21 ACT Colleges: Best Schools for 21 ACT Score

21 score on the ACT puts in a good position for College and Universities admissions in the US. Here we are providing a list of Universities and colleges that accept a 21 ACT score. These schools and colleges are good match for your score, as not only you will improve your chances of admissions by applying to these colleges, but also will ensure that you are placed with equally talented students. Some schools that require less than this average score might not be a good match for you as the quality of the students will be lower, though your chances of admissions will be higher at those schools.

Your best choices will be the schools and colleges where the average ACT score of the admitted students is 18 to 23. We are also showing you the 25th percentile and 75th percentile ACT Score of the admitted students so that you can have a clear understanding of how many students score what ACT Score. If your 21 ACT Score is higher than 25th percentile, it means your score is better than the quarter of the admitted students, and if it is higher than 75th percentile, then it means your ACT score of 21 is higher than 75% of the students admitted at that school.

Choose a college where your score is near to 75th percentile, this will maximize your chances of admission. You can also apply to other schools as well, but to be on safe side, you must apply to at least 2-3 such schools and colleges.

Best Colleges for 21 ACT Score

Following is the list of best suited colleges with your 21 ACT Score.

LogoCollegeStateACT 25th PercentileACT 75th PercentileAcceptance Rate
Western Kentucky University Western Kentucky UniversityKentucky 1825 96.95%
Franklin College Franklin CollegeIndiana 1825 92.86%
Morehouse College Morehouse CollegeGeorgia 1825 60.01%
University of North Georgia University of North GeorgiaGeorgia 1825 69.63%
University of North Florida University of North FloridaFlorida 1825 70.5%
Fort Lewis College Fort Lewis CollegeColorado 1825 90.98%
Colorado Mesa University Colorado Mesa UniversityColorado 1825 81.76%
University of La Verne University of La VerneCalifornia 1825 73.51%
Auburn University at Montgomery Auburn University at MontgomeryAlabama 1825 92.23%
The University of Texas at Arlington The University of Texas at ArlingtonTexas 1826 80.8%
Marywood University Marywood UniversityPennsylvania 1826 80.76%
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock University of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania 1826 74.33%
Belmont Abbey College Belmont Abbey CollegeNorth Carolina 1826 97.17%
SUNY Brockport SUNY BrockportNew York 1826 67.94%
University of Nebraska at Omaha University of Nebraska at OmahaNebraska 1826 85.86%
Blue Mountain Christian University Blue Mountain Christian UniversityMississippi 1826 95.7%
St Catherine University St Catherine UniversityMinnesota 1826 92.53%
Grace College and Theological Seminary Grace College and Theological SeminaryIndiana 1826 84.62%
Huntington University Huntington UniversityIndiana 1826 77.5%
Indiana University-East Indiana University-EastIndiana 1826 77.55%
Catawba College Catawba CollegeNorth Carolina 1827 67.08%
D'Youville  University D'Youville UniversityNew York 1827 84.04%
Concordia University Ann Arbor Concordia University Ann ArborMichigan 1827 70.18%
University of Connecticut-Stamford University of Connecticut-StamfordConnecticut 1827 92.18%
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Saint Mary-of-the-Woods CollegeIndiana 1830 78.17%
Medaille University Medaille UniversityNew York 1721 68.8%
Valdosta State University Valdosta State UniversityGeorgia 1721 89.47%
Trinity Baptist College Trinity Baptist CollegeFlorida 1721 49.59%
University of West Alabama University of West AlabamaAlabama 1721 68.86%
Marian University Marian UniversityWisconsin 1722 71.55%
LogoCollegeStateACT 25th PercentileACT 75th PercentileAcceptance Rate
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FAQ for ACT 21 Score

How does a 21 ACT score compare to the SAT?

A 21 ACT score is roughly equivalent to a 1000 SAT. This is generally considered a low-average score for many universities.

What scholarships are available for a 21 ACT score?

A 21 ACT score may make you eligible for some scholarships at state universities, but top-tier scholarships will likely be out of reach.

Can I get into Ivy League schools with a 21 ACT score?

Ivy League schools typically require scores above 30, so a 21 would not be competitive for those schools. You may want to look at less competitive options.

Should I retake the ACT to improve my score?

Yes, if you want to apply to Ivy League or selective schools, retaking is advisable. For many other colleges, a 21 is still acceptable.

What is the national average ACT score?

The national average ACT score is 20–21, so a 21 is slightly above average but not enough for top-tier schools.

Do test-optional colleges consider a 21 ACT score if submitted?

Yes, submitting a 21 ACT score will still be considered at test-optional colleges, but you should focus on strengthening other parts of your application.

What GPA is a 21 ACT?

A 21 ACT usually corresponds to a GPA between 2.0 and 2.4, which suggests an average academic standing.

Can I get into NYU with a 21 ACT?

NYU’s average ACT is much higher than 21, so a 21 would not be competitive. Consider retaking or applying to less selective schools.

Is 21 a good ACT score for Harvard?

Harvard’s average ACT is much higher than a 21, so it is not considered competitive. Retaking and aiming for a higher score would improve your chances.

Can I get into MIT with a 21 ACT?

MIT’s average score is 34, so a 21 would not meet their standards. Retaking the test is necessary if you wish to apply to MIT.

Can I get into Princeton with a 21 ACT score?

Princeton expects scores above 30, so a 21 is significantly below their typical range. You may want to retake the test to increase your chances.

What if you improve your ACT score by 2 points (to 23)?

Improving to 23 would make you more competitive for state universities and increase your scholarship opportunities.

Best Suited Colleges for ACT Score

36 ACT Score Best Colleges35 ACT Score Best Colleges34 ACT Score Best Colleges
33 ACT Score Best Colleges32 ACT Score Best Colleges31 ACT Score Best Colleges
30 ACT Score Best Colleges29 ACT Score Best Colleges28 ACT Score Best Colleges
27 ACT Score Best Colleges26 ACT Score Best Colleges25 ACT Score Best Colleges
24 ACT Score Best Colleges23 ACT Score Best Colleges22 ACT Score Best Colleges
21 ACT Score Best Colleges20 ACT Score Best Colleges19 ACT Score Best Colleges
18 ACT Score Best Colleges17 ACT Score Best Colleges16 ACT Score Best Colleges
15 ACT Score Best Colleges14 ACT Score Best Colleges13 ACT Score Best Colleges