20 ACT Colleges: Best Schools for 20 ACT Score

20 score on the ACT puts in a good position for College and Universities admissions in the US. Here we are providing a list of Universities and colleges that accept a 20 ACT score. These schools and colleges are good match for your score, as not only you will improve your chances of admissions by applying to these colleges, but also will ensure that you are placed with equally talented students. Some schools that require less than this average score might not be a good match for you as the quality of the students will be lower, though your chances of admissions will be higher at those schools.

Your best choices will be the schools and colleges where the average ACT score of the admitted students is 17 to 22. We are also showing you the 25th percentile and 75th percentile ACT Score of the admitted students so that you can have a clear understanding of how many students score what ACT Score. If your 20 ACT Score is higher than 25th percentile, it means your score is better than the quarter of the admitted students, and if it is higher than 75th percentile, then it means your ACT score of 20 is higher than 75% of the students admitted at that school.

Choose a college where your score is near to 75th percentile, this will maximize your chances of admission. You can also apply to other schools as well, but to be on safe side, you must apply to at least 2-3 such schools and colleges.

Best Colleges for 20 ACT Score

Following is the list of best suited colleges with your 20 ACT Score.

LogoCollegeStateACT 25th PercentileACT 75th PercentileAcceptance Rate
Southern Wesleyan University Southern Wesleyan UniversitySouth Carolina 1923 51.18%
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Southeastern Baptist Theological SeminaryNorth Carolina 1923 80%
Kentucky Mountain Bible College Kentucky Mountain Bible CollegeKentucky 1923 45%
North Park University North Park UniversityIllinois 1923 68.01%
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Florida Agricultural and Mechanical UniversityFlorida 1923 32.93%
Shepherd University Shepherd UniversityWest Virginia 1924 95.86%
Saint Martin's University Saint Martin's UniversityWashington 1924 95.04%
Lubbock Christian University Lubbock Christian UniversityTexas 1924 81.59%
The University of Texas at Tyler The University of Texas at TylerTexas 1924 93.87%
Johnson University Johnson UniversityTennessee 1924 63.21%
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania East Stroudsburg University of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania 1924 93.63%
Farmingdale State College Farmingdale State CollegeNew York 1924 73.17%
Louisiana State University-Shreveport Louisiana State University-ShreveportLouisiana 1924 88.91%
Nicholls State University Nicholls State UniversityLouisiana 1924 98.43%
Bethel College-North Newton Bethel College-North NewtonKansas 1924 97.15%
University of the Ozarks University of the OzarksArkansas 1924 60.08%
Spring Hill College Spring Hill CollegeAlabama 1924 72.63%
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointWisconsin 1925 89.05%
Northland College Northland CollegeWisconsin 1925 68.39%
Regent University Regent UniversityVirginia 1925 32.34%
University of Virginia's College at Wise University of Virginia's College at WiseVirginia 1925 75.57%
Neumont College of Computer Science Neumont College of Computer ScienceUtah 1925 87.55%
Dallas Baptist University Dallas Baptist UniversityTexas 1925 91.37%
The University of Tennessee-Martin The University of Tennessee-MartinTennessee 1925 88.44%
Fisk University Fisk UniversityTennessee 1925 70.97%
University of South Dakota University of South DakotaSouth Dakota 1925 99.46%
South Dakota State University South Dakota State UniversitySouth Dakota 1925 86.08%
Waynesburg University Waynesburg UniversityPennsylvania 1925 75.57%
Oral Roberts University Oral Roberts UniversityOklahoma 1925 78.37%
North Dakota State University-Main Campus North Dakota State University-Main CampusNorth Dakota 1925 95.68%
LogoCollegeStateACT 25th PercentileACT 75th PercentileAcceptance Rate
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FAQ for ACT 20 Score

How does a 20 ACT score compare to the SAT?

A 20 ACT score is equivalent to around a 980 SAT. This is a lower score that will limit your options at selective schools.

What scholarships are available for a 20 ACT score?

A 20 ACT score will likely make you eligible for smaller scholarships at state universities or less selective colleges.

Can I get into Ivy League schools with a 20 ACT score?

Ivy League schools require scores above 30, so a 20 would not meet their admission standards. It would be advisable to retake the test if you’re aiming for those schools.

Should I retake the ACT to improve my score?

Yes, retaking the test is recommended for top-tier schools. A 20 will limit your options at more competitive colleges.

What is the national average ACT score?

The national average is around 20–21, so a 20 is at the lower end of the spectrum but still technically considered average.

Do test-optional colleges consider a 20 ACT score if submitted?

Submitting a 20 ACT score may not be the most beneficial, but it can still be considered as part of a holistic review.

What GPA is a 20 ACT?

A 20 ACT typically correlates with a GPA between 1.8–2.3, which is below average and may limit your chances at competitive universities.

Can I get into NYU with a 20 ACT?

NYU's average ACT is much higher than 20, so a 20 would not be competitive. Consider retaking or applying to schools with more flexible requirements.

Is 20 a good ACT score for Harvard?

Harvard typically admits students with scores over 30, so a 20 would not be competitive. Retaking the ACT would be necessary for a chance at Harvard.

Can I get into MIT with a 20 ACT?

MIT’s average score is 34, so a 20 would be too low. Retaking the test is essential for a competitive application.

Can I get into Princeton with a 20 ACT score?

Princeton expects scores over 30, so a 20 would not meet their expectations. Retaking the test is highly advised.

What if you improve your ACT score by 2 points (to 22)?

Improving to 22 would open doors for more options at less competitive schools, and possibly improve your scholarship eligibility.

Best Suited Colleges for ACT Score

36 ACT Score Best Colleges35 ACT Score Best Colleges34 ACT Score Best Colleges
33 ACT Score Best Colleges32 ACT Score Best Colleges31 ACT Score Best Colleges
30 ACT Score Best Colleges29 ACT Score Best Colleges28 ACT Score Best Colleges
27 ACT Score Best Colleges26 ACT Score Best Colleges25 ACT Score Best Colleges
24 ACT Score Best Colleges23 ACT Score Best Colleges22 ACT Score Best Colleges
21 ACT Score Best Colleges20 ACT Score Best Colleges19 ACT Score Best Colleges
18 ACT Score Best Colleges17 ACT Score Best Colleges16 ACT Score Best Colleges
15 ACT Score Best Colleges14 ACT Score Best Colleges13 ACT Score Best Colleges