California Colleges for a 24 on the ACT

With a 24 ACT, you are competitive at 85 four-year colleges in California (25 target, 13 reach, 47 safety). Your score is roughly equivalent to a 1180 SAT.

Colleges in California for a 24 ACT

Target Schools (Competitive Chance of Admission)

Target schools have middle 50% ranges that include 24 - your score fits squarely in the admitted pool.

College	ACT Range	Avg ACT	Acceptance Rate	Your Chance
San Diego State University San Diego, CA	22-29	25	36%	Medium
San Jose State University San Jose, CA	19-26	22	85%	Medium
California State University Long Beach Long Beach, CA	20-26	23	46%	Medium
University of California Riverside Riverside, CA	22-31	26	76%	Medium
California State University Chico Chico, CA	18-24	21	93%	Medium
University of California Merced Merced, CA	19-24	21	91%	Medium
University of the Pacific Stockton, CA	23-32	27	71%	Medium
California State Polytechnic University Humboldt Arcata, CA	17-25	21	98%	Medium
California Baptist University Riverside, CA	18-25	21	85%	Medium
California State Polytechnic University Pomona Pomona, CA	19-27	23	75%	Medium
University of Redlands Redlands, CA	21-28	24	83%	Medium
University of La Verne La Verne, CA	18-25	21	71%	Medium

View all 25 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
University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA	29-35	32	9%	Low
University of California Irvine Irvine, CA	26-33	29	29%	Low
University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA	28-34	31	33%	Low
University of California Davis Davis, CA	25-33	29	42%	Low
University of California San Diego La Jolla, CA	28-34	31	27%	Low
University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA	25-30	27	62%	Low
Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, CA	28-32	30	45%	Low
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA	26-32	29	31%	Low
University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA	25-33	29	66%	Low
Azusa Pacific University Azusa, CA	25-30	27	88%	Low
Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego, CA	25-32	28	84%	Low
Westmont College Santa Barbara, CA	25-32	28	77%	Low

View all 13 reach colleges

Safety Schools (Very High Chance of Admission)

Safety schools have average ACT scores well below 24; you have a very high chance of acceptance.

College	ACT Range	Avg ACT	Acceptance Rate	Your Chance
San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA	16-23	19	96%	High
California State University Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA	15-20	17	91%	High
California State University Fullerton Fullerton, CA	18-23	20	91%	High
California State University Sacramento Sacramento, CA	17-23	20	94%	High
California State University Fresno Fresno, CA	16-21	18	95%	High
Sonoma State University Rohnert Park, CA	17-23	20	93%	High
California State University Northridge Northridge, CA	16-22	19	93%	High
California State University San Marcos San Marcos, CA	17-22	19	95%	High
Notre Dame de Namur University Belmont, CA	-	-	100%	High
California State University Monterey Bay Seaside, CA	17-23	20	97%	High
Mount Saint Mary's University Los Angeles, CA	18-23	20	73%	High
California State University San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA	15-20	17	94%	High

View all 47 safety colleges

View the full list of colleges that accept a 24 ACT in California

See all colleges nationally for a 24 ACT

24 ACT to SAT Equivalent Conversion

Colleges use concordance tables to compare SAT and ACT scores. The following table shows the 24 ACT to SAT equivalent and nearby scores for context. These conversions are approximate.

ACT Score	SAT Equivalent
21	1080
22	1110
23	1140
24	1180
25	1210
26	1240
27	1280

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

Published: August 19, 2026