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
University of Wisconsin-Platteville University of Wisconsin-PlattevilleWisconsin 2027 85.43%
Concordia University-Wisconsin Concordia University-WisconsinWisconsin 2027 70.37%
Carthage College Carthage CollegeWisconsin 2027 81.83%
Seattle Pacific University Seattle Pacific UniversityWashington 2027 90.71%
Utah State University Utah State UniversityUtah 2027 93.73%
Texas Lutheran University Texas Lutheran UniversityTexas 2027 91.83%
Saint Edward's University Saint Edward's UniversityTexas 2027 85.1%
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Oklahoma State University-Main CampusOklahoma 2027 70.63%
Otterbein University Otterbein UniversityOhio 2027 83.68%
Baldwin Wallace University Baldwin Wallace UniversityOhio 2027 77.04%
University of North Carolina at Charlotte University of North Carolina at CharlotteNorth Carolina 2027 79.64%
Culinary Institute of America Culinary Institute of AmericaNew York 2027 94.86%
Montana State University Montana State UniversityMontana 2027 73.33%
University of Missouri-St Louis University of Missouri-St LouisMissouri 2027 51.11%
University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. LouisMissouri 2027 91.58%
University of Southern Mississippi University of Southern MississippiMississippi 2027 98.84%
Martin Luther College Martin Luther CollegeMinnesota 2027 83.72%
College of Saint Benedict College of Saint BenedictMinnesota 2027 87.8%
Siena Heights University Siena Heights UniversityMichigan 2027 64.98%
Saint Ambrose University Saint Ambrose UniversityIowa 2027 73.92%
Elmhurst University Elmhurst UniversityIllinois 2027 76.01%
Millikin University Millikin UniversityIllinois 2027 75.4%
University of Illinois Springfield University of Illinois SpringfieldIllinois 2027 82.03%
University of Idaho University of IdahoIdaho 2027 73.85%
Hawaii Pacific University Hawaii Pacific UniversityHawaii 2027 87.1%
Nova Southeastern University Nova Southeastern UniversityFlorida 2027 75.8%
Saint Leo University Saint Leo UniversityFlorida 2027 80.1%
University of Northern Colorado University of Northern ColoradoColorado 2027 78.54%
Regis University Regis UniversityColorado 2027 76.09%
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BeaverPennsylvania 2028 93.2%
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