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

Purdue University North Central Campus
P
Westville, IN
 

Purdue University North Central Campus

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

50% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 6,092enrollment
  • $7,832net price
  • 950-1130SAT range
  • 19-23ACT range
  • 3.19Estimated Avg GPA

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Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary
F
Ankeny, IA
 

Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

50% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 586enrollment
  • $18,288net price
  • 940-1180SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Southern University and A & M College
S
HBCU
Baton Rouge, LA

Southern University and A & M College

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

50% Acceptance Rate

#13 Best Public Universities in Louisiana

  • 7,341enrollment
  • $18,937net price
  • 798-1000SAT range
  • 15-19ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Coppin State University
C
HBCU
Baltimore, MD

Coppin State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

50% Acceptance Rate

#7 Best Public Universities in Maryland

  • 2,101enrollment
  • $7,684net price
  • 860-1040SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 2.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

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Berklee College of Music
B
Boston, MA

Berklee College of Music

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

50% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 8,448enrollment
  • $48,608net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Cleary University
C
Howell, MI
 

Cleary University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

50% Acceptance Rate

#13 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 1,040enrollment
  • $24,965net price
  • 950-1170SAT range
  • 18-19ACT range
  • 3.17Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

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CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
B
New York, NY

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

50% Acceptance Rate

#5 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 19,698enrollment
  • $3,989net price
  • 1210-1410SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Multnomah University
M
Portland, OR
 

Multnomah University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

50% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 532enrollment
  • $23,072net price
  • 1050-1220SAT range
  • 16-28ACT range
  • 3.25Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
P
Pittsburgh, PA

University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

50% Acceptance Rate

#25 Best Public Universities in America

  • 34,525enrollment
  • $24,338net price
  • 1270-1450SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

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Rhodes College
R
Memphis, TN

Rhodes College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

50% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Colleges in Tennessee

  • 1,952enrollment
  • $30,590net price
  • 1290-1490SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.99Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Hampden Sydney College
H
Hampden-Sydney, VA

Hampden Sydney College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

50% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 876enrollment
  • $29,578net price
  • 1060-1230SAT range
  • 22-31ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Whitman College
W
Walla Walla, WA

Whitman College

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

50% Acceptance Rate

#1 Best Private Colleges in Washington

  • 1,544enrollment
  • $41,601net price
  • 1270-1480SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Purdue University Main Campus
P
West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University Main Campus

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

50% Acceptance Rate

#15 Best Public Universities in America

  • 52,905enrollment
  • $12,421net price
  • 1190-1460SAT range
  • 27-34ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

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Messenger College
M
Joplin, TX
 

Messenger College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

50% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 26enrollment
  • $18,221net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 2.9Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

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