ACT 31 score guide · 2026-2027 cycle

31 ACT to SAT: Official Conversion + Practical College Strategy

Official SAT equivalent

1390-1410

SAT midpoint

1400

National percentile

~95th

ACT to SAT calculator

Enter your ACT score below (defaults to 30 on this page) to see your SAT equivalent in seconds. Adjust to 30 or 32 to test retake scenarios.

What a 31 ACT means in 2026-27

A 31 ACT is an excellent score in the national context. At roughly the 95th percentile, you are performing above the vast majority of ACT test takers and already competitive at many selective universities.

Using the official ACT-College Board concordance, a 31 ACT lines up with about SAT 1390-1410 (midpoint 1400). That gives you a clear translation when colleges publish SAT-heavy profiles.

This guide focuses on decision quality, not score hype: where a 31 is already a clear strength, where major-level admissions are tougher than campus averages, and what to prioritize if you are deciding between submitting, retaking, or going test-optional.

Official ACT 31 to SAT concordance

Using the official ACT/College Board concordance table, ACT 31 maps to SAT 1390-1410. Colleges use this conversion for cross-test comparisons when applicants submit different exams.

ACT	SAT Range	SAT Midpoint	Percentile
29	1330–1350	1340	92nd
30	1360–1380	1370	94th
31	1390–1410	1400	95th
32	1420–1440	1430	97th
33	1450–1480	1465	98th
34	1490–1530	1510	99th

Colleges where a 31 ACT is competitive

Every row includes an official source breadcrumb inside the fit notes, linking directly to the exact university admissions/profile page used for that row.

Strong match schools

College	Middle 50% ACT	How ACT 31 fits
University of Florida	29-33	A 31 sits firmly in-range at UF and usually supports a competitive file. For high-demand pathways, transcript rigor and core-course grades still do most of the heavy lifting. source/UF Admissions · Freshman
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	29-33	A 31 is competitive at UNC overall. Out-of-state applicants should still expect a sharper bar, so pairing this score with strong AP/IB coursework is especially important. source/UNC OIRA · Common Data Set
Wake Forest University	30-33	A 31 lands around Wake's middle competitive zone. In a holistic and test-optional process, essays and recommendations can move outcomes among similarly scored applicants. source/Wake Forest Admissions · Apply
University of Wisconsin-Madison	27-32	At 31, you are near the top of UW-Madison's middle 50% profile. That often clears the testing benchmark and lets your academic fit for intended major matter most. source/UW-Madison · Facts
University of Texas at Austin	30-34	A 31 is competitive for UT Austin's broad applicant pool, but admission standards are materially tighter for majors like CS, Engineering, and Business. source/UT Austin · Common Data Set
Purdue University	28-34	A 31 is a strong Purdue-wide score. For Engineering and Computer Science, treat this as competitive-but-not-safe and prioritize math preparation and course rigor evidence. source/Purdue Admissions · Freshman Profile
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign	29-34	A 31 is comfortably in UIUC's overall range. Program selectivity varies widely, so major-specific readiness is more predictive than campus-average test data alone. source/UIUC Admissions · Freshman Profile
Boston University	31-34	A 31 is right at BU's lower in-range edge. That can absolutely work when your transcript trend, activities, and school-level fit are compelling. source/BU ASIR · Common Data Set

Reach schools with realistic upside

College	Middle 50% ACT	How ACT 31 fits
University of Michigan	31-34	A 31 is in-range for Michigan, though often closer to the lower end for high-demand schools. Strong curriculum depth and execution are essential for reach-level odds. source/Michigan OBP · Common Data Set
New York University	31-34	A 31 can be viable at NYU overall, but selectivity differs by school. Program choice (for example Stern, Tisch, or CAS) can substantially shift competitiveness. source/NYU · Common Data Set
University of Southern California	32-35	A 31 is slightly below USC's typical submitted-score band, so other parts of your file need to be standout, especially for highly selective schools within USC. source/USC OIR · Common Data Set
Boston College	33-35	A 31 is below BC's central testing range; still possible, but you would want exceptional transcript strength and clear alignment with BC's academic values. source/Boston College Admissions · Statistics
Carleton College	33-35	For Carleton, a 31 typically places you below the median submitter profile. Treat this as a true reach where intellectual voice and teacher support are critical. source/Carleton Admissions
Villanova University	32-34	A 31 is just below Villanova's middle range and can still be workable with strong classroom performance and meaningful extracurricular depth. source/Villanova Admissions · Admitted Students
Bates College	31-34	A 31 is in-range at Bates, but as a selective liberal arts college with test-optional context, writing quality and authentic fit still heavily shape outcomes. source/Bates Research · Common Data Set

Useful next steps (high impact, low guesswork)

Build a 12-15 school list split into: 4 likely, 6 match, 3-5 reach. Use published middle 50% by school and major whenever available.
If you are targeting highly selective programs (business, CS, engineering), evaluate program-level competitiveness separately from university averages.
Retake only if timed practice suggests a realistic move to 33-34; otherwise invest that time in essays, recommendations, and activity impact.
For test-optional schools, submit your score only where it strengthens your academic context versus enrolled student ranges.

Next step: run your exact score scenario

Start with ACT 31, then compare nearby outcomes to see how your target list mix changes by just one point.

Calculate your exact SAT equivalent now Compare with ACT 30 Check SAT percentile context Compare with our 32 ACT strategy page

FAQs

What SAT score is equivalent to a 31 ACT?

A 31 on the ACT converts to an SAT score range of 1390-1410, with a single-point estimate of 1400, based on the official 2018 ACT/College Board concordance tables still used in admissions.

Is a 31 ACT score good enough for Ivy League schools?

A 31 is at or near the 25th-percentile edge for some Ivy-level ranges. It does not disqualify you, but you usually need exceptional grades, rigorous coursework, recommendations, and essays to remain competitive.

What percentile is a 31 on the ACT?

A 31 ACT is approximately the 95th percentile, meaning you scored higher than about 95% of national ACT test takers.

Should I retake the ACT if I scored 31?

For most students, no. A 31 is already strong for a wide range of selective colleges. Retake mainly if your target list is heavy on schools where 34+ is typical and your practice tests show a realistic 2+ point upside.

Do colleges prefer the ACT or SAT?

In general, no. Colleges use official concordance tables to compare ACT and SAT on a common scale, so you should submit the exam where your score sits strongest relative to each college's enrolled-student ranges.

Can I superscore above an ACT 31?

Many colleges accept ACT superscoring. If your best section scores come from different test dates, your superscore can rise above your single-test composite. Always verify superscore policy on each official admissions website.