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Colleges that accept a 21 ACT

Updated Federal and Common Data Set numbers, each with its year

The short answer

A 21 ACT is in the middle 50% of first-year scores at 427 four-year colleges. The 100 below are the ones where 21 sits closest to the middle of the range, including Grand Canyon University, University of Nevada-Las Vegas and Georgia Southern University.

Each college reports the ACT scores of the first-year students who sent one: a quarter scored below the 25th percentile and a quarter above the 75th. When 21 falls between the two, it's a typical score there. Many of these colleges are test-optional, so the range describes only the students who chose to send a score.

The list (100 of 427)

Four-year colleges with 500 or more undergraduates where 21 is between the 25th and 75th percentile ACT composite, closest to the middle first, 100 of 427 shown. Score ranges come from IPEDS (fall 2024).

  1. Grand Canyon University ACT 20–22 Phoenix, AZ · Admitted 79% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  2. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa ACT 17–25 Honolulu, HI · Admitted 88% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  3. University of Memphis ACT 18–24 Memphis, TN · Admitted 72% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  4. Wichita State University ACT 17–25 Wichita, KS · Admitted 94% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  5. University of Central Oklahoma ACT 18–24 Edmond, OK · Admitted 78% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  6. East Texas A&M University ACT 18–24 Commerce, TX · Admitted 92% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  7. Fort Hays State University ACT 18–24 Hays, KS · Admitted 90% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  8. Southeastern Louisiana University ACT 18–24 Hammond, LA · Admitted 99.3% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  9. Arkansas State University ACT 18–24 Jonesboro, AR · Admitted 82% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  10. University of Akron Main Campus ACT 17–25 Akron, OH · Admitted 60% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  11. Stephen F Austin State University ACT 18–24 Nacogdoches, TX · Admitted 94% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  12. Colorado Mesa University ACT 18–24 Grand Junction, CO · Admitted 82% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  13. Austin Peay State University ACT 18–24 Clarksville, TN · Admitted 96% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  14. Pennsylvania Western University ACT 17–25 California, PA · Admitted 94% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  15. University of Wisconsin-Green Bay ACT 18–24 Green Bay, WI · Admitted 89% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  16. Angelo State University ACT 18–24 San Angelo, TX · Admitted 83% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  17. Northwestern State University of Louisiana ACT 18–24 Natchitoches, LA · Admitted 93% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  18. Saint Cloud State University ACT 17–25 Saint Cloud, MN · Admitted 95% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  19. University of Louisiana at Monroe ACT 18–24 Monroe, LA · Admitted 85% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  20. Bemidji State University ACT 18–24 Bemidji, MN · Admitted 56% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  21. Southeastern Oklahoma State University ACT 18–24 Durant, OK · Admitted 76% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  22. Charleston Southern University ACT 18–24 Charleston, SC · Admitted 97% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  23. University of Wisconsin-Parkside ACT 17–25 Kenosha, WI · Admitted 75% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  24. Dominican University ACT 16–26 River Forest, IL · Admitted 90% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  25. Auburn University at Montgomery ACT 18–24 Montgomery, AL · Admitted 92% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  26. Emporia State University ACT 18–24 Emporia, KS · Admitted 98% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  27. Louisiana State University-Shreveport ACT 18–24 Shreveport, LA · Admitted 51% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  28. Minot State University ACT 18–24 Minot, ND · Admitted 65% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  29. St. Mary's University ACT 15–27 San Antonio, TX · Admitted 98% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  30. Black Hills State University ACT 18–24 Spearfish, SD · Admitted 96% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  31. University of Wisconsin-Superior ACT 18–24 Superior, WI · Admitted 93% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  32. University of Mount Olive ACT 18–24 Mount Olive, NC · Admitted 76% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  33. Trevecca Nazarene University ACT 18–24 Nashville, TN · Admitted 69% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  34. Lincoln Memorial University ACT 18–24 Harrogate, TN · Admitted 63% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  35. West Liberty University ACT 18–24 West Liberty, WV · Admitted 97% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  36. University of Dubuque ACT 18–24 Dubuque, IA · Admitted 89% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  37. Northern State University ACT 18–24 Aberdeen, SD · Admitted 93% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  38. Catawba College ACT 17–25 Salisbury, NC · Admitted 75% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  39. McMurry University ACT 18–24 Abilene, TX · Admitted 57% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  40. Waynesburg University ACT 19–23 Waynesburg, PA · Admitted 90% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  41. Guilford College ACT 18–24 Greensboro, NC · Admitted 80% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  42. West Virginia University Institute of Technology ACT 19–23 Beckley, WV · Admitted 37% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  43. William Jewell College ACT 18–24 Liberty, MO · Admitted 38% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  44. Toccoa Falls College ACT 18–24 Toccoa Falls, GA · Admitted 66% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  45. The University of Tennessee Southern ACT 18–24 Pulaski, TN · Admitted 87% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  46. Tennessee Wesleyan University ACT 19–23 Athens, TN · Admitted 69% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  47. Rocky Mountain College ACT 18–24 Billings, MT · Admitted 70% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  48. Brevard College ACT 16–26 Brevard, NC · Admitted 42% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  49. Malone University ACT 18–24 Canton, OH · Admitted 76% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  50. Johnson University ACT 18–24 Knoxville, TN · Admitted 65% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  51. Southwestern Adventist University ACT 17–25 Keene, TX · Admitted 78% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  52. University of Nevada-Las Vegas ACT 18–25 Las Vegas, NV · Admitted 96% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  53. Georgia Southern University ACT 18–23 Statesboro, GA · Admitted 88% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  54. Kent State University at Kent ACT 18–25 Kent, OH · Admitted 86% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  55. Sam Houston State University ACT 17–24 Huntsville, TX · Admitted 90% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  56. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee ACT 18–25 Milwaukee, WI · Admitted 91% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  57. Metropolitan State University of Denver ACT 17–26 Denver, CO · Admitted 99% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  58. Tarleton State University ACT 19–24 Stephenville, TX · Admitted 90% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  59. New Mexico State University ACT 17–24 Las Cruces, NM · Admitted 89% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  60. Troy University ACT 18–25 Troy, AL · Admitted 96% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  61. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater ACT 17–24 Whitewater, WI · Admitted 86% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  62. Southern Illinois University-Carbondale ACT 18–25 Carbondale, IL · Admitted 87% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  63. Northern Kentucky University ACT 18–25 Highland Heights, KY · Admitted 68% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  64. Lamar University ACT 18–25 Beaumont, TX · Admitted 86% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  65. Jacksonville State University ACT 17–24 Jacksonville, AL · Admitted 78% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  66. West Texas A&M University ACT 18–23 Canyon, TX · Admitted 99% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  67. University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh ACT 18–25 Oshkosh, WI · Admitted 87% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  68. North Carolina Central University ACT 19–22 Durham, NC · Admitted 87% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  69. University of Central Missouri ACT 17–24 Warrensburg, MO · Admitted 64% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  70. Augusta University ACT 18–25 Augusta, GA · Admitted 86% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  71. University of North Carolina at Pembroke ACT 18–23 Pembroke, NC · Admitted 93% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  72. McNeese State University ACT 18–23 Lake Charles, LA · Admitted 78% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  73. University of Arkansas at Little Rock ACT 17–24 Little Rock, AR · Admitted 59% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  74. Northeastern State University ACT 18–23 Tahlequah, OK · Admitted 99.6% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  75. Nicholls State University ACT 19–24 Thibodaux, LA · Admitted 91% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  76. University of Michigan-Flint ACT 19–24 Flint, MI · Admitted 71% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  77. Northwest Missouri State University ACT 19–24 Maryville, MO · Admitted 86% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  78. Pittsburg State University ACT 17–24 Pittsburg, KS · Admitted 89% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  79. University of Arkansas-Fort Smith ACT 18–23 Fort Smith, AR · Admitted 81% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  80. University of St Thomas ACT 18–25 Houston, TX · Admitted 90% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  81. Minnesota State University Moorhead ACT 18–25 Moorhead, MN · Admitted 59% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  82. University of La Verne ACT 18–25 La Verne, CA · Admitted 71% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  83. Missouri Southern State University ACT 17–24 Joplin, MO · Admitted 97% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  84. Houston Christian University ACT 17–24 Houston, TX · Admitted 84% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  85. Morehouse College ACT 18–25 Atlanta, GA · Admitted 44% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  86. SUNY College of Technology at Delhi ACT 18–23 Delhi, NY · Admitted 89% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  87. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ACT 17–24 Magnolia, AR · Admitted 75% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  88. Fort Valley State University ACT 19–24 Fort Valley, GA · Admitted 66% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  89. Wingate University ACT 18–25 Wingate, NC · Admitted 91% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  90. Tuskegee University ACT 18–25 Tuskegee, AL · Admitted 49% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  91. Xavier University of Louisiana ACT 19–24 New Orleans, LA · Admitted 69% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  92. Indiana University-East ACT 19–24 Richmond, IN · Admitted 67% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  93. East Central University ACT 17–24 Ada, OK · Admitted 58% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  94. Shepherd University ACT 19–24 Shepherdstown, WV · Admitted 97% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  95. Webster University ACT 18–25 Saint Louis, MO · Admitted 86% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  96. University of Mount Union ACT 18–25 Alliance, OH · Admitted 78% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  97. Mississippi University for Women ACT 17–24 Columbus, MS · Admitted 90% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  98. Capital University ACT 18–25 Columbus, OH · Admitted 70% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  99. University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne ACT 17–24 Fort Wayne, IN · Admitted 96% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  100. Concord University ACT 17–24 Athens, WV · Admitted 93% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
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What colleges accept a 21 ACT score?

A 21 ACT is in the middle 50% of first-year scores at 427 four-year colleges. The 100 below are the ones where 21 sits closest to the middle of the range, including Grand Canyon University, University of Nevada-Las Vegas and Georgia Southern University. Colleges don't set a minimum score, so a 21 inside a college's middle 50% means it is a typical score among the first-years who sent one.

Which of these colleges admit the most applicants?

Northeastern State University admitted 99.6% of fall 2024 applicants, Southeastern Louisiana University admitted 99.3% of fall 2024 applicants and Metropolitan State University of Denver admitted 99% of fall 2024 applicants. Among the 100 colleges listed, 72 admitted three in four applicants or more.

Which colleges on this list are hardest to get into?

West Virginia University Institute of Technology admitted 37% of fall 2024 applicants, William Jewell College admitted 38% of fall 2024 applicants and Brevard College admitted 42% of fall 2024 applicants: the lowest rates on this list.

Numbers change each year when colleges and the Department of Education publish new data. Confirm costs and admission rules with the college before you apply.

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