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
Bellarmine University Bellarmine UniversityKentucky 2127 87.78%
Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion Indiana Wesleyan University-MarionIndiana 2127 86.72%
Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis Indiana University-Purdue University-IndianapolisIndiana 2127 82.89%
Illinois State University Illinois State UniversityIllinois 2127 86.24%
The University of West Florida The University of West FloridaFlorida 2127 48.03%
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusColorado 2127 74.58%
University of Mobile University of MobileAlabama 2127 84.08%
University of Lynchburg University of LynchburgVirginia 2128 95.94%
Abilene Christian University Abilene Christian UniversityTexas 2128 65.79%
Augustana University Augustana UniversitySouth Dakota 2128 65.79%
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona Pennsylvania State University-Penn State AltoonaPennsylvania 2128 95.76%
Seton Hill University Seton Hill UniversityPennsylvania 2128 78.34%
Cleveland Institute of Art Cleveland Institute of ArtOhio 2128 69.84%
Wittenberg University Wittenberg UniversityOhio 2128 93.93%
University of Toledo University of ToledoOhio 2128 92.23%
University of North Carolina at Asheville University of North Carolina at AshevilleNorth Carolina 2128 74.31%
Mississippi College Mississippi CollegeMississippi 2128 39.99%
Concordia College at Moorhead Concordia College at MoorheadMinnesota 2128 65.53%
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Saint Mary's University of MinnesotaMinnesota 2128 96.83%
University of Northwestern-St Paul University of Northwestern-St PaulMinnesota 2128 92.51%
Wayne State University Wayne State UniversityMichigan 2128 75.32%
University of Michigan-Flint University of Michigan-FlintMichigan 2128 66.35%
University of Kentucky University of KentuckyKentucky 2128 94.89%
University of Kansas University of KansasKansas 2128 87.84%
Dordt University Dordt UniversityIowa 2128 87.67%
Iowa State University Iowa State UniversityIowa 2128 90.22%
University of Evansville University of EvansvilleIndiana 2128 76.32%
Augustana College Augustana CollegeIllinois 2128 61.22%
University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusConnecticut 2128 97.3%
University of Colorado Colorado Springs University of Colorado Colorado SpringsColorado 2128 84.77%
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