Over the course of the next 10 years, ETSU hopes to raise the average ACT score to a 24.
While the university is not too far from its goal, it recognizes that scores and grading are always different.
In fall 2016, the average ACT score for incoming freshmen was 23.2, which is up 1.1 points since Fall 2013.
A perfect score on the ACT is a 36, while the lowest possible score is one.
Nationally, the average ACT score in 2016 was a 20.8, according to Time Magazine.
While ETSU cannot prepare incoming students for the ACT, they can reach out to students with a higher ACT score in hopes that they will choose to attend ETSU.
“We really want to make sure they know that ETSU is a great place,” said Brian Henley, director of admissions at ETSU. “We want to showcase all of our opportunities.”
Over the past few years, ETSU has begun outreach for these high-achieving high school students by holding receptions, tours and orientations for students with an ACT score of a 24 or higher. ETSU has also increased the amount of out of state scholarships in hopes to make the university more feasible for out of state scholars.
The ACT is broken down into four sections: English, mathematics, reading and science.
There is also a writing section, which is optional for students to take.
For admittance, ETSU requires a minimum GPA of 2.3 on a 4.0 scale or a minimum composite ACT score of 19.
“ACT scores are only a fraction of admittance to ETSU,” Henley said. “ACT is a good indication of how well students will do, but it’s not everything.”
The Academic Performance Scholarships are awarded based on the combination of GPA and ACT scores for all incoming freshmen. The University Honors Scholars program also relies partially on the ACT score.
The ACT being standardized provides a level playing field for students acrxoss the country, making at least once facet of the application comparable.
