Pacific Northwestern Colleges for a 20 on the ACT

With a 20 ACT, you are competitive at 47 four-year colleges in the Pacific Northwest (14 target, 14 reach, 19 safety). Your score is roughly equivalent to a 1040 SAT.

Colleges in the Pacific Northwest 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
Washington State University Pullman, WA	20-26	23	87%	Medium
Portland State University Portland, OR	17-24	20	91%	Medium
Brigham Young University Idaho Rexburg, ID	20-26	23	96%	Medium
University of Idaho Moscow, ID	20-26	23	76%	Medium
Central Washington University Ellensburg, WA	17-24	20	91%	Medium
Seattle Pacific University Seattle, WA	20-28	24	83%	Medium
Eastern Washington University Cheney, WA	16-23	19	91%	Medium
Southern Oregon University Ashland, OR	18-25	21	89%	Medium
University of Washington Tacoma Campus Tacoma, WA	16-24	20	83%	Medium
Pacific University Forest Grove, OR	18-29	23	90%	Medium
George Fox University Newberg, OR	20-29	24	94%	Medium
Saint Martin's University Lacey, WA	16-20	18	90%	Medium

View all 14 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 Oregon Eugene, OR	23-30	26	88%	Low
Oregon State University Corvallis, OR	24-31	27	77%	Low
Boise State University Boise, ID	21-26	23	87%	Low
Western Washington University Bellingham, WA	24-31	27	93%	Low
Seattle University Seattle, WA	23-30	26	77%	Low
University of Portland Portland, OR	25-31	28	89%	Low
Western Oregon University Monmouth, OR	21-26	23	98%	Low
Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma, WA	22-28	25	78%	Low
The Evergreen State College Olympia, WA	23-29	26	96%	Low
Whitworth University Spokane, WA	21-29	25	90%	Low
Corban University Salem, OR	21-26	23	94%	Low
The College of Idaho Caldwell, ID	23-31	27	49%	Low

View all 14 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
Bellevue College Bellevue, WA	-	-	100%	High
Idaho State University Pocatello, ID	-	-	100%	High
Walla Walla University College Place, WA	-	-	100%	High
Lake Washington Institute of Technology Kirkland, WA	-	-	100%	High
Antioch University Seattle Seattle, WA	-	-	100%	High
City University of Seattle Seattle, WA	-	-	100%	High
Olympic College Bremerton, WA	-	-	100%	High
Seattle Central College Seattle, WA	-	-	100%	High
Columbia Basin College Pasco, WA	-	-	100%	High
South Seattle College Seattle, WA	-	-	100%	High
University of Western States Portland, OR	-	-	100%	High
Peninsula College Port Angeles, WA	-	-	100%	High

View all 19 safety colleges

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

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