Highest Acceptance Rate U.S. Colleges

CollegeSimply lists 1151 four-year colleges that accept 75% or more of applicants, ranked by acceptance rate from highest to lowest. These are strong safety school candidates if your GPA and test scores meet their typical ranges.

355 colleges accept 100% of applicants. Examples include Amridge University, Athens State University, Miles College and Selma University.

High acceptance does not always mean low academic standards. You still need sufficient grades unless a school has guaranteed admission. Use the filters below to narrow by GPA, SAT, or ACT and see your estimated admission chance at each school. See also best and popular colleges with high acceptance rates, or the most selective colleges.

1,151 Results
Sort:
High Acceptance % Public Private 4 Year

  • Public 4 Year
  • Norman, OK
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews
  • 77% acceptance rate
  • Feb 1 application deadline

OU is a large public university known for undergraduate meteorology and petroleum engineering. Norman is a classic college town built around the campus.

#1 Best Public Universities in Oklahoma 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.66
  • Net Price $18,574

  • Public 4 Year
  • Corvallis, OR
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • 77% acceptance rate
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Oregon State is a large public university known for undergraduate forestry, marine science, and engineering. Corvallis is a college town built around the campus in Oregon's Willamette Valley.

#1 Best Public Universities in Oregon 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1400
  • Avg GPA 3.61
  • Net Price $22,467

  • Private 4 Year
  • Salem, OR
  • 4.8 | 4 reviews
  • 77% acceptance rate
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Willamette is a private liberal arts university known for undergraduate political science and government. The historic campus borders the Oregon State Capitol grounds in downtown Salem.

#5 Best Private Colleges in Oregon 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1240-1440
  • Avg GPA 3.97
  • Net Price $29,421

  • Private 4 Year
  • Center Valley, PA
  • 3.0 | 2 reviews
  • 77% acceptance rate
  • Aug 1 application deadline

DeSales is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate theatre, nursing, and business. The suburban campus is in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley.

#25 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1090-1260
  • Avg GPA 3.39
  • Net Price $31,732

  • Private 4 Year
  • Loretto, PA
  • | 0 reviews
  • 77% acceptance rate

Saint Francis is a private Franciscan university known for undergraduate physical therapy, physician assistant studies, and health sciences. The rural campus sits in the Allegheny Mountains town of Loretto.

#38 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1050-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.69
  • Net Price $28,326

  • Private 4 Year
  • Winchester, VA
  • | 0 reviews
  • 77% acceptance rate
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Shenandoah is a private university known for undergraduate music, theater, and dance through the Shenandoah Conservatory. The campus is in Winchester in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.

#5 Best Private Colleges in Virginia 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Net Price $27,181

  • Private 4 Year
  • Seattle, WA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • 77% acceptance rate
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Seattle University is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate nursing and business. The urban campus sits on First Hill near downtown Seattle.

#3 Best Colleges in Washington 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1200-1430
  • Avg GPA 3.62
  • Net Price $36,948
Patrick Henry College Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Purcellville, Virginia
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • 77% acceptance rate
  • Jul 15 application deadline

Patrick Henry is a small private Christian liberal arts college known for undergraduate government and classical liberal arts. The residential campus sits in the small town of Purcellville in northern Virginia.

7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1240-1420
  • Avg GPA 3.83
  • Net Price $25,869

  • Private 4 Year
  • Siloam Springs, AR
  • | 0 reviews
  • 76% acceptance rate

John Brown is a private Christian university known for undergraduate engineering, nursing, and business. The residential campus is in the small college town of Siloam Springs in northwest Arkansas.

#2 Best Colleges in Arkansas 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1340
  • Avg GPA 3.77
  • Net Price $21,537

  • Private 4 Year
  • Thousand Oaks, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • 76% acceptance rate
  • Jan 1 application deadline

Cal Lutheran is a private university known for undergraduate business, psychology, and communication. The suburban campus in Thousand Oaks is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

#18 Best Private Colleges in California 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1150-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.73
  • Net Price $32,774

  • Public 4 Year
  • Riverside, CA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • 76% acceptance rate
  • Nov 30 application deadline

UC Riverside is a large public university known for undergraduate entomology, plant sciences, and business. The suburban campus lies in California's Inland Empire east of Los Angeles.

#9 Best Public Universities in California 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1080-1280
  • Avg GPA 3.84
  • Net Price $14,562
Albizu University Miami Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Miami, FL
  • | 0 reviews
  • 76% acceptance rate

Albizu is a private university known for undergraduate psychology and speech-language pathology. The urban Miami campus centers on behavioral and health sciences.

0/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 2.8
  • Net Price $19,849

  • Private 4 Year
  • Saint Petersburg, FL
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews
  • 76% acceptance rate

Eckerd is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate marine science and environmental studies. The waterfront campus borders Boca Ciega Bay in St. Petersburg.

#6 Best Private Colleges in Florida 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.8
  • Net Price $43,884

  • Public 4 Year
  • Tifton, GA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • 76% acceptance rate

ABAC is a public state college known for undergraduate agriculture, natural resources, and agribusiness. Most students live on the residential campus in rural south Georgia Tifton.

3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 860-1080
  • Avg GPA 2.85
  • Net Price $7,308

  • Public 4 Year
  • Moscow, ID
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • 76% acceptance rate

Idaho is a public university known for undergraduate agriculture, natural resources, and engineering. The residential campus sits in the small college town of Moscow in northern Idaho.

#1 Best Public Universities in Idaho 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 990-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.47
  • Net Price $15,111

  • Private 4 Year
  • Chicago, IL
  • 3.3 | 3 reviews
  • 76% acceptance rate
  • Feb 1 application deadline

DePaul is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate business, film, and theater. Its urban campuses sit in Chicago's Lincoln Park and Loop neighborhoods.

#8 Best Private Colleges in Illinois 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.8
  • Net Price $34,135
Huntington University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Huntington, IN
  • | 0 reviews
  • 76% acceptance rate

Huntington is a private Christian university known for undergraduate education and ministry. Most students live on a residential campus in the small city of Huntington.

#11 Best Private Colleges in Indiana 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1150
  • Avg GPA 3.6
  • Net Price $19,767

  • Public 4 Year
  • Indianapolis, IN
  • | 0 reviews
  • 76% acceptance rate
  • May 15 application deadline

IU Indianapolis is a large public university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and philanthropic studies. The urban campus is located in downtown Indianapolis.

#3 Best Public Universities in Indiana 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1240
  • Avg GPA 3.52
  • Net Price $12,228