ACT Scores
20 ACT to SAT: 1040
An ACT 20 converts to an SAT 1040 on the official table, and any SAT from 1030 to 1050 converts back to a 20. It ranks at the 63rd percentile nationally and is inside or above the middle-50% ACT range at 3 of the 141 colleges we track.
SAT equivalent
1040
SAT 1030 to 1050
National rank
63%
score at or below
In range or above
3
of 141 colleges
Below the range
138
of 141 colleges
3 colleges where a 20 is inside the middle 50%
Your score looks like a typical enrolled student's here. Most selective first.
The closest reaches for a 20
A 20 is below the 25th percentile at 138 of the 141 colleges that publish a range. These are the ones where the gap is smallest.
- Florida International University21–27
- Florida Atlantic University21–26
- University of Arkansas21–28
- Mississippi State University21–29
- University of Iowa21–28
- University of Arizona21–29
- Iowa State University21–28
- University of Kentucky21–28
- University of Mississippi21–29
- Howard University22–28
- University of Utah22–29
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln22–28
Keep this list for a 20
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Frequently asked questions
What is a 20 ACT in SAT terms?
An ACT Composite of 20 is equivalent to an SAT total of 1040 on the official ACT/SAT concordance published by College Board and ACT. SAT totals from 1030 to 1050 all convert back to an ACT 20.
Is 20 a good ACT score?
A 20 ranks at the 63rd percentile, meaning 63% of recent ACT-tested graduates scored a 20 or lower. It is at or above the 25th percentile of enrolled students at 3 of the 141 colleges in our dataset that publish an ACT range, and above the 75th percentile at 0 of them.
Should I retake the ACT with a 20?
A retake is worth the most at schools where a 20 is below the 25th percentile, because that is where your score is working against you. At schools where you are already inside the middle 50%, a retake is optional. At schools where you are above the 75th percentile, the ACT is no longer what holds your application back.
ACT ranges are the 25th to 75th percentile of enrolled first-year students, sourced from College Scorecard API — U.S. Department of Education (api.data.gov) and Editorial overrides layer (overrides.json) — Common Data Set & institutional sources. ACT national ranks: ACT Score National Ranks, 2026-2027 reporting year.
