ACT Scores
21 ACT to SAT: 1080
An ACT 21 converts to an SAT 1080 on the official table, and any SAT from 1060 to 1090 converts back to a 21. It ranks at the 68th percentile nationally and is inside or above the middle-50% ACT range at 12 of the 141 colleges we track.
SAT equivalent
1080
SAT 1060 to 1090
National rank
68%
score at or below
In range or above
12
of 141 colleges
Below the range
129
of 141 colleges
12 colleges where a 21 is inside the middle 50%
Your score looks like a typical enrolled student's here. Most selective first.
- Florida International University21–27
- Florida Atlantic University21–26
- University of North Texas19–27
- University of Arkansas21–28
- Mississippi State University21–29
- University of Iowa21–28
- University of Arizona21–29
- Iowa State University21–28
- West Virginia University20–26
- University of Kentucky21–28
- University of Kansas20–28
- University of Mississippi21–29
The closest reaches for a 21
A 21 is below the 25th percentile at 129 of the 141 colleges that publish a range. These are the ones where the gap is smallest.
- Howard University22–28
- University of Utah22–29
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln22–28
- Virginia Commonwealth University22–30
- Texas Tech University23–28
- University of Houston23–29
- University of Oklahoma23–29
- University of Missouri23–30
- University of Oregon23–30
- University of South Florida24–29
- The University of Texas at Dallas24–32
- James Madison University24–29
Keep this list for a 21
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Frequently asked questions
What is a 21 ACT in SAT terms?
An ACT Composite of 21 is equivalent to an SAT total of 1080 on the official ACT/SAT concordance published by College Board and ACT. SAT totals from 1060 to 1090 all convert back to an ACT 21.
Is 21 a good ACT score?
A 21 ranks at the 68th percentile, meaning 68% of recent ACT-tested graduates scored a 21 or lower. It is at or above the 25th percentile of enrolled students at 12 of the 141 colleges in our dataset that publish an ACT range, and above the 75th percentile at 0 of them.
Should I retake the ACT with a 21?
A retake is worth the most at schools where a 21 is below the 25th percentile, because that is where your score is working against you. At schools where you are already inside the middle 50%, a retake is optional. At schools where you are above the 75th percentile, the ACT is no longer what holds your application back.
ACT ranges are the 25th to 75th percentile of enrolled first-year students, sourced from College Scorecard API — U.S. Department of Education (api.data.gov) and Editorial overrides layer (overrides.json) — Common Data Set & institutional sources. ACT national ranks: ACT Score National Ranks, 2026-2027 reporting year.
