U.S. Colleges with low acceptance rates

Colleges with the Lowest Acceptance Rate in America for 2025

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 California Institute of Technology which sent acceptance letters to only 3% of the 13,107 students who applied and rejected 97%.

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.
Low Acceptance % Public Private 4 year

266 results nationwide

Clark University
C
Worcester, MA

Clark University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

42% Acceptance Rate

#17 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 4,124enrollment
  • $32,767net price
  • 1240-1400SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Talmudical Academy New Jersey
T
Adelphia, NJ
 

Talmudical Academy New Jersey

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

42% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 78enrollment
  • $8,295net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Syracuse University
S
Syracuse, NY

Syracuse University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

42% Acceptance Rate

#19 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 22,948enrollment
  • $51,520net price
  • 1260-1430SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Defiance College
D
Defiance, OH
 

Defiance College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

42% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 511enrollment
  • $24,098net price
  • 860-1110SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.12Avg GPA

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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

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Yeshiva D'monsey Rabbinical College
Y
Monsey, NY
 

Yeshiva D'monsey Rabbinical College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

42% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 86enrollment
  • $6,266net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Thomas University
T
Thomasville, GA

Thomas University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

43% Acceptance Rate

#9 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 1,583enrollment
  • $19,087net price
  • 970-1110SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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The New England Conservatory of Music
N
Boston, MA

The New England Conservatory of Music

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

43% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 784enrollment
  • $49,544net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

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Stevens Institute of Technology
S
Hoboken, NJ

Stevens Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

43% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Colleges in New Jersey

  • 8,842enrollment
  • $43,665net price
  • 1370-1500SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.88Avg GPA

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Johnson C Smith University
J
HBCU
Charlotte, NC

Johnson C Smith University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

43% Acceptance Rate

#17 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,102enrollment
  • $19,326net price
  • 800-980SAT range
  • 13-18ACT range
  • 2.48Avg GPA

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Mercy College of Ohio
M
Toledo, OH
 

Mercy College of Ohio

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

43% Acceptance Rate

#24 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,150enrollment
  • $15,705net price
  • 850-1070SAT range
  • 15-22ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Dickinson College
D
Carlisle, PA

Dickinson College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

43% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 2,217enrollment
  • $40,242net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Texas Christian University
T
Fort Worth, TX

Texas Christian University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

43% Acceptance Rate

#4 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 12,785enrollment
  • $39,005net price
  • 1150-1375SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.68Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of Washington Seattle Campus
W
Seattle, WA

University of Washington Seattle Campus

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

43% Acceptance Rate

#8 Best Public Universities in America

  • 55,620enrollment
  • $11,023net price
  • 1200-1453SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 3.82Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 16

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University of Wisconsin Madison
W
Madison, WI

University of Wisconsin Madison

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

43% Acceptance Rate

#17 Best Public Universities in America

  • 49,605enrollment
  • $14,216net price
  • 1360-1510SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.88Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Santa Clara University
S
Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

Private 4 Year

14 reviews

44% Acceptance Rate

#7 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 9,340enrollment
  • $49,651net price
  • 1340-1500SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 7

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George Washington University
G
Washington, DC

George Washington University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

44% Acceptance Rate

#2 Best Colleges in District Of Columbia

  • 25,568enrollment
  • $45,466net price
  • 1350-1500SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.81Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
I
Champaign, IL

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

44% Acceptance Rate

#21 Best Public Universities in America

  • 56,563enrollment
  • $14,297net price
  • 1270-1510SAT range
  • 29-34ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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