25 Good Safety Schools for 2024
November 18, 2023
College admissions can be a stressful time for any high school student. Between factors like location, program offerings, and academics, there is a lot to consider. Additionally, you may wonder, how many colleges should I apply to? Coming up with the best college list for you requires both research and strategy. So, as you start assembling your list, you may also begin to identify good safety schools for you.
Maybe you are wondering what is a safety school and how many safety schools should I have? Don’t worry. In this article, we will define what is a safety school. As well, we will take a look at 25 good safety schools in an easy-to-follow list.
Each institution was selected to provide a wide variety of locations, school size, and tuition costs. Additionally, we will review the average SAT and ACT scores of admitted students and average high school GPA.
What is a Safety School?
First, it’s important to remember that good safety schools are relative to each student’s unique credentials. Factors like test scores, extracurriculars, and GPA all contribute to the strength of your application. This means that one student’s safety school may be another student’s reach or target school. Therefore, the schools on this list may not be the ideal choices for every student.
Ultimately, good safety schools are institutions where you have an 80% chance or higher of being accepted based on your credentials. This means you are within the 80th percentile of students accepted to that institution based on average test scores and grades.
So, what is a safety school good for? Safety schools can help provide you with a wide variety of choices when hearing back from admissions. Additionally, it’s important to remember that safety schools are still worthwhile institutions with excellent program offerings and ideal locations. Furthermore, if your applications stands out, then you might even receive beneficial scholarship offers.
Now that we have discussed what is a safety school, how many should you select for your college list?
How Many Safety Schools Should I Have?
If you’re looking at choosing good safety schools, then you will want to select 2-3 institutions that you feel confident about.
Each college you select for your safety school is sure to offer a unique and rigorous academic experience. No matter how accomplished your credentials, it is still a wise strategy to choose 2-3 good safety schools for your college applications.
Now that we have answered the question, how many safety schools should I have, let’s think about how many target and reach schools should be part of your college list.
Ideally, you will select 4-5 target schools and 2-3 reach schools.
Ultimately, target schools mean that you are within the 50th percentile of students accepted to the institution based on average test scores and grades.
Reach schools are an even lower percentage. For reach schools, your credentials rank you with the 25th percentile of accepted applicants.
While searching for good safety schools, you may have come across the term yield protection and wondered what it means. Some less-selective but still competitive schools use yield protection. Ultimately, yield is the percentage of students who, once accepted to school, choose to accept the college’s offer.
In practice, yield protection means that some institutions may waitlist or even reject qualified students who they believe will be accepted to a more prestigious school. Therefore, selecting more than one safety school is best practice to avoid feeling the pressure of this outcome.
So, it’s important to remember that highly competitive and selective schools are not good safety schools for any applicant. There are no guarantees in college admissions, so diversifying your applications is wise.
25 Good Safety Schools
If you are thinking what is a safety school for me, then it is important to remember to choose institutions that align with your values and goals. Even if these schools are not your top choice, they should still offer you opportunities that coincide your priorities. Ideally, you should still be able to envision yourself attending.
As well, to reiterate, good safety schools for one student may not be the best option for another. So, make sure to research the university well before you select it for your safety school.
For the purposes of this list, test scores and GPA ranges will be averages of the applicants who fell within the 25th (lower end) to 75th (higher end) percentile.
Additionally, schools will be ordered in terms of increasing academic standards and lower acceptance rate. For example, students with stronger academic backgrounds and extracurriculars can look toward the latter half of this list for more competitive safety schools.
For students will less strong academic backgrounds, schools at the top of the list are more ideal choices.
1) University of Southern Mississippi
- Ranked #188 (tie) in Top Public Schools
- Location: Hattiesburg, Mississippi
- Acceptance Rate: 99%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 10,258
- Average SAT Score: N/A
- Average ACT Score: 19-27
- Average High School GPA: 3.4
- Tuition: In State: $9,618; Out-of-state: $11,618
2) University of Wyoming
- Ranked #116 (tie) in Top Public Schools
- Location: Laramie, Wyoming
- Acceptance Rate: 96%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 8,518
- Average SAT Score: 1030-1240
- Average ACT Score: 20-27
- Average High School GPA: 3.5
- Tuition: In State: $6,277; Out-of-state: $20,827
3) University of Maine at Farmington
- Ranked #11 in Regional Colleges North (2024)
- Location: Farmington, Maine
- Acceptance Rate: 94%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,558
- Average SAT Score: 990-1245
- Average ACT Score: N/A
- Average High School GPA: 3.2
- Tuition: In State: $8,910; Out-of-state: $21,000
4) Midwestern State University
- Ranked #25 (tie) in Top Public Schools (2024)
- Location: Wichita Falls, Texas
- Acceptance Rate: 92%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,818
- Average SAT Score: 910-1130
- Average ACT Score: 17-23
- Average High School GPA: N/A
- Tuition: In State: $9,954; Out-of-state: $11,904
Good Safety Schools (Continued)
5) Montclair State University
- Ranked #163 (tie) in National Universities
- Location: Montclair, New Jersey
- Acceptance Rate: 91%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 17,290
- Average SAT Score: 950-1200
- Average ACT Score: N/A
- Average High School GPA: 3.3
- Tuition: In State: $14,767; Out-of-state: $22,470
6) Arizona State
- Ranked #105 (tie) in National Universities (2024)
- Location: Tempe, Arizona
- Acceptance Rate: 90%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 65,492
- Average SAT Range: 1120-1370
- Average ACT Range: 19-27
- Average High School GPA: 3.5
- Tuition: In state: $12,051; Out-of-state: $37,355
7) University of Utah
- Ranked #115 (tie) in National Universities
- Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
- Acceptance Rate: 89%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 26,355
- Average SAT Score: 1190-1390
- Average ACT Score: 22-29
- Average High School GPA: 3.7
- Tuition: In state: $10,287; Out-of-state: $33,045
8) Kent State University
- Ranked #123 (tie) in Top Public Schools
- Location: Kent, Ohio
- Acceptance Rate: 88%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 20,418
- Average SAT Score: 1000-1210
- Average ACT Score: 18-25
- Average High School GPA: 3.7
- Tuition: In State: $12,846; Out-of-state: $22,316
Good Safety Schools (Continued)
9) Michigan State
- Ranked #60 (tie) in National Universities (2024)
- Location: East Lansing, Michigan
- Acceptance Rate: 88%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 39,201
- Average SAT Range: 1100-1340
- Average ACT Range: 24-30
- Average High School GPA: 3.8
- Tuition: In State: $15,372; Out-of-state: $40,562
10) University of Arizona
- Ranked #115 (tie) in National Universities (2024)
- Location: Tucson, Arizona
- Acceptance Rate: 87%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 40,407
- Average SAT Score: 1140-1370
- Average ACT Score: 21-29
- Average High School GPA: 3.5
- Tuition: In State: $12,736; Out-of-state: $37,258
11) University of Iowa
- Ranked #93 (tie) in National Universities
- Location: Iowa City, Iowa
- Acceptance Rate: 86%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 21,973
- Average SAT Score: 1130-1340
- Average ACT Score: 22-28
- Average High School GPA: 3.8
- Tuition: In State: $10,964; Out-of-state: $32,927
12) University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire
- Ranked #4 (tie) in Top Public Schools
- Location: Eau Claire, Wisconsin
- Acceptance Rate: 85%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 8,923
- Average SAT Score: 1100-1310
- Average ACT Score: 21-27
- Average High School GPA: 3.6
- Tuition: In State: $8.774; Out-of-state: $17,487
Good Safety Schools (Continued)
13) Temple University
- Ranked #45 (tie) in Top Public Schools (2024)
- Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Acceptance Rate: 80%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 24,106
- Average SAT Range: 1120-1370
- Average ACT Range: 24-31
- Average High School GPA: 3.4
- Tuition: In state: $21,095; Out-of-state: $30,602
14) Indiana University – Bloomington
- Ranked #73 (tie) in National Universities (2024)
- Location: Bloomington, Indiana
- Acceptance Rate: 82%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 35,660 Undergraduates
- Average SAT Range: 1180-1400
- Average ACT Range: 27-32
- Average High School GPA: 3.8
- Tuition: In state: $11,333; Out-of-state: $38,352
15) Central Michigan University
- Ranked #141 (tie) in Top Public Schools
- Location: Mount Pleasant, Michigan
- Acceptance Rate: 79%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 10,421
- Average SAT Score: 980-1220
- Average ACT Score: 21-27
- Average High School GPA: 3.5
- Tuition: In State: $14,790; Out-of-state: $14,790
16) Colorado University – Boulder
- Ranked #51 (tie) in Top Public Schools (2024)
- Location: Boulder, Colorado
- Acceptance Rate: 79%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 31,103
- Average SAT Range: 1160-1390
- Average ACT Range: 26-31
- Average High School GPA: 3.7
- Tuition: In state: $13,622; Out-of-state: $38,314
Good Safety Schools (Continued)
17) University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
- Ranked #23 (tie) in Top Public Schools
- Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Acceptance Rate: 75%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 39,248
- Average SAT Score: 1290-1500
- Average ACT Score: 27-32
- Average High School GPA: N/A
- Tuition: In State: $16,488; Out-of-state: $36,402
18) Elon University
- Ranked #133 (tie) in National Universities (2024)
- Location: Elon, North Carolina
- Acceptance Rate: 74%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,337 Undergraduates
- Average SAT Range: 1170-1360
- Average ACT Range: 25-30
- Average High School GPA: 3.9
- Tuition: $38,725
19) University of San Francisco
- Ranked #115 (tie) in National Universities
- Location: San Francisco, California
- Acceptance Rate: 71%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,018
- Average SAT Score: 1210-1410
- Average ACT Score: 27-31
- Average High School GPA: 3.7
- Tuition: $58,222
20) Gonzaga University
- Ranked #93 (tie) in National Universities
- Location: Spokane, Washington
- Acceptance Rate: 70%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,084
- Average SAT Score: 1210-1410
- Average ACT Score: 26-31
- Average High School GPA: 3.7
- Tuition: $53,500
Good Safety Schools (Continued)
21) Florida International University
- Ranked #124 (tie) in National Universities
- Location: Miami, Florida
- Acceptance Rate: 64%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 45,442
- Average SAT Score: 1060-1250
- Average ACT Score: 21-26
- Average High School GPA: 3.9
- Tuition: In State: $6,566; Out-of-state: $18,964
22) Purdue University
- Ranked #17 (tie) in Top Public Schools
- Location: West Lafayette, Indiana
- Acceptance Rate: 53%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 37,949
- Average SAT Score: 1200-1470
- Average ACT Score: 27-34
- Average High School GPA: 3.7
- Tuition: In State: $9,992; Out-of-state: $28,794
23) Truman State University
- Ranked #5 in Regional Universities Midwest
- Location: Kirksville, Missouri
- Acceptance Rate: 45%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 3,622
- Average SAT Score: 1070-1330
- Average ACT Score: 23-29
- Average High School GPA: 3.8
- Tuition: In State: $9,456; Out-of-state: $17,856
24) University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
- Ranked #35 (tie) in National Universities
- Location: Champaign, Illinois
- Acceptance Rate: 45%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 35,120
- Average SAT Score: 1340-1530
- Average ACT Score: 24-29
- Average High School GPA: N/A
- Tuition: In State: $17,572; Out-of-state: $36,068
Good Safety Schools (Continued)
25) Virginia Tech
- Ranked #20 (tie) in Top Public Schools
- Location: Blacksburg, Virginia
- Acceptance Rate: 57%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 30,434
- Average SAT Score: 1220-1420
- Average ACT Score: 26-32
- Average High School GPA: N/A
- Tuition: In State: $15,478; Out-of-state: $36,090
Good Safety Schools – Additional Resources
We hope you enjoyed our article on safety schools. You may also want to check out other relevant blogs including:
