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

The College of Idaho
I
Caldwell, ID

The College of Idaho

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

46% Acceptance Rate

#1 Best Private Colleges in Idaho

  • 1,082enrollment
  • $24,075net price
  • 1070-1240SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

The Boston Conservatory
B
Boston, MA

The Boston Conservatory

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

46% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 798enrollment
  • $42,649net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Grace University
G
Omaha, NE
 

Grace University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

46% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 298enrollment
  • $19,798net price
  • -SAT range
  • 18-21ACT range
  • 3.08Estimated Avg GPA

Stevens Institute of Technology
S
Hoboken, NJ

Stevens Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

46% Acceptance Rate

#2 Best Colleges in New Jersey

  • 9,314enrollment
  • $41,689net price
  • 1380-1510SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.88Avg GPA

Bard College
B
Annandale-On-Hudson, NY

Bard College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

46% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 2,706enrollment
  • $25,214net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Mercy College of Ohio
M
Toledo, OH
 

Mercy College of Ohio

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

46% Acceptance Rate

#24 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,261enrollment
  • $14,564net price
  • 780-1030SAT range
  • 16-21ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Baylor University
B
Waco, TX

Baylor University

Private 4 Year

14 reviews

46% Acceptance Rate

#5 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 20,709enrollment
  • $45,988net price
  • 1230-1410SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.74Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences
P
Lancaster, PA

Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

46% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 1,775enrollment
  • $33,047net price
  • 1050-1220SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

University of California Santa Cruz
C
Santa Cruz, CA

University of California Santa Cruz

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

47% Acceptance Rate

#8 Best Public Universities in California

  • 19,478enrollment
  • $17,975net price
  • 1160-1360SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

Macon State College
M
Macon, Georgia
 

Macon State College

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

47% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 5,702enrollment
  • -net price
  • 890-1100SAT range
  • 16-20ACT range
  • 2.96Estimated Avg GPA

Spring Arbor University
S
Spring Arbor, MI
 

Spring Arbor University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

47% Acceptance Rate

#9 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 2,396enrollment
  • $22,375net price
  • 970-1135SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Union College
U
Schenectady, NY

Union College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

47% Acceptance Rate

#11 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,107enrollment
  • $41,136net price
  • 1310-1490SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

North Carolina State University at Raleigh
N
Raleigh, NC

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

47% Acceptance Rate

#22 Best Public Universities in America

  • 36,700enrollment
  • $14,852net price
  • 1280-1460SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Oklahoma Baptist University
O
Shawnee, OK

Oklahoma Baptist University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

47% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Private Colleges in Oklahoma

  • 1,399enrollment
  • $24,672net price
  • 960-1160SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Pacific Union College
P
Angwin, CA

Pacific Union College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

48% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 870enrollment
  • $21,841net price
  • 990-1200SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.24Estimated Avg GPA

The University of West Florida
W
Pensacola, FL

The University of West Florida

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

48% Acceptance Rate

#7 Best Public Universities in Florida

  • 13,521enrollment
  • $8,609net price
  • 1050-1230SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

Principia College
P
Elsah, Illinois
 

Principia College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

48% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 323enrollment
  • $18,039net price
  • 970-1300SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.34Avg GPA

Manhattan Christian College
M
Manhattan, KS
 

Manhattan Christian College

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

48% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 132enrollment
  • $22,675net price
  • -SAT range
  • 17-25ACT range
  • 3.24Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1