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

York College
Y
York, NE
 

York College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

48% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 585enrollment
  • $20,163net price
  • 845-1060SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.02Avg GPA

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Alfred University
A
Alfred, NY

Alfred University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

48% Acceptance Rate

#34 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,843enrollment
  • $26,127net price
  • 1100-1280SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Gettysburg College
G
Gettysburg, PA

Gettysburg College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

48% Acceptance Rate

#10 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,895enrollment
  • $35,729net price
  • 1240-1460SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Mount Marty College
M
Yankton, SD
 

Mount Marty College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

48% Acceptance Rate

#2 Best Private Colleges in South Dakota

  • 1,314enrollment
  • $23,163net price
  • 810-1050SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.35Avg GPA

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Bennington College
B
Bennington, VT

Bennington College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

48% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 867enrollment
  • $35,108net price
  • 1290-1413SAT range
  • 30-32ACT range
  • 3.51Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Averett University
A
Danville, VA

Averett University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

48% Acceptance Rate

#11 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 1,378enrollment
  • $24,091net price
  • 960-1191SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.07Avg GPA

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Hampton University
H
HBCU
Hampton, VA

Hampton University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

48% Acceptance Rate

#6 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 3,649enrollment
  • $28,576net price
  • 857-1226SAT range
  • 12-24ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Ecclesia College
E
Springdale, AR
 

Ecclesia College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

48% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 138enrollment
  • $24,610net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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University of West Georgia
W
Carrollton, GA
 

University of West Georgia

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

49% Acceptance Rate

#5 Best Public Universities in Georgia

  • 12,728enrollment
  • $14,962net price
  • 930-1130SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

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Millsaps College
M
Jackson, MS

Millsaps College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

49% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 626enrollment
  • $26,739net price
  • 1135-1354SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

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Mississippi College
M
Clinton, MS

Mississippi College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

49% Acceptance Rate

#2 Best Private Colleges in Mississippi

  • 4,087enrollment
  • $21,135net price
  • 1140-1260SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.56Estimated Avg GPA

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Stony Brook University
S
Stony Brook, NY

Stony Brook University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

49% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 25,865enrollment
  • $18,601net price
  • 1320-1490SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.94Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
C
Concord, NC
 

Cabarrus College of Health Sciences

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

49% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 753enrollment
  • $14,344net price
  • 970-1060SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • 3.21Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Providence College
P
Providence, RI

Providence College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

49% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Colleges in Rhode Island

  • 4,635enrollment
  • $46,645net price
  • 1250-1400SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.47Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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St John's College
S
Santa Fe, NM

St John's College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

49% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 447enrollment
  • $28,368net price
  • 1260-1450SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

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Auburn University
A
Auburn University, AL

Auburn University

Public 4 Year

9 reviews

50% Acceptance Rate

#1 Best Public Universities in Alabama

  • 33,015enrollment
  • $24,524net price
  • 1240-1380SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Pepperdine University
P
Malibu, CA

Pepperdine University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

50% Acceptance Rate

#13 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 9,545enrollment
  • $52,216net price
  • 1250-1450SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Quincy University
Q
Quincy, IL

Quincy University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

50% Acceptance Rate

#24 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,280enrollment
  • $17,424net price
  • 1070-1250SAT range
  • 21-25ACT range
  • 3.47Avg GPA

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