ETS acquired ACT from the private equity firm Nexus Capital Management on June 30, 2026. ETS declined to disclose the terms of the deal.

Following the acquisition, ACT will continue operating as its own organization. Neither ETS nor ACT announced changes to the ACT's format, scoring, testing schedule, or score reporting as part of the acquisition. Amit Sevak, CEO of ETS, stated, "Every student deserves a strong education, a fair shot at college, and a path to a good job." He added, "Together with ACT, we're determined to serve students and parents along with educators and states by expanding access to education and job opportunities across America."

Steve Tapp, CEO of ACT, said that becoming part of ETS will allow the organization to scale its initiatives. "This is about more students getting the guidance they deserve, and more of them finding their way forward with confidence," Tapp stated. He also indicated that the move provides a platform for their mission. "Joining ETS gives us the platform to fulfill our mission at a scale we couldn't reach alone."

Kerr C. Ramsay III, senior vice president for enrollment at High Point University, commented on the evolving nature of higher education assessments. Ramsay said, "Higher education is evolving quickly, and assessment providers have to evolve with it." He noted the potential for increased innovation, stating, "Bringing together organizations with deep expertise in measurement has the potential to accelerate innovation in areas like digital testing, score reporting and student support." Ramsay added, "Ultimately, any change should be judged by whether it improves access, transparency, and confidence in the admissions process."

The acquisition occurred after a period when the number of students taking the ACT declined. Between 2019 and 2025, the number of students who took the ACT decreased from 1.78 million to 1.38 million. In 2024, ACT sold itself to Nexus Capital Management. During the 2026 admissions cycle, fewer than 10 percent of bachelor's degree-granting institutions required applicants to submit ACT or SAT scores. In 2025, 36 percent of high school graduates took the ACT.