Southeastern Colleges for a 21 on the ACT

With a 21 ACT, you are competitive at 394 four-year colleges in the Southeast (222 target, 59 reach, 113 safety). Your score is roughly equivalent to a 1080 SAT.

Colleges in the Southeast for a 21 ACT

Target Schools (Competitive Chance of Admission)

Target schools have middle 50% ranges that include 21 - your score fits squarely in the admitted pool.

College	ACT Range	Avg ACT	Acceptance Rate	Your Chance
University of Kentucky Lexington, KY	21-28	24	93%	Medium
East Carolina University Greenville, NC	21-26	23	89%	Medium
Georgia State University Atlanta, GA	19-26	22	55%	Medium
Appalachian State University Boone, NC	21-27	24	90%	Medium
Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL	21-26	23	66%	Medium
Savannah College of Art and Design Savannah, GA	21-28	24	83%	Medium
Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers, FL	20-25	22	63%	Medium
West Virginia University Morgantown, WV	20-26	23	89%	Medium
University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC	21-28	24	80%	Medium
Coastal Carolina University Conway, SC	21-26	23	75%	Medium
Towson University Towson, MD	19-27	23	82%	Medium
Morgan State University Baltimore, MD	16-21	18	82%	Medium

View all 222 target colleges

Reach Schools (Lower Admission Chance)

Reach schools typically enroll students with higher average ACT scores; admission is possible but more competitive.

College	ACT Range	Avg ACT	Acceptance Rate	Your Chance
The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL	24-31	27	77%	Low
University of Central Florida Orlando, FL	25-29	27	40%	Low
The University of Tennessee Knoxville Knoxville, TN	25-31	28	42%	Low
University of South Carolina Columbia Columbia, SC	26-32	29	60%	Low
The University of Tampa Tampa, FL	23-28	25	40%	Low
George Mason University Fairfax, VA	25-30	27	87%	Low
James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA	24-29	26	72%	Low
University of South Florida Tampa, FL	24-29	26	43%	Low
Elon University Elon, NC	23-28	25	66%	Low
Spelman College Atlanta, GA	22-29	25	25%	Low
Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA	24-29	26	90%	Low
College of Charleston Charleston, SC	25-30	27	60%	Low

View all 59 reach colleges

Safety Schools (Very High Chance of Admission)

Safety schools have average ACT scores well below 21; you have a very high chance of acceptance.

College	ACT Range	Avg ACT	Acceptance Rate	Your Chance
Clark Atlanta University Atlanta, GA	16-20	18	64%	High
Alabama State University Montgomery, AL	15-20	17	98%	High
Virginia State University Petersburg, VA	14-20	17	89%	High
Savannah State University Savannah, GA	15-19	17	100%	High
Albany State University Albany, GA	15-18	16	100%	High
North Carolina Central University Durham, NC	17-18	17	87%	High
Winston Salem State University Winston-Salem, NC	15-20	17	78%	High
Valencia College Orlando, FL	-	-	100%	High
Broward College Fort Lauderdale, FL	-	-	100%	High
Miami Dade College Miami, FL	-	-	100%	High
Alabama A & M University Normal, AL	14-19	16	58%	High
South Carolina State University Orangeburg, SC	15-19	17	83%	High

View all 113 safety colleges

View the full list of colleges that accept a 21 ACT in the Southeast

See all colleges nationally for a 21 ACT

21 ACT to SAT Equivalent Conversion

Colleges use concordance tables to compare SAT and ACT scores. The following table shows the 21 ACT to SAT equivalent and nearby scores for context. These conversions are approximate.

ACT Score	SAT Equivalent
18	970
19	1010
20	1040
21	1080
22	1110
23	1140
24	1180

Individual colleges may interpret scores slightly differently, so treat concordance as a guide rather than an exact rule.

Published: August 19, 2026