Jump to a section
Every score from 20 to 25 at a glance
| ACT | National rank | Share at exactly this score | SAT (range) | English correct | Math correct | Reading correct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 63rd | 5% | 1040 (1030 to 1050) | 24/40 | 21/41 | 15/27 |
| 21 | 68th | 5% | 1080 (1060 to 1090) | 26/40 | 22/41 | 16/27 |
| 22 | 72nd | 4% | 1110 (1100 to 1120) | 27/40 | 23/41 | 17/27 |
| 23 | 77th | 5% | 1140 (1130 to 1150) | 29/40 | 24/41 | 18/27 |
| 24 | 80th | 3% | 1180 (1160 to 1190) | 30/40 | 25/41 | 19/27 |
| 25 | 83rd | 3% | 1210 (1200 to 1220) | 31/40 | 26/41 | 20/27 |
Ranks from ACT national ranks (tests from September 2026 through August 2027). Raw scores from ACT's official practice test key; "skips" means no raw score converts to exactly that score. SAT figures from the 2018 concordance.
This SAT figure comes from the ACT/SAT concordance tables that ACT and the College Board released in 2018. ACT says the tables aren't updated every year, and they were published before the Enhanced ACT changed how the Composite is calculated. Use it as a close guide, not an exact match.
Score by score
Is a 20 a good ACT score?
A 20 puts you at the 63rd national rank, with about 37% of test-takers scoring higher and about 5% landing right on 20. That's about 1040 on the SAT (range 1030 to 1050). In our table of 61 colleges, a 20 sits inside the middle 50% at 13, such as University of Southern Mississippi and University of Kansas. A 21 is worth 5 percentile points more: it sits at the 68th rank.
Is a 21 a good ACT score?
A 21 is at the 68th national rank. About 5% of test-takers land on exactly a 21, and about 32% score higher. On the SAT it lines up with 1080 (range 1060 to 1090). It falls inside the middle 50% at 16 of the 61 colleges in our table, including University of Mississippi and University of Southern Mississippi. One more point, to 22, moves you 4 percentile points to the 72nd rank.
Is a 22 a good ACT score?
About 72% of recent test-takers scored 22 or lower, which puts a 22 at the 72nd national rank. Roughly 4% land on exactly this score. The SAT equivalent is 1110, and any SAT total from 1100 to 1120 converts back to a 22. Of the 61 colleges in our table, 17 have a middle 50% range that includes 22, University of Mississippi among them. Getting to 23 would lift you 5 percentile points, to the 77th rank.
Is a 23 a good ACT score?
A 23 puts you at the 77th national rank, with about 23% of test-takers scoring higher and about 5% landing right on 23. That's about 1140 on the SAT (range 1130 to 1150). In our table of 61 colleges, a 23 sits inside the middle 50% at 20, such as University of Missouri-Columbia and University of Mississippi. A 24 is worth 3 percentile points more: it sits at the 80th rank.
Is a 24 a good ACT score?
A 24 is at the 80th national rank. About 3% of test-takers land on exactly a 24, and about 20% score higher. On the SAT it lines up with 1180 (range 1160 to 1190). It falls inside the middle 50% at 22 of the 61 colleges in our table, including The University of Alabama and Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College. One more point, to 25, moves you 3 percentile points to the 83rd rank.
Is a 25 a good ACT score?
About 83% of recent test-takers scored 25 or lower, which puts a 25 at the 83rd national rank. Roughly 3% land on exactly this score. The SAT equivalent is 1210, and any SAT total from 1200 to 1220 converts back to a 25. Of the 61 colleges in our table, 23 have a middle 50% range that includes 25, Michigan State University among them. Getting to 26 would lift you 3 percentile points, to the 86th rank.
Have a practice test? Turn practice-test answers into section scores, and see your superscore across tests too.
Colleges where 20 to 25 is in range
These 26 colleges in our table have a middle 50% ACT range that overlaps 20 to 25. The last column shows which scores on this page fall inside that range. Ranges describe enrolled first-year students who submitted ACT scores, from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (latest College Scorecard data, retrieved September 26, 2026).
| College | Middle 50% ACT | Scores here inside the range |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan State University | 25 to 31 | 25 to 25 |
| Texas A&M University-College Station | 25 to 31 | 25 to 25 |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | 25 to 31 | 25 to 25 |
| The University of Alabama | 24 to 31 | 24 to 25 |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | 24 to 30 | 24 to 25 |
| University of Missouri-Columbia | 23 to 30 | 23 to 25 |
| University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus | 23 to 29 | 23 to 25 |
| University of Mississippi | 21 to 29 | 21 to 25 |
| University of Southern Mississippi | 20 to 29 | 20 to 25 |
| University of Louisiana at Lafayette | 23 to 28 | 23 to 25 |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln | 22 to 28 | 22 to 25 |
| Iowa State University | 21 to 28 | 21 to 25 |
| University of Arkansas | 21 to 28 | 21 to 25 |
| University of Kentucky | 21 to 28 | 21 to 25 |
| University of Kansas | 20 to 28 | 20 to 25 |
| Kansas State University | 20 to 27 | 20 to 25 |
| Oklahoma State University-Main Campus | 20 to 27 | 20 to 25 |
| Middle Tennessee State University | 20 to 26 | 20 to 25 |
| Missouri State University-Springfield | 19 to 26 | 20 to 25 |
| Eastern Kentucky University | 19 to 25 | 20 to 25 |
| South Dakota State University | 19 to 25 | 20 to 25 |
| University of Central Arkansas | 19 to 25 | 20 to 25 |
| Wichita State University | 17 to 25 | 20 to 25 |
| Arkansas State University | 18 to 24 | 20 to 24 |
| University of Memphis | 18 to 24 | 20 to 24 |
| Southeast Missouri State University | 15 to 20 | 20 to 20 |
At test-optional colleges fewer students submit scores, so published ranges can run higher than the whole class. Admission depends on much more than one score.
What one more point is worth
One Composite point takes three more section points in total, since the Composite is the average of English, Math and Reading rounded half up. ACT reports that students who first score between 13 and 29 raise their Composite by about one point on average when they retest (ACT). Weighing prep help? Price a tutoring plan against the gain you want.
| Move | National rank | Rank gain | SAT equivalent gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 to 21 | 63rd to 68th | +5 | +40 |
| 21 to 22 | 68th to 72nd | +4 | +30 |
| 22 to 23 | 72nd to 77th | +5 | +30 |
| 23 to 24 | 77th to 80th | +3 | +40 |
| 24 to 25 | 80th to 83rd | +3 | +30 |
| 25 to 26 | 83rd to 86th | +3 | +30 |
What a score in the 20 to 25 range means
Scores from 20 to 25 are above the national average and cover ACT's mid-tier and more-selective bands. At this level, the same score can be comfortably in range at one college and below range at another, so compare your score with each school's middle 50% rather than a single cutoff.
Colleges publish those ranges in their Common Data Set, section C9, which lists the 25th and 75th percentile ACT Composite of enrolled first-year students who submitted scores (Common Data Set).
Frequently asked questions
Is a 20 a good ACT score?
Nationally a 20 ranks 63rd, and it converts to about 1040 on the SAT. It falls in the middle 50% at 13 of our 61 colleges. The colleges on your list decide whether it's good for you.
Is a 21 a good ACT score?
A 21 is at the 68th national rank and lines up with 1080 on the SAT. It's inside the middle 50% at 16 of the 61 colleges in our table. Whether it's good for you depends on the colleges on your list.
Is a 22 a good ACT score?
It's at the 72nd national rank and about 1110 on the SAT. Of the 61 colleges in our table, 17 have 22 inside their middle 50%, so compare it with the colleges you're applying to.
Is a 23 a good ACT score?
Nationally a 23 ranks 77th, and it converts to about 1140 on the SAT. It falls in the middle 50% at 20 of our 61 colleges. The colleges on your list decide whether it's good for you.
Is a 24 a good ACT score?
A 24 is at the 80th national rank and lines up with 1180 on the SAT. It's inside the middle 50% at 22 of the 61 colleges in our table. Whether it's good for you depends on the colleges on your list.
Is a 25 a good ACT score?
It's at the 83rd national rank and about 1210 on the SAT. Of the 61 colleges in our table, 23 have 25 inside their middle 50%, so compare it with the colleges you're applying to.
What percentile is a 20 to 25 on the ACT?
From the 63rd rank at 20 to the 83rd at 25, in ACT's current national ranks table.
Sources and how this page is built
How this page is built
Research current as of:
Cedrick Reese built this 20 to 25 page for TutoringForAct.com from the 20 to 25 rows of ACT's national ranks table, the matching rows of the 2018 ACT/SAT concordance, and the raw-score conversions in ACT's official practice-test key. College ranges come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, pulled for 61 colleges; colleges with no published range, or where under 10% of students submitted the ACT, are left out. The page is regenerated whenever ACT publishes new national ranks or the Scorecard releases new admissions data.
Sources
- ACT Test Score Percentiles and National Ranks (ACT)
- ACT/SAT Concordance (ACT)
- ACT National Online Practice Test Scoring Key (ACT)
- Understanding Your ACT Scores (ACT)
- Average ACT Test Scores by State (ACT)
- Can You Retake the ACT? (ACT)
- Common Data Set Initiative
- College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education)
Compare with where every Composite ranks, or use the ACT to SAT converter for other scores.
ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT Education Corp., and SAT® is a trademark registered by the College Board. Neither is affiliated with or endorses this site.