The Condition of College & Career Readiness 2018 - North Dakota Key Findings

Oct 9, 2026

North Dakota’s 2018 college and career readiness profile summarizes ACT participation and performance, benchmark attainment, and key proficiency gaps. The report highlights overall ACT composite results, compares results with 2014 and 2017, and breaks outcomes down by major student groups. It details college readiness benchmark counts, shares of students below proficiency in complex text comprehension, and STEM signals including interest, STEM scores, and physics participation patterns. It also covers career readiness indicators using WorkKeys NCRC® likelihood and estimates potential impact from changes in composite scores, alongside behaviors affecting access and opportunity.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

Performance

Participation and composite scores

College readiness benchmarks and proficiency

STEM

Interest and STEM performance

Physics participation and science outcomes

Math participation and math outcomes

Career Readiness

WorkKeys NCRC® likelihood

ACT Composite cut scores

Impact

Estimated effects of a 0.1 composite score increase

Behaviors that Impact Access and Opportunity

Retest frequency and score differences

The Condition of College & Career Readiness 2018 North Dakota Key Findings Performance • In the 2018 North Dakota graduating class, 7,282 graduates (98 percent) took the ACT test with a Composite score average of 20.3. This compares to 7,227 (100 percent) with an average of 20.6 in 2014. Nationally, 55% of 2018 graduates took the ACT with an average Composite score of 20.8. ~ There were 243 African American graduates from North Dakota who took the ACT (3 percent) with an average Composite score of 16.8. This compares to 169 (2 percent) with an average of 16 . 0, and 124 (2 percent) with an average of 16 .3, for the 2017 and 2014 graduating classes, respectively. ~ There were 353 American Indian graduates from North Dakota who took the ACT (5 percent) with an average Composite score of 16.3. This compares to 315 (4 percent) with an average of 16 . 0, and 319 (4 percent) with an average of 16 .3, for the 2017 and 2014 graduating classes, respectively. ~ There were 5,306 White graduates from North Dakota who took the ACT (73 percent) with an average Composite score of 21.0. This compares to 5,511 (74 percent) with an average of 20 . 9, and 5,882 (81 percent) with an average of 21.1, for the 2017 and 2014 graduating classes, respectively. ~ There were 337 Hispanic graduates from North Dakota who took the ACT (5 percent) with an average Composite score of 18.2. This compares to 294 (4 percent) with an average of 18 .2, and 229 (3 percent) with an average of 18 . 0, for the 2017 and 2014 graduating classes, respectively. • In 2018, 35 percent of North Dakota graduates met zero ACT College Readiness Benchmarks. This compares to 36 and 32 percent of 2017 and 2014 graduates, respectively. • In 2018, 2,598 (36 percent) of North Dakota graduates met three or four ACT College Readiness Benchmarks. This compares to 2,528 and 2,603 (34 and 36 percent) out of 2017 and 2014 graduates, respectively. For reference, the national percentage of 2018 graduates meeting three or four benchmarks was 38% . • 56 percent of 2018 North Dakota graduates were Below Proficient in understanding complex texts. © 2018 by ACT, Inc. All rights reserved. MR00878 [www.act.org/research](www.act.org/research) 1 North Dakota The Condition of College & Career Readiness 2018 STEM • In 2018, 3,279 North Dakota graduates (45 percent) indicated having an interest in STEM majors and/or careers.~ Nationally, 45 percent of graduates indicated having an interest in STEM. • Compared to a 2018 North Dakota graduating class average ACT STEM score of 20 . 6, graduates in 2017 and 2014 had STEM averages of 20.8 and 20. 9, respectively. • Compared to 15 percent of 2018 North Dakota graduates meeting the ACT STEM College Readiness Benchmark, graduates in 2017 and 2014 had STEM Benchmark percentages of 16 and 16, respectively. • In 2018, 1,878 North Dakota graduates (26 percent) indicated taking physics. This compares to 28 and 28 percent for the 2017 and 2014 graduating classes, respectively. • 2018 North Dakota graduates meeting the ACT STEM College Readiness Benchmark had an average science score of 27.9. This compares to 27.5 in 2014. ~ 2018 graduates taking physics had an average science score of 22 .7, compared to 20.0 for students not taking physics. ~ 53 percent of 2018 North Dakota graduates taking physics met the ACT Science College Readiness Benchmark, compared to 29 for students not taking physics. • 2018 North Dakota graduates meeting the ACT STEM College Readiness Benchmark had an average math score of 28.1. This compares to 28.2 in 2014. ~ In 2018, 5,187 North Dakota graduates (71 percent) indicated taking three or more years of math. This compares to 74 and 76 percent for 2017 and 2014 graduating classes, respectively. ~ 2018 graduates taking three or more years of math had an average math score of 21 .3, compared to 16.1 for students taking less than three years of math. ~ 48 percent of 2018 graduates taking three

FAQs

How many North Dakota 2018 graduates took the ACT, and what was the average composite score?

In 2018, 7,282 graduates (98 percent) took the ACT with an average composite score of 20.3. This is compared with 7,227 (100 percent) with an average of 20.6 in 2014.

What share of North Dakota graduates met ACT College Readiness Benchmarks in 2018?

In 2018, 35 percent of North Dakota graduates met zero ACT College Readiness Benchmarks. Also, 36 percent met three or four benchmarks, compared with national 38 percent for the same level.

How does testing more than once relate to access and opportunity in North Dakota?

Among 2018 graduates, 35.6% who took the ACT two or more times averaged a composite score of 22.4, versus 19.1 for 64.4% who tested only once. The report also notes large differences in single-test rates across student groups.

Oct 9, 2026

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