College-Ready Seal
Guidelines for Schools and Districts
Under Ohio’s long-term graduation requirements, students must demonstrate readiness as a part of their pathway to earning a high school diploma. To demonstrate readiness, students must earn at least two seals, one of which must be a state-defined seal.
The College-Ready Seal is a state-defined seal. Students will earn the College-Ready Seal by earning remediation-free scores on the ACT, SAT, or College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) scores in math and English.
College-Ready Seal – General Requirements
Ohio Revised Code Section 3313.6114(C)(2
To earn the College-Ready Seal, students must earn remediation-free scores on the ACT, SAT, or CLEP, as outlined below.
What are the remediation-free scores?
| Subject |
ACT |
SAT |
CLEP |
English Language Arts
|
English subscore of 18 (or higher) |
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) score of 480 (or higher) |
One (1) of the following:
- College Composition score of 50 or higher
- College Composition Modular score of 50 (or higher)
|
| Reading subscore of 22 (or higher) |
One (1) of the following:
- Analyzing and Interpreting Literature score of 59 (or higher); or
- American Literature score of 53 (or higher); or
- English Literature score of 63 (or higher); or
- Humanities score of 55 (or higher)
|
Mathematics
|
Mathematics subscore of 22 (or higher) |
Mathematics 530 (or higher)
|
One (1) of the following:
- College Mathematics score of 63 (or higher); or
- College Algebra score of 63 (or higher); or
- Precalculus score of 61 (or higher); or
- Calculus score of 64 (or higher)
|
College and Career Readiness Test Information
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Additional Resources
General Questions
How are remediation-free scores determined?
The Ohio Department of Higher Education works with Ohio universities to set the remediation-free scores for the ACT and SAT (Ohio Revised Code Section 3345.061(F)).
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What happens if the remediation-free scores change while a student is in high school?
The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce will communicate the remediation-free scores needed to meet the graduation requirement in the spring of the students’ junior (grade 11) year before they take the state-sponsored test. The remediation-free score that is in place on Feb 1 of a student's junior year is the score needed to satisfy the requirements for the College-Ready Seal. Any changes after Feb. 1 each year will affect only future groups of students.
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Do students need to earn remediation-free scores in all areas of the test?
Yes. Students must earn remediation-free scores in each of the three subscore areas, two in English language arts and one in mathematics.
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Will students have the opportunity to take one of these tests in school?
Yes. State law requires districts and community schools to administer the state-funded ACT or SAT to all grade 11 students in the spring of the school year1. Each year, districts and schools will select the test to administer to their juniors.
1 For students entering ninth grade on or after July 1, 2021, parents or guardians may opt the student out of the test.
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How are the qualifying College-Level Examination Program scores determined?
The qualifying CLEP scores are derived from longstanding guidance issued by the Ohio Department of Higher Education. This statewide CLEP policy was developed alongside public institutions of higher education in 2017 and is regularly updated to agreed- upon “college-ready” standards. The CLEP scores determined to award this seal represent the minimum “cut score” specified by the Ohio Department of Higher Education.
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Can a student who earns the College-Ready Seal also use the ACT or SAT remediation free competency alternative?
Yes. Students may apply their remediation free scores to meet both the competency pathway requirements and earn the College-Ready Seal.
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Can students super score?
Yes. Each student may use the highest score in each subscore from multiple administrations of a test to meet the student’s graduation requirement pathway. This would include the state-funded administration, which all Ohio students will take in the spring of their junior year and additional attempts that students take and fund through non-state resources during their academic careers.
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Additional Resources
What are some additional resources to refer to?
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Last Modified: 4/21/2026 12:09:06 PM