How Long Does It Take To Send ACT Scores? 2026-2027 Dates

Last updated on August 16, 2026. 

Most ACT scores are posted online 10 to 17 days after your official test date, and over 97% of scores are available within two to four weeks. If you added the optional writing test, expect your essay score about two weeks after your multiple-choice results. Once you send your scores to colleges, budget another 2 to 7 weeks for them to actually arrive at each school. 

Here's everything you need to know about when your scores post, how to send them, and how to time it all around application deadlines. 

2026-2027 ACT Score Release Dates

ACT published an initial score release date for every national test date. The table below covers the 2026-2027 testing year. Bookmark this page, since we refresh it each cycle as ACT confirms new dates. 

Dates reflect ACT's published estimates and can shift slightly. Always confirm your exact release date in your MyACT account.

How do I send scores?

Once you receive your scores, you have the option to send them to as many colleges and universities as you choose through your ACT account. Nothing is sent automatically unless you opt into free score sends during registration (more on why that's a bad idea below).

• Log into your account at myact.org.

• Select "My Scores" from the top menu.

• Choose the test date(s) you want to report.

• Select the colleges or universities you want to receive those scores.

When will colleges receive my scores?

Plan on two to seven weeks for scores to reach the college or university of your choosing.  Colleges receive scores in different ways—sometimes individually, sometimes in batches—so the processing time will vary.

This is to say that, if you are planning on taking tests early during your senior year, be mindful of Early Action and Early Decision deadlines for the colleges you’re applying to. Make sure you are testing early enough for your scores to arrive at the schools you are interested in.

How does release timing affect Early Action & Early Decision deadlines?

Test-date timing can quietly shape your application strategy. Here's how:

• Most EA/ED deadlines fall between November 1 and 15. Working backward from a two-month delivery window, that generally means your last realistic test date is the September national test date. Planning to take anything after October may be too late for EA/ED reporting.
• Test-optional doesn't mean score-timing-optional. If you're planning to submit scores to strengthen a test-optional application, the same delivery lag applies. 
• Superscoring needs multiple completed test dates before a deadline. If your strategy depends on combining section scores across multiple sittings, you need enough test dates and enough score-processing time before sending anything to colleges. 

What will colleges see in my score report?

The colleges and universities you apply to will receive only the scores from test dates that you choose to submit, not your full testing history.

If you submit a superscore, schools receive only the best section results across the test dates you select, combined into one final score. Colleges do not see a complete report from each test. 

What is an ACT superscore?

If you've taken the ACT more than once, you can mix and match your best section scores across test dates, creating a super composite score.

For example, if you scored highest on English and Math sections on your first attempt, but did better on Reading and Science the second time, you can combine those four section scores into a super composite, without colleges seeing the rest of either full report. 

Should I pre-select schools to receive scores before I test?

In short, probably not. During registration, ACT lets you choose four schools to receive your scores for free, but you commit to that decision before knowing your results, and once you've tested, you cannot cancel those score reports. Meaning, a rough day on a test day still gets sent.

The safer play is to test first, see your scores, then decide where to send them. Especially considering many schools remain test-optional in 2026. You may decide to send scores to certain schools and not others based on how your scores shape your entire academic profile. 

What does it cost to send ACT scores to colleges?

It costs $15 USD per test date, per school. Sending two different test dates to one school costs $30 (2 x $15). So, if you decide to report a superscore, it would cost $30 since the score comes from 2 test dates. 

Be sure to budget accordingly if you're hoping to send multiple test dates to a long college list. 

Final thoughts

Remember, when you submit your score reports, you are consenting to release the data from specific test dates (“test events”) to institutions of your choosing. You can choose what test scores are released and to whom they are released.

Note that ACT score reporting is not instantaneous. It takes up to two months from the day of your test for a college or university to receive your scores, so if you are testing in the late summer or fall of your senior year and trying to apply to universities by an early deadline, make sure to leave enough time to report your scores before those deadlines fall.

Are you looking for subject tutoring or standardized test prep support? Collegewise pairs students with 95th+ percentile tutors to help students prepare for the ACT or SAT, along with free diagnostic exams to pinpoint which test is the best fit for you. 

Receive trusted academic tutoring and SAT/ACT test prep today.

About Us: With more than twenty-seven years of experience, Collegewise counselors and tutors are at the forefront of the ever-evolving admissions landscape. Our work has always centered on you: the student. And just like we’ve always done, we look for ways for you to be your best self - whether it’s in the classroom, in your applications or in the right-fit college environment. Our range of tools include counseling, test prep, academic tutoring, and essay management, all with the support of our proprietary platform, leading to a 4x higher than average admissions rates.