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
Florida College Florida CollegeFlorida 1927 71.68%
University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown University of Pittsburgh-JohnstownPennsylvania 1928 97.41%
Washington & Jefferson College Washington & Jefferson CollegePennsylvania 1928 88.08%
Culver-Stockton College Culver-Stockton CollegeMissouri 1928 96.95%
University of Pittsburgh-Bradford University of Pittsburgh-BradfordPennsylvania 1929 93.55%
State University of New York at Oswego State University of New York at OswegoNew York 1929 82.56%
Western Connecticut State University Western Connecticut State UniversityConnecticut 1929 83.51%
Tennessee Technological University Tennessee Technological UniversityTennessee 1930 78.1%
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham CampusNew Jersey 1930 89.12%
Cardinal Stritch University Cardinal Stritch UniversityWisconsin 1819 92.58%
Defiance College Defiance CollegeOhio 1821 62.86%
Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences Aultman College of Nursing and Health SciencesOhio 1822 55.1%
Urshan College Urshan CollegeMissouri 1822 85.29%
Indiana University-South Bend Indiana University-South BendIndiana 1822 86.88%
West Virginia Wesleyan College West Virginia Wesleyan CollegeWest Virginia 1823 96.35%
Fairmont State University Fairmont State UniversityWest Virginia 1823 98.49%
West Texas A & M University West Texas A & M UniversityTexas 1823 91.63%
Mount Marty University Mount Marty UniversitySouth Dakota 1823 68.39%
Charleston Southern University Charleston Southern UniversitySouth Carolina 1823 86.75%
Southeastern Oklahoma State University Southeastern Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma 1823 74.21%
Kettering College Kettering CollegeOhio 1823 34.41%
Malone University Malone UniversityOhio 1823 77.56%
Brevard College Brevard CollegeNorth Carolina 1823 39.89%
SUNY at Fredonia SUNY at FredoniaNew York 1823 84.58%
Avila University Avila UniversityMissouri 1823 67.63%
Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and SciencesMissouri 1823 97.86%
Logan University Logan UniversityMissouri 1823 81.82%
Bemidji State University Bemidji State UniversityMinnesota 1823 77.52%
Minnesota State University-Mankato Minnesota State University-MankatoMinnesota 1823 70.68%
Ferris State University Ferris State UniversityMichigan 1823 87.88%
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