Midwestern Colleges for a 20 on the ACT

With a 20 ACT, you are competitive at 342 four-year colleges in the Midwest (164 target, 92 reach, 86 safety). Your score is roughly equivalent to a 1040 SAT.

Colleges in the Midwest for a 20 ACT

Target Schools (Competitive Chance of Admission)

Target schools have middle 50% ranges that include 20 - your score fits squarely in the admitted pool.

College	ACT Range	Avg ACT	Acceptance Rate	Your Chance
Ball State University Muncie, IN	20-24	22	85%	Medium
Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI	20-27	23	85%	Medium
Northern Illinois University Dekalb, IL	19-25	22	70%	Medium
Southern Illinois University Carbondale Carbondale, IL	18-25	21	87%	Medium
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI	19-24	21	91%	Medium
Concordia University Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI	19-24	21	69%	Medium
Kent State University at Kent Kent, OH	18-25	21	86%	Medium
Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MI	18-27	22	80%	Medium
Bowling Green State University Main Campus Bowling Green, OH	19-26	22	81%	Medium
Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud, MN	17-25	21	95%	Medium
Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI	20-24	22	91%	Medium
University of Wisconsin Whitewater Whitewater, WI	19-24	21	86%	Medium

View all 164 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
Michigan State University East Lansing, MI	25-31	28	85%	Low
Iowa State University Ames, IA	21-28	24	89%	Low
University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, IL	25-31	28	77%	Low
Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI	22-30	26	83%	Low
University of Iowa Iowa City, IA	21-28	24	84%	Low
University of Cincinnati Main Campus Cincinnati, OH	24-29	26	85%	Low
DePaul University Chicago, IL	25-31	28	76%	Low
Illinois State University Normal, IL	21-27	24	88%	Low
Wayne State University Detroit, MI	23-29	26	81%	Low
Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI	21-27	24	90%	Low
University of Dayton Dayton, OH	25-31	28	65%	Low
University of Minnesota Duluth Duluth, MN	23-28	25	89%	Low

View all 92 reach colleges

Safety Schools (Very High Chance of Admission)

Safety schools have average ACT scores well below 20; you have a very high chance of acceptance.

College	ACT Range	Avg ACT	Acceptance Rate	Your Chance
Central State University Wilberforce, OH	14-18	16	99%	High
Vincennes University Vincennes, IN	-	-	100%	High
Lake Superior State University Sault Ste Marie, MI	19-26	22	100%	High
Lincoln University Jefferson City, MO	-	-	100%	High
Harris Stowe State University Saint Louis, MO	-	-	100%	High
Columbia College Columbia, MO	-	-	100%	High
Calumet College of Saint Joseph Whiting, IN	-	-	100%	High
University of Northwestern Ohio Lima, OH	-	-	100%	High
Loras College Dubuque, IA	-	-	100%	High
Franklin University Columbus, OH	-	-	100%	High
Wright State University Lake Campus Celina, OH	18-24	21	100%	High
Madison Area Technical College Madison, WI	-	-	100%	High

View all 86 safety colleges

View the full list of colleges that accept a 20 ACT in the Midwest

See all colleges nationally for a 20 ACT

20 ACT to SAT Equivalent Conversion

Colleges use concordance tables to compare SAT and ACT scores. The following table shows the 20 ACT to SAT equivalent and nearby scores for context. These conversions are approximate.

ACT Score	SAT Equivalent
17	930
18	970
19	1010
20	1040
21	1080
22	1110
23	1140

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

Published: August 19, 2026