U.S. Colleges with low acceptance rates

Colleges with the Lowest Acceptance Rate in America for 2024

These are the most selective public and private four-year colleges in the United States. The list is ranked by acceptance rate, lowest to highest and limited to schools which reject at least half of all applicants. Leading the list is Fairfax University of America which sent acceptance letters to only 1% of the 378 students who applied and rejected 99%.

Not all schools on the most selective list are overly academically challenging. Some schools with less rigorous test and high school GPA requirements may receive a large numbers of qualified applicants and the school does not have space to admit them all.

If you're looking for challenging colleges, explore US rankings of the colleges with the highest SAT scores, highest ACT scores and highest GPA's.


245 results nationwide

Baptist Memorial College of Health Sciences
B
Memphis, TN
 

Baptist Memorial College of Health Sciences

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

41% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 797enrollment
  • $9,549net price
  • 990-1090SAT range
  • 19-23ACT range
  • 3.21Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

San Francisco Conservatory of Music
S
San Francisco, CA

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

42% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 437enrollment
  • $45,726net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Dec 7

Illinois Wesleyan University
I
Bloomington, IL

Illinois Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

42% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,527enrollment
  • $30,096net price
  • 1120-1330SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.86Avg GPA

AIB College of Business
A
Des Moines, IA
 

AIB College of Business

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

42% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 348enrollment
  • $12,440net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Grambling State University
G
HBCU
Grambling, LA

Grambling State University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

42% Acceptance Rate

#13 Best Public Universities in Louisiana

  • 5,058enrollment
  • $15,796net price
  • 840-990SAT range
  • 15-19ACT range
  • 3.01Avg GPA

SUNY at Binghamton
B
Vestal, NY

SUNY at Binghamton

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

42% Acceptance Rate

#23 Best Public Universities in America

  • 18,312enrollment
  • $19,535net price
  • 1340-1510SAT range
  • 29-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Saint Gregorys University
S
Shawnee, OK
 

Saint Gregorys University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

42% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 702enrollment
  • $18,055net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Fort Valley State University
F
HBCU
Fort Valley, GA

Fort Valley State University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

43% Acceptance Rate

#11 Best Public Universities in Georgia

  • 2,605enrollment
  • $13,016net price
  • 810-950SAT range
  • 16-19ACT range
  • 2.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 15

University of Georgia
G
Athens, GA

University of Georgia

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

43% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Colleges in Georgia

  • 40,607enrollment
  • $17,180net price
  • 1220-1420SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Emerson College
E
Boston, MA

Emerson College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

43% Acceptance Rate

#21 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 5,891enrollment
  • $51,432net price
  • 1250-1430SAT range
  • 30-32ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 20

Belhaven University
B
Jackson, MS
 

Belhaven University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

43% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Private Colleges in Mississippi

  • 3,627enrollment
  • $19,794net price
  • 980-1200SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College
H
Moore, OK
 

Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

43% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 281enrollment
  • $20,952net price
  • 846-1033SAT range
  • 16-24ACT range
  • 3.1Estimated Avg GPA

Allen University
A
HBCU
Columbia, SC

Allen University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

43% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 657enrollment
  • $13,774net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

Clemson University
C
Clemson, SC

Clemson University

Public 4 Year

9 reviews

43% Acceptance Rate

#1 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 28,466enrollment
  • $24,577net price
  • 1220-1410SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Auburn University
A
Auburn University, AL

Auburn University

Public 4 Year

9 reviews

44% Acceptance Rate

#1 Best Public Universities in Alabama

  • 31,764enrollment
  • $25,271net price
  • 1220-1380SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

University of South Florida Main Campus
S
Tampa, FL

University of South Florida Main Campus

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

44% Acceptance Rate

#4 Best Public Universities in Florida

  • 49,600enrollment
  • $11,004net price
  • 1140-1330SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.64Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Kentucky Christian University
K
Grayson, KY
 

Kentucky Christian University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

44% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 629enrollment
  • $22,682net price
  • 850-890SAT range
  • 16-21ACT range
  • 3.16Avg GPA

Trinity Bible College
T
Ellendale, ND
 

Trinity Bible College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

44% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 289enrollment
  • $15,628net price
  • 950-1110SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.27Estimated Avg GPA