11 Colleges With the Lowest Acceptance Rates

Sometimes, a little bit of luck is all it takes to get you into your dream school. But if you’re curious about your chances of acceptance, we’ve gathered the information for you.

Below is a list of 150 nonprofit four-year institutions, both public and private, and their respective college acceptance rates. These rates may vary a little from year to year, but they generally serve as a good benchmark for understanding your chances of admission to a particular institution.

Some schools develop a reputation for being extremely competitive or simple to get into. However, a rate of acceptance can also be impacted by the number of applicants. Even though two schools might accept the same number of students, one will have a lower acceptance rate if it receives a lot more applications.

Including a few safety schools on your list is a good idea (i e. , schools that you’re almost certain to be accepted into) and your dream schools Knowing college acceptance rates can help you create a strong list of institutions to which you should submit applications.

What to Consider When Researching College Acceptance Rates

College acceptance rates only offer one piece of information about a university. To understand the acceptance rate, applicants should take into account the number of applicants, the school’s average GPA and SAT scores, the enrollment rate, and other information.

This section looks at additional aspects that candidates should take into account when looking at college acceptance rates.

How does the acceptance rate percentage break down in comparison to the total number of students applying to your preferred school?

A 6% acceptance rate from Harvard may seem daunting, but prospective applicants should consider the number of total applicants and what that 6% acceptance signifies For example, if an elite university admits 5% of applicants, but the school receives 50,000 applications, that still means that 2,500 students have been accepted In contrast, if you apply to a school with a 50% acceptance rate, but that school only receives 5,000 applicants, the school admits 2,500 Even though the acceptance rates are very different, there are the same number of applicants. When comparing schools, rankings, and data points, students should keep the data in context.

Check how you (and that percentage from the first point) stack up against the average SAT and GPA of your desired school.

A university’s average SAT or GPA for incoming accepted students can be found by prospective students. This information can help contextualize the admissions rate percentage. In comparison to this data, your scores may compare favorably, especially if the average is lower. Incoming students’ average GPA is 3 and their average SAT score is 1450 out of 1600. 7 out of 4. 0 then better candidates are added to the applicant pool, decreasing your chances.

Evaluate the acceptance percentage compared to actual enrollment.

Universities often accept more students than they can take. This is because not all accepted applicants will enroll in the program. Additional information can be obtained by comparing the proportion of applicants who are accepted to those who enroll. If the school has a 50% acceptance rate, but 90% of students enroll (45% of the total applicants), then you may have a different perspective on the college, knowing that most accepted students wish to attend

Evaluate the acceptance rate percentage compared to the school’s tuition, fees, and financial aid.

One of the most crucial considerations when selecting a college is cost. An estimation of the cost can be obtained by looking at the tuition, additional fees, and any available financial aid. Less students may apply to universities with high tuition costs and limited financial aid options. Schools with lower tuition and generous financial aid frequently attract more applicants. Keep in mind that a school’s price does not always reflect its level of educational quality. The schools that prospective students should look into should take these factors into consideration.

Compare each school’s acceptance rate percentage.

Always put a strong emphasis on contrasting different colleges based on all of the criteria offered, including those mentioned above. You can also categorize some of your interests according to how important they are to you personally.

Ten Schools With the Lowest Acceptance Rates

The colleges with the highest prestige and name recognition are typically those with the lowest acceptance rates. This clarifies why a large number of Ivy League institutions are included on our list of the universities with the lowest acceptance rates.

A selective education can lead to networking and employment opportunities after graduation. Many of these institutions help professionals advance their careers long after graduation thanks to illustrious alumni networks. Many of these institutions also put an emphasis on academic research, spending money on cutting-edge equipment and carrying out innovative experiments. Students interested in research careers benefit from attending these schools.

Attending a selective school may also bring salary benefits. For example, Ivy League graduates report higher earnings than other professionals. Ten years after gaining admission, an Ivy League grad earns double the salary of grads from other colleges.

Low acceptance rates also often correlate with high graduation rates. Enrolling at a selective school does not benefit students who drop out and never earn their degree. However, many of the most selective schools report graduation rates of over 90%.

Selective schools maintain different standards. For instance, Juilliard has different admission requirements than Harvard or Stanford, and candidates must perform well in an audition to be accepted.

Applying to Colleges with Low Acceptance Rates

How can you make your application stand out in a crowded field of applicants?

The colleges with the lowest acceptance rates prioritize academic excellence. Students can consider boosting their GPA by taking AP classes. Transcripts must demonstrate to the admissions panel that applicants are capable of handling college-level work. Avoiding hard classes can backfire. Students can raise their standardized test scores by taking practice exams or enrolling in SAT or ACT preparation classes.

Schools seek applicants who are well-rounded and contribute something unique to the student body in addition to academic excellence. Candidates can stand out by emphasizing extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and work experience.

College essays also play a major role in admissions. Applicants should spend several weeks writing and revising their essays. Ask teachers or mentors for feedback to help you improve your essays, and make sure to write each essay specifically for each school.

Recommendation letters can make or break an application. Students should choose teachers or mentors who know them well. At least a month prior to the application deadline, get in touch with letter writers. Provide as much information as you can when requesting the letter, rather than just asking for it. The list of a student’s extracurricular activities, academic accomplishments, and papers written for the class should be provided.

Prospective students should read the entire application before submitting it. During the admissions process, careless mistakes attract the wrong kind of attention.

Playing the Field When It Comes to Acceptance Rate Rankings

In 2015, 36% of first-time college students applied to seven or more colleges. That percentage more than doubled since 2005, when only 17% of first-time freshmen submitted applications at seven or more schools. As college acceptance rates decrease, applicants feel the pressure to increase their chances by applying to more schools.

But applying to multiple colleges brings its own challenges. Customizing applications for each school takes time and effort. Applicants can streamline the process by using sites like Common App that provide a single portal to apply to multiple schools. Tracking application requirements, deadlines for recommendation letters, and essay requirements can also help students manage the process.

On average, students spend $44 per application. The most selective colleges charge even more, with Stanford commanding a $90 application fee. The financial burden of application fees may prevent students from applying to multiple schools, which can limit their college options.

Fortunately, most schools offer application fee waivers for qualifying students. For example, applicants who show economic need can receive a Common App fee waiver.

Applicants should avoid only applying to the most selective schools. Students can increase their chances of acceptance by submitting applications to in-state public schools or other organizations with higher acceptance rates.

Benefits of Schools with High Acceptance Rates

Most schools admit more than two-thirds of their applicants, according to a 2019 Pew Research study. What are the benefits of attending a school with a high acceptance rate?

For one, applicants are more likely to get in. Because many selective schools only accept fewer than one in ten applicants, students who only apply to the most selective schools run the risk of not receiving an admission offer.

Numerous other advantages for students can result from a high acceptance rate. A less selective school may be more likely to award scholarships or merit-based financial aid to applicants with a strong application. The same GPA and standardized test scores may not impress selective schools, but these applicants stand out in the applicant pool.

The student body at schools with higher admission rates also looks different. The most selective schools admit more students from high-income households. For example, elite colleges enroll more students from the top 1% than from the bottom 40%, according to The New York Times.

Schools with higher admission rates frequently enroll a student body that is more economically diverse and are better at enhancing the economic prospects for students from low-income families.

In fact, regardless of the school they attend, students with strong applications and a strong work ethic typically do well. These students can achieve their academic and professional objectives by enrolling in a school with a high acceptance rate.

College Acceptance Rates Do Not Translate to Learning Quality

Many students think the most selective colleges are the best. However, academic quality and rigor are not always directly correlated with admission selectivity.

Additional metrics offer more pertinent information regarding a college’s academic standing. For instance, prospective students can look up the alumni outcomes of the schools. Do they report high admission rates to graduate programs? Do they receive job offers in their field?

Other metrics to assess a schools academics include faculty qualifications. As indicators of academic quality, candidates can look up the percentage of faculty members who hold terminal degrees in their fields and the proportion of courses instructed by tenured or on-track professors. Many schools provide this data on their website.

Additionally, selectivity does not indicate a student’s compatibility with the school. Prospective students can learn more about their college experience from factors like the school’s size, location, and on-campus housing policies than they can from the school’s acceptance rate.

Similarly, less-selective schools with a high mobility rate might do a better job helping lower-income students move into higher income brackets than the most selective colleges.

Success in school or the workforce is not guaranteed by enrolling in the school with the lowest admission rate. While admission rates track how many students each institution accepts, retention and graduation rates offer more direct insight into how well-adjusted current students are at the institution.

We collected information on each college’s acceptance, retention, graduation, job placement, default rates, number of years it had been accredited, institutional financial aid, number of full-time faculty for every part-time faculty member, acceptance, retention, and undergraduate tuition. Learn more.

Rank School Student to Faculty Ratio Graduation Rate Retention Rate Acceptance Rate Enrollment Rate Institutional Aid Rate Default Rate
1

Harvard University

7 to 1 98% 98% 6% 4% 44% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
2

Yale University

6 to 1 97% 99% 7% 5% 52% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
3

University of Pennsylvania

6 to 1 95% 98% 10% 7% 54% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
4

Johns Hopkins University

10 to 1 94% 97% 14% 5% 51% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
5

Cornell University

9 to 1 93% 97% 15% 8% 55% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
6

Tufts University

9 to 1 93% 97% 16% 7% 43% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
7

University of California-Berkeley

17 to 1 92% 96% 17% 7% 61% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
8

University of California-Los Angeles

16 to 1 91% 96% 17% 6% 61% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
9

Georgetown University

11 to 1 94% 96% 17% 8% 42% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
10

Washington University in St Louis

8 to 1 93% 96% 17% 6% 49% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
11

University of Notre Dame

10 to 1 97% 98% 20% 11% 63% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
12

Liberty University

18 to 1 47% 75% 22% 10% 84% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
13

Emory University

8 to 1 89% 94% 24% 7% 54% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
14

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

12 to 1 49% 75% 24% 21% 73% 6% N/A N/A , N/AN/A
15

Piedmont International University

7 to 1 41% 74% 24% 19% 68% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
16

Carnegie Mellon University

10 to 1 88% 98% 24% 8% 54% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
17

California Institute of the Arts

7 to 1 56% 87% 25% 9% 55% 8% N/A N/A , N/AN/A
18

Maine College of Health Professions

5 to 1 100% 100% 25% 25% 59% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
19

Babson College

14 to 1 89% 96% 26% 7% 48% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
20

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

12 to 1 90% 97% 26% 12% 51% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
21

Northeastern University

14 to 1 84% 97% 28% 6% 65% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
22

Southwestern Assemblies of God University

14 to 1 41% 74% 28% 20% 87% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
23

Berklee College of Music

11 to 1 56% 87% 29% 12% 53% 12% N/A N/A , N/AN/A
24

Boston College

14 to 1 92% 95% 29% 7% 45% 2% N/A N/A , N/AN/A
25

Wake Forest University

10 to 1 88% 93% 29% 10% 50% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
26

Tulane University of Louisiana

9 to 1 83% 92% 30% 7% 70% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
27

Lehigh University

10 to 1 88% 95% 30% 10% 51% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
28

University of Virginia-Main Campus

15 to 1 93% 97% 30% 12% 40% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
29

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

22 to 1 76% 93% 31% 11% 55% 3% N/A N/A , N/AN/A
30

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

14 to 1 90% 97% 31% 13% 53% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
31

Corban University

15 to 1 59% 80% 31% 9% 94% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
32

University of Richmond

8 to 1 88% 93% 31% 8% 69% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
33

Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

19 to 1 85% 97% 32% 11% 63% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
34

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

17 to 1 70% 91% 32% 7% 56% 5% N/A N/A , N/AN/A
35

New York University

10 to 1 84% 93% 32% 10% 57% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
36

University of California-Santa Barbara

17 to 1 81% 93% 33% 6% 66% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
37

Boston University

12 to 1 85% 93% 33% 7% 49% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
38

California State University-Long Beach

24 to 1 67% 89% 34% 8% 72% 5% N/A N/A , N/AN/A
39

Hope International University

14 to 1 42% 91% 34% 12% 82% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
40

San Diego State University

28 to 1 68% 89% 34% 9% 59% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
41

Brandeis University

10 to 1 86% 92% 34% 8% 58% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
42

Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health

12 to 1 73% 81% 34% 19% 72% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
43

University of Rochester

10 to 1 88% 96% 34% 8% 78% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
44

Columbia International University

14 to 1 62% 73% 34% 17% 91% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
45

College of William and Mary

12 to 1 90% 95% 34% 10% 44% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
46

American University

12 to 1 81% 88% 35% 11% 63% 4% N/A N/A , N/AN/A
47

Emmaus Bible College

9 to 1 75% 83% 35% 14% 95% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
48

Skidmore College

8 to 1 86% 94% 36% 8% 48% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
49

Laguna College of Art and Design

12 to 1 66% 84% 37% 21% 100% 6% N/A N/A , N/AN/A
50

Maharishi University of Management

11 to 1 46% 90% 37% 25% 68% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
51

CUNY Brooklyn College

15 to 1 54% 82% 37% 7% 60% 7% N/A N/A , N/AN/A
52

University of California-Davis

18 to 1 85% 93% 38% 8% 72% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
53

Colorado School of Mines

16 to 1 77% 94% 38% 9% 68% 3% N/A N/A , N/AN/A
54

University of Miami

12 to 1 82% 92% 38% 6% 70% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
55

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

27 to 1 63% 89% 39% 8% 67% 5% N/A N/A , N/AN/A
56

University of California-Irvine

19 to 1 88% 93% 39% 8% 73% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
57

Andrews University

9 to 1 54% 80% 39% 12% 84% 7% N/A N/A , N/AN/A
58

CUNY Hunter College

11 to 1 54% 83% 39% 8% 56% 5% N/A N/A , N/AN/A
59

The University of Texas at Austin

18 to 1 80% 95% 39% 18% 45% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
60

Park University

17 to 1 43% 59% 40% 11% 37% 10% N/A N/A , N/AN/A
61

CUNY Queens College

14 to 1 58% 85% 40% 8% 53% 5% N/A N/A , N/AN/A
62

Western Carolina University

16 to 1 57% 80% 40% 9% 65% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
63

University of Memphis

14 to 1 45% 77% 40% 13% 76% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
64

Spring Hill College

14 to 1 53% 81% 41% 6% 99% 8% N/A N/A , N/AN/A
65

Fashion Institute of Technology

17 to 1 75% 90% 41% 27% 41% 7% N/A N/A , N/AN/A
66

Stony Brook University

17 to 1 68% 90% 41% 8% 57% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
67

SUNY at Purchase College

15 to 1 58% 81% 41% 10% 59% 7% N/A N/A , N/AN/A
68

California State University-Fullerton

25 to 1 62% 88% 42% 11% 65% 6% N/A N/A , N/AN/A
69

The University of West Florida

22 to 1 47% 72% 42% 19% 63% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
70

New York School of Interior Design

10 to 1 50% 80% 42% 8% 29% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
71

SUNY at Binghamton

20 to 1 81% 91% 42% 9% 51% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
72

State University of New York at New Paltz

15 to 1 73% 89% 42% 7% 53% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
73

Dallas Baptist University

13 to 1 58% 72% 42% 17% 86% 8% N/A N/A , N/AN/A
74

Texas Christian University

13 to 1 76% 90% 43% 11% 66% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
75

Stevens Institute of Technology

10 to 1 82% 94% 44% 10% 92% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
76

King University

16 to 1 45% 73% 44% 17% 71% 8% N/A N/A , N/AN/A
77

Florida Southern College

13 to 1 57% 80% 45% 11% 93% 10% N/A N/A , N/AN/A
78

University of South Florida-Main Campus

24 to 1 68% 88% 45% 14% 72% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
79

Toccoa Falls College

13 to 1 47% 66% 45% 20% 93% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
80

University of Maryland-College Park

17 to 1 86% 95% 45% 14% 52% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
81

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

17 to 1 77% 93% 45% 13% 50% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
82

Marist College

16 to 1 78% 91% 45% 13% 75% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
83

Monroe College

18 to 1 53% 78% 45% 28% 92% 10% N/A N/A , N/AN/A
84

Wilson College

10 to 1 39% 73% 45% 10% 71% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
85

LeTourneau University

12 to 1 57% 69% 45% 14% 66% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
86

George Washington University

13 to 1 83% 94% 46% 13% 64% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
87

Southeastern University

20 to 1 39% 67% 46% 26% 77% 9% N/A N/A , N/AN/A
88

Midway University

15 to 1 56% 78% 46% 18% 86% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
89

St Lawrence University

11 to 1 87% 89% 46% 12% 93% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
90

Bryan College-Dayton

14 to 1 57% 65% 46% 24% 60% 7% N/A N/A , N/AN/A
91

Bristol University

15 to 1 89% 60% 46% 26% 35% 12% N/A N/A , N/AN/A
92

University of La Verne

17 to 1 64% 85% 47% 9% 73% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
93

Pfeiffer University

12 to 1 43% 69% 47% 10% 75% 8% N/A N/A , N/AN/A
94

Texas A & M University-Commerce

20 to 1 42% 73% 47% 15% 73% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
95

Chapman University

14 to 1 79% 90% 48% 10% 79% 4% N/A N/A , N/AN/A
96

University of Florida

20 to 1 87% 96% 48% 24% 88% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
97

Graceland University-Lamoni

16 to 1 52% 62% 48% 13% 82% 9% N/A N/A , N/AN/A
98

Fordham University

14 to 1 81% 91% 48% 5% 80% 5% N/A N/A , N/AN/A
99

Syracuse University

16 to 1 81% 91% 48% 10% 70% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A
100

Muhlenberg College

11 to 1 85% 93% 48% 12% 82% N/A N/A N/A , N/AN/A

The number of full-time faculty members per part-time faculty member, institutional financial aid, acceptance, retention, graduation, job placement, and default rates, years accredited, and undergraduate tuition were the nine metrics we collected data for for each college. Learn more.

COLLEGE DECISION REACTIONS 2021 FROM AN AVERAGE STUDENT (USC, NYU, UCLA, Syracuse, Tulane, + more)

FAQ

What is the average college acceptance rate?

What percentage of applicants are accepted into colleges on average? S. News, college acceptance rates average out to 68%. Although the hardest colleges to get into have less than a 10% acceptance rate, Pew Research Center found that over half of U S. universities have an admissions rate of 67% or higher.

What is a good acceptance rate for colleges?

An acceptance rate of 50% or higher is considered a high acceptance rate Students might also view acceptance rates that are higher than average as being high. Almost all of their applicants are accepted by institutions with high acceptance rates. They are also thought to be less picky when selecting applicants for admission.

Is 20 acceptance rate good?

Schools that accept between 20 and 40% of applicants are considered to be competitive%E2%80%93though not overwhelmingly selective

What college has a 7% acceptance rate?

11 Colleges With the Lowest Acceptance RatesSchool (state)Fall 2020 acceptance rateCalifornia Institute of Technology7%Massachusetts Institute of Technology7%University of Chicago7%Yale University (CT)7%

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