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

Central State University
C
HBCU
Wilberforce, OH

Central State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

46% Acceptance Rate

#12 Best Public Universities in Ohio

  • 3,454enrollment
  • $14,821net price
  • 770-950SAT range
  • 14-18ACT range
  • 2.8Avg GPA

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Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
P
Lancaster, PA
 

Pennsylvania College of Art and Design

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

46% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 323enrollment
  • $30,437net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.13Avg GPA

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The University of Tennessee
T
Knoxville, TN

The University of Tennessee

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

46% Acceptance Rate

#1 Best Public Universities in Tennessee

  • 36,304enrollment
  • $20,885net price
  • 1190-1340SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.66Estimated Avg GPA

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Texas A&M International University
T
Laredo, TX

Texas A&M International University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

46% Acceptance Rate

#15 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 8,536enrollment
  • $3,833net price
  • 920-1130SAT range
  • 16-20ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

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University of Saint Katherine
S
San Marcos, California
 

University of Saint Katherine

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

46% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 262enrollment
  • $32,299net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.43Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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California State University Long Beach
C
Long Beach, CA

California State University Long Beach

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

47% Acceptance Rate

#11 Best Public Universities in California

  • 40,278enrollment
  • $9,731net price
  • 1020-1240SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of San Diego
S
San Diego, CA

University of San Diego

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

47% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 9,110enrollment
  • $37,675net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.95Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 15

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American University
A
Washington, DC

American University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

47% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Colleges in District Of Columbia

  • 13,019enrollment
  • $40,189net price
  • 1300-1450SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.7Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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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

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The College of Idaho
I
Caldwell, ID

The College of Idaho

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

47% Acceptance Rate

#1 Best Private Colleges in Idaho

  • 1,076enrollment
  • $22,602net price
  • 1080-1270SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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Emerson College
E
Boston, MA

Emerson College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

47% Acceptance Rate

#20 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 5,670enrollment
  • $50,703net price
  • 1250-1410SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 20

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Union University
U
Jackson, TN

Union University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

47% Acceptance Rate

#4 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 2,674enrollment
  • $27,191net price
  • 1030-1340SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

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Austin College
A
Sherman, TX

Austin College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

47% Acceptance Rate

#2 Best Value Colleges in Texas

  • 1,136enrollment
  • $24,777net price
  • 1170-1340SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 31

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University of La Verne
L
La Verne, CA

University of La Verne

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

48% Acceptance Rate

#23 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 5,596enrollment
  • $27,216net price
  • 970-1303SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.24Avg GPA

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Warner University
W
Lake Wales, FL
 

Warner University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

48% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 891enrollment
  • $21,471net price
  • 840-1070SAT range
  • 14-20ACT range
  • 3.22Avg GPA

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Newman University
N
Wichita, KS
 

Newman University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

48% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 2,787enrollment
  • $19,315net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

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Bentley University
B
Waltham, MA

Bentley University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

48% Acceptance Rate

#13 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 5,264enrollment
  • $43,858net price
  • 1250-1410SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Minneapolis College of Art and Design
M
Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

48% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 824enrollment
  • $27,031net price
  • 1110-1430SAT range
  • 20-24ACT range
  • 3.29Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

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