Southern Colleges for a 20 on the ACT

With a 20 ACT, you are competitive at 502 four-year colleges in the South (259 target, 100 reach, 143 safety). Your score is roughly equivalent to a 1040 SAT.

Colleges in the South 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
Texas State University San Marcos, TX	19-25	22	89%	Medium
Georgia State University Atlanta, GA	19-26	22	55%	Medium
Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers, FL	20-25	22	63%	Medium
University of North Texas Denton, TX	19-27	23	72%	Medium
West Virginia University Morgantown, WV	20-26	23	89%	Medium
Towson University Towson, MD	19-27	23	82%	Medium
Clark Atlanta University Atlanta, GA	16-20	18	64%	Medium
Morgan State University Baltimore, MD	16-21	18	82%	Medium
Georgia Southern University Statesboro, GA	18-23	20	88%	Medium
University of Memphis Memphis, TN	18-24	21	72%	Medium
Alabama State University Montgomery, AL	15-20	17	98%	Medium
The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, TX	19-27	23	80%	Medium

View all 259 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
Arizona State University Tempe, AZ	21-28	24	90%	Low
The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL	24-31	27	77%	Low
The University of Tennessee Knoxville Knoxville, TN	25-31	28	42%	Low
University of Kentucky Lexington, KY	21-28	24	93%	Low
Texas A&M University College Station College Station, TX	25-31	28	57%	Low
East Carolina University Greenville, NC	21-26	23	89%	Low
University of Arizona Tucson, AZ	21-29	25	86%	Low
Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX	23-28	25	73%	Low
University of Houston Houston, TX	23-29	26	74%	Low
The University of Tampa Tampa, FL	23-28	25	40%	Low
Appalachian State University Boone, NC	21-27	24	90%	Low
Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL	21-26	23	66%	Low

View all 100 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
Texas Southern University Houston, TX	15-19	17	97%	High
Savannah State University Savannah, GA	15-19	17	100%	High
Albany State University Albany, GA	15-18	16	100%	High
North Carolina Central University Durham, NC	17-18	17	87%	High
Valencia College Orlando, FL	-	-	100%	High
Broward College Fort Lauderdale, FL	-	-	100%	High
Miami Dade College Miami, FL	-	-	100%	High
South Carolina State University Orangeburg, SC	15-19	17	83%	High
Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL	-	-	100%	High
Fayetteville State University Fayetteville, NC	15-19	17	82%	High
Clayton State University Morrow, GA	15-19	17	68%	High
Paul Quinn College Dallas, TX	14-17	15	40%	High

View all 143 safety colleges

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

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