

Reach schools (harder to get into than Auburn):

• Rochester Institute of Technology, ACT average 31
• Penn State University Park, ACT average 30
• Florida State University, ACT average 30
• University of Texas at Austin, ACT average 30
• University of California Santa Barbara, ACT average 29

Same level as Auburn:

• University of Georgia, ACT average 29
• Temple University, ACT average 28
• University of Texas at Dallas, ACT average 28
• University of California Davis, ACT average 28
• University of Cincinnati, ACT average 27
• University of Alabama, ACT average 26

Safety schools (easier to get into than Auburn):

• Quinnipiac University, ACT average 25
• Ohio University, ACT average 25
• University of Arizona, ACT average 25
• California State University Long Beach, ACT average 23
• Washington State University, ACT average 23

If you are scoring at or above 27, you are competitive for Auburn and the schools ranked at a similar level. A score of 31 or above opens the door to several more selective schools on the reach list.

How to Hit Your Auburn ACT Target

If your current score is below 26 or you are aiming to push it to 27 or higher before applying, the path forward is straightforward: targeted preparation built around the specific sections and question types that are costing you the most points.

The students who improve their ACT scores enough to cross meaningful thresholds share a consistent approach:

• They started with a diagnostic baseline that showed them exactly where their points were going
• They focused preparation on their weakest sections rather than reviewing material they already knew
• They drilled the specific section gaps the data identified. For most Auburn applicants that means Reading and English first
• They practiced with full timed tests to build the pacing habits that prevent avoidable errors under pressure
• They reviewed every mistake before moving on and used that analysis to drive the next session
• They tracked progress over time so improvement was measurable, not assumed

That approach works regardless of starting point. A student at a 24 can realistically reach 27 with structured preparation over several weeks. A student at 27 can push to 30 or 31 with targeted work on two or three specific weak areas.

How ScoreSmart Can Help You Hit Your Auburn Target

If Auburn is on your list and your ACT score is not where it needs to be yet, ScoreSmart’s digital ACT test prep is built around exactly the kind of preparation that moves scores. Rather than giving you a generic curriculum, ScoreSmart shows you precisely which sections and question types are costing you the most points and builds your preparation around closing those specific gaps.

Whether you need to cross the 26 threshold to stay competitive or push from 27 to 31 to put yourself in the top quarter of Auburn applicants, the analytics ScoreSmart provides give you a clear, specific path to improve your ACT score before your application deadline.

Your target score is reachable. The question is whether your preparation is built to get you there.

The Bottom Line

Here is what every Auburn applicant needs to know about Auburn ACT score requirements:

• The average ACT score for admitted students is 27
• The competitive range is 26 to 31, with 26 as the practical floor and 31 putting you in the top quarter
• There is no minimum score required for admission, but scores below 26 add significant pressure to the rest of your application
• Reading and English show the widest score spread among admitted students and are the highest-leverage sections to improve
• Auburn’s score sending policy gives you full control over which ACT score you submit, making retakes low-risk and often worth it
• A strong ACT score can offset a GPA that falls below the 4.09 average, making preparation one of the most valuable investments you can make before applying

A score of 27 puts you in a competitive position. A score of 31 makes your ACT a genuine asset. Get there with the right preparation and your path to Auburn gets significantly clearer.