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What colleges can I get into with a 21 ACT?

A 21 ACT is at or above the median at 40 of the 352 colleges that publish ACT ranges, including North Carolina A & T State University, University of West Georgia and University of the Ozarks. By our tiers that's 5 likely, 120 target and 31 reach colleges.

ACT ranges from each college's Common Data Set (mostly 2024–25 and 2025–26), for enrolled first-year students who sent an ACT; admit rates from it or IPEDS, the federal college survey. Tiers use the ACT and admit rate only. Percentiles from ACT's 2026–27 National Ranks. The college chances tool converts an ACT to the SAT scale first, so a few tiers there can differ.

ACT Composite

21

About 1080 on the SAT · At or above 68% of test takers

Already have a list? See where 21 lands on each college.

Check my colleges at 21

Likely (safety): 5

Above their 75th percentile at colleges that admit at least half of applicants. Sorted from the highest ACT median down.

  1. University of Houston-DowntownTX · 90% admitted · 16–21
    Likely
  2. Life UniversityGA · 93% admitted · 17–20
    Likely
  3. Georgia Gwinnett CollegeGA · 95% admitted · 15–21
    Likely
  4. Valdosta State UniversityGA · 72% admitted · 15–20
    Likely
  5. University of North Carolina at PembrokeNC · 93% admitted · 14–20
    Likely

Middle 50% of admitted students Median A 21

Target (match): 120

Inside or above their middle 50% at colleges that admit at least 1 in 5. Sorted from the highest ACT median down.

  1. Chatham UniversityPA · 62% admitted · 21–30
    Target
  2. Grand Valley State UniversityMI · 83% admitted · 21–30
    Target
  3. Western Michigan UniversityMI · 85% admitted · 21–28
    Target
  4. Wilkes UniversityPA · 91% admitted · 19–28
    Target
  5. University of MaineME · 97% admitted · 21–30
    Target
  6. Regent UniversityVA · 38% admitted · 19–26
    Target
  7. Mississippi State UniversityMS · 78% admitted · 21–29
    Target
  8. West Chester University of PennsylvaniaPA · 78% admitted · 20–28
    Target
  9. Oakland UniversityMI · 88% admitted · 21–29
    Target
  10. Appalachian State UniversityNC · 90% admitted · 21–27
    Target
  11. Eastern Washington UniversityWA · 91% admitted · 21–27
    Target
  12. Ole MissMS · 97% admitted · 21–29
    Target
  13. Principia CollegeIL · 44% admitted · 21–26
    Target
  14. Florida International UniversityFL · 55% admitted · 21–27
    Target
  15. Augustana CollegeIL · 63% admitted · 21–28
    Target
  16. Lipscomb UniversityTN · 68% admitted · 21–29
    Target
  17. Virginia Military InstituteVA · 71% admitted · 21–28
    Target
  18. University of Missouri-Kansas CityMO · 72% admitted · 20–29
    Target
  19. Wittenberg UniversityOH · 72% admitted · 21–27
    Target
  20. ArkansasAR · 74% admitted · 21–28
    Target
Show all 120
  1. Winona State UniversityMN · 75% admitted · 21–28
    Target
  2. Tennessee Technological UniversityTN · 76% admitted · 21–27
    Target
  3. University of North Carolina at CharlotteNC · 80% admitted · 21–27
    Target
  4. Kansas State UniversityKS · 82% admitted · 20–27
    Target
  5. Montana State UniversityMT · 82% admitted · 21–27
    Target
  6. IowaIA · 84% admitted · 21–28
    Target
  7. California Baptist UniversityCA · 85% admitted · 19–29
    Target
  8. University of Northern ColoradoCO · 86% admitted · 21–26
    Target
  9. ArizonaAZ · 86% admitted · 20–28
    Target
  10. Illinois State UniversityIL · 88% admitted · 21–27
    Target
  11. Central Michigan UniversityMI · 90% admitted · 20–28
    Target
  12. Dominican UniversityIL · 90% admitted · 20.5–24
    Target
  13. Utah State UniversityUT · 92% admitted · 20–27
    Target
  14. KentuckyKY · 93% admitted · 21–28
    Target
  15. KansasKS · 93% admitted · 20–27
    Target
  16. University of Southern IndianaIN · 96% admitted · 21–27
    Target
  17. University of Colorado Colorado SpringsCO · 97% admitted · 21–27
    Target
  18. Citadel Military College of South CarolinaSC · 23% admitted · 21–26
    Target
  19. HowardDC · 41% admitted · 20–26
    Target
  20. University of Alaska FairbanksAK · 65% admitted · 17–28
    Target
  21. Florida Atlantic UniversityFL · 66% admitted · 21–26
    Target
  22. University of Michigan-FlintMI · 70% admitted · 18–24
    Target
  23. Lee UniversityTN · 71% admitted · 20–27
    Target
  24. University of South AlabamaAL · 71% admitted · 20–26
    Target
  25. Oklahoma State UniversityOK · 75% admitted · 20–27
    Target
  26. Coastal Carolina UniversitySC · 75% admitted · 21–26
    Target
  27. Juniata CollegePA · 79% admitted · 21–29
    Target
  28. Winthrop UniversitySC · 79% admitted · 20–26
    Target
  29. University of LouisvilleKY · 79% admitted · 19–27
    Target
  30. Aurora UniversityIL · 81% admitted · 20–26
    Target
  31. Western Carolina UniversityNC · 82% admitted · 19–25
    Target
  32. Towson UniversityMD · 82% admitted · 18.5–26.5
    Target
  33. Dominican University of CaliforniaCA · 83% admitted · 21–26.25
    Target
  34. The University of Texas at San AntonioTX · 87% admitted · 19–25
    Target
  35. Dakota State UniversitySD · 88% admitted · 20–26
    Target
  36. West Virginia UniversityWV · 89% admitted · 20–26
    Target
  37. Northern Arizona UniversityAZ · 90% admitted · 19–26
    Target
  38. Indiana University of PennsylvaniaPA · 91% admitted · 20–28
    Target
  39. University of ToledoOH · 92% admitted · 20–26
    Target
  40. The University of Texas at TylerTX · 94% admitted · 20–25
    Target
  41. University of New MexicoNM · 95% admitted · 20–26
    Target
  42. Quincy UniversityIL · 51% admitted · 20–25
    Target
  43. University of West FloridaFL · 58% admitted · 19–26
    Target
  44. Florida Gulf Coast UniversityFL · 63% admitted · 20–25
    Target
  45. Northern Kentucky UniversityKY · 68% admitted · 19–25
    Target
  46. Middle Tennessee State UniversityTN · 69% admitted · 19–25
    Target
  47. Kennesaw State UniversityGA · 69% admitted · 19–26
    Target
  48. Stetson UniversityFL · 72% admitted · 19–27
    Target
  49. University of North TexasTX · 72% admitted · 19–26
    Target
  50. University of Nevada-RenoNV · 74% admitted · 18–25
    Target
  51. Catawba CollegeNC · 75% admitted · 18–25
    Target
  52. Eastern Michigan UniversityMI · 80% admitted · 18–25
    Target
  53. The University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaTN · 81% admitted · 20–25
    Target
  54. Houston Christian UniversityTX · 84% admitted · 20–27
    Target
  55. University of North AlabamaAL · 87% admitted · 19–26
    Target
  56. Texas A & M University-Corpus ChristiTX · 89% admitted · 18–25
    Target
  57. East Carolina UniversityNC · 89% admitted · 19–25
    Target
  58. Texas State UniversityTX · 89% admitted · 19–25
    Target
  59. Ferris State UniversityMI · 91% admitted · 20–24
    Target
  60. University of Northern IowaIA · 93% admitted · 19–25
    Target
  61. North Dakota State UniversityND · 95% admitted · 19–25
    Target
  62. Oregon Institute of TechnologyOR · 95% admitted · 18–25
    Target
  63. Marshall UniversityWV · 96% admitted · 19–25
    Target
  64. University of South DakotaSD · 99% admitted · 19–25
    Target
  65. Florida Agricultural and Mechanical UniversityFL · 21% admitted · 19.5–24
    Target
  66. University of the OzarksAR · 60% admitted · 17–24
    Target
  67. University of AkronOH · 60% admitted · 17–25
    Target
  68. University of North GeorgiaGA · 68% admitted · 18–25
    Target
  69. Southeast Missouri State UniversityMO · 74% admitted · 18–24
    Target
  70. University of Wisconsin-ParksideWI · 75% admitted · 17–25
    Target
  71. Morehead State UniversityKY · 77% admitted · 19–25
    Target
  72. Saint Ambrose UniversityIA · 77% admitted · 19–24
    Target
  73. Marietta CollegeOH · 79% admitted · 18–25
    Target
  74. Arkansas State UniversityAR · 82% admitted · 18–24
    Target
  75. Kent State University at KentOH · 86% admitted · 18–25
    Target
  76. Aquinas CollegeMI · 90% admitted · 20–26
    Target
  77. Auburn University at MontgomeryAL · 92% admitted · 18–24
    Target
  78. East Texas A&M UniversityTX · 92% admitted · 19–25
    Target
  79. Wichita State UniversityKS · 94% admitted · 17–24
    Target
  80. Stephen F Austin State UniversityTX · 94% admitted · 18–24
    Target
  81. Colorado State University PuebloCO · 95% admitted · 19–23
    Target
  82. Maryville University of Saint LouisMO · 95% admitted · 18–26
    Target
  83. Troy UniversityAL · 96% admitted · 18–24
    Target
  84. University of Nevada-Las VegasNV · 96% admitted · 18–25
    Target
  85. Austin Peay State UniversityTN · 96% admitted · 18–24
    Target
  86. Missouri Southern State UniversityMO · 97% admitted · 18–25
    Target
  87. University of PikevilleKY · 100% admitted · 18–24
    Target
  88. North Carolina A & T State UniversityNC · 50% admitted · 17–23
    Target
  89. Rocky Mountain CollegeMT · 70% admitted · 17.75–24
    Target
  90. McPherson CollegeKS · 77% admitted · 18–23
    Target
  91. Rogers State UniversityOK · 82% admitted · 17–22
    Target
  92. Sam Houston State UniversityTX · 90% admitted · 17–24
    Target
  93. Northwestern State University of LouisianaLA · 93% admitted · 18–23
    Target
  94. Wright State UniversityOH · 96% admitted · 17–23
    Target
  95. West Texas A & M UniversityTX · 99% admitted · 18–23
    Target
  96. University of West GeorgiaGA · 52% admitted · 17–22
    Target
  97. Lewis-Clark State CollegeID · 88% admitted · 18–24
    Target
  98. The University of Texas at El PasoTX · 100% admitted · 15–22
    Target
  99. Texas A&M University-KingsvilleTX · 91% admitted · 16–22
    Target
  100. Pacific UniversityOR · 90% admitted · 15–26
    Target

Middle 50% of admitted students Median A 21 Fewer than half sent a score, so the range runs high

Reach: 31

Up to 2 points under their 25th percentile, or any college that admits fewer than 1 in 5. Most selective first.

  1. SpelmanGA · 25% admitted · 22–28
    Reach
  2. Austin CollegeTX · 48% admitted · 22–30
    Reach
  3. University of DallasTX · 53% admitted · 23–30
    Reach
  4. Allegheny CollegePA · 55% admitted · 21.25–28
    Reach
  5. Lawrence Technological UniversityMI · 56% admitted · 22–28
    Reach
  6. Westminster UniversityUT · 67% admitted · 22–27
    Reach
  7. St. Mary's College of MarylandMD · 69% admitted · 23–31
    Reach
  8. Ramapo College of New JerseyNJ · 71% admitted · 22–30
    Reach
  9. University of the PacificCA · 71% admitted · 23–32
    Reach
  10. Texas TechTX · 73% admitted · 23–28
    Reach
  11. Pratt Institute-MainNY · 73% admitted · 21.5–24.5
    Reach
  12. Central Connecticut State UniversityCT · 73% admitted · 22.5–27.5
    Reach
  13. HoustonTX · 74% admitted · 22–28
    Reach
  14. University of Detroit MercyMI · 75% admitted · 23–29
    Reach
  15. OklahomaOK · 77% admitted · 23–28
    Reach
  16. AlabamaAL · 77% admitted · 22–31
    Reach
  17. Shenandoah UniversityVA · 77% admitted · 22–30
    Reach
  18. Rowan UniversityNJ · 78% admitted · 23–30
    Reach
  19. Manhattan UniversityNY · 79% admitted · 22.5–28
    Reach
  20. Wayne State UniversityMI · 81% admitted · 23–28
    Reach
Show all 31
  1. Colorado Mesa UniversityCO · 82% admitted · 22–29
    Reach
  2. University of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireWI · 82% admitted · 22–28
    Reach
  3. Samford UniversityAL · 82% admitted · 22–28
    Reach
  4. UtahUT · 86% admitted · 22–29
    Reach
  5. University of Alabama at BirminghamAL · 88% admitted · 23–30
    Reach
  6. OregonOR · 88% admitted · 23–30
    Reach
  7. Old Dominion UniversityVA · 90% admitted · 22–27
    Reach
  8. Southern Connecticut State UniversityCT · 91% admitted · 23–31
    Reach
  9. University of North Carolina AshevilleNC · 92% admitted · 23–29
    Reach
  10. VCUVA · 93% admitted · 22–30
    Reach
  11. Western Washington UniversityWA · 93% admitted · 23–31
    Reach

Middle 50% of admitted students Median A 21 Fewer than half sent a score, so the range runs high

Other ACT scores

196 more colleges are far reaches at 21: more than 2 points under their 25th percentile, or under their 75th at a college that admits fewer than 1 in 10. Pages start at 18, the lowest score that reaches the 25th percentile at 25 or more colleges in this list. The same list by SAT: colleges for a 1080 SAT. Convert ACT and SAT scores or see average ACT scores.

Questions

Still have a question? support@tryashore.com

A 21 is at or above the median at 40 of the 352 colleges that publish ACT ranges, including North Carolina A & T State University, University of West Georgia and University of the Ozarks. By our tiers that's 5 likely, 120 target and 31 reach colleges. Admission still turns on grades, courses and essays, and colleges that admit fewer than 1 in 5 stay a reach at any score.

Get past 21

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SAT Math · 1 of 5

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A jacket's price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. The final price is what percent of the original price?
  • A96%96\%
  • B100%100\%
  • C104%104\%
  • D80%80\%