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

Colorado College
C
Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

16% Acceptance Rate

#1 Best Value in Colorado

  • 2,203enrollment
  • $33,178net price
  • 1260-1480SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.98Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

United States Air Force Academy
A
USAFA, Colorado

United States Air Force Academy

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

16% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 4,085enrollment
  • -net price
  • 1310-1480SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 31

Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus
G
Atlanta, GA

Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

17% Acceptance Rate

#1 Best Public Universities in Georgia

  • 45,296enrollment
  • $17,402net price
  • 1370-1550SAT range
  • 31-35ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

Boston College
B
Chestnut Hill, MA

Boston College

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

17% Acceptance Rate

#7 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 15,287enrollment
  • $30,559net price
  • 1435-1540SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Carleton College
C
Northfield, MN

Carleton College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

17% Acceptance Rate

#1 Best Value in Minnesota

  • 2,059enrollment
  • $31,494net price
  • 1430-1550SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Davidson College
D
Davidson, NC

Davidson College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

17% Acceptance Rate

#2 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,927enrollment
  • $26,704net price
  • 1350-1500SAT range
  • 31-33ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 7

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
N
Chapel Hill, NC

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

17% Acceptance Rate

#16 Best Value Colleges in America

  • 31,705enrollment
  • $10,614net price
  • 1350-1530SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.83Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Rhode Island School of Design
R
Providence, RI

Rhode Island School of Design

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

17% Acceptance Rate

#2 Best Colleges in Rhode Island

  • 2,620enrollment
  • $39,800net price
  • 1340-1525SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.71Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Washington and Lee University
W
Lexington, VA

Washington and Lee University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

17% Acceptance Rate

#1 Best Value in Virginia

  • 2,243enrollment
  • $24,733net price
  • 1410-1533SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.87Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Pitzer College
P
Claremont, CA

Pitzer College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

18% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 1,212enrollment
  • $39,809net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.93Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

University of Michigan
M
Ann Arbor, MI

University of Michigan

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

18% Acceptance Rate

#1 Best Public Universities in America

  • 51,225enrollment
  • $19,318net price
  • 1350-1530SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.88Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

University of Miami
M
Coral Gables, FL

University of Miami

Private 4 Year

14 reviews

19% Acceptance Rate

#1 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 19,402enrollment
  • $36,467net price
  • 1310-1480SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Vassar College
V
Poughkeepsie, NY

Vassar College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

19% Acceptance Rate

#7 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,459enrollment
  • $30,603net price
  • 1430-1535SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

University of Virginia Main Campus
V
Charlottesville, VA

University of Virginia Main Campus

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

19% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Public Universities in America

  • 26,082enrollment
  • $19,469net price
  • 1400-1540SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Olin College of Engineering
O
Needham, MA

Olin College of Engineering

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

19% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 386enrollment
  • $38,502net price
  • 1490-1560SAT range
  • 35-35ACT range
  • 3.9Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Visible Music College
V
Memphis, TN
 

Visible Music College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

20% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 230enrollment
  • $23,636net price
  • 605-1250SAT range
  • 17-21ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

University of California Irvine
C
Irvine, CA

University of California Irvine

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

21% Acceptance Rate

#10 Best Public Universities in America

  • 35,937enrollment
  • $14,033net price
  • 1230-1430SAT range
  • 26-33ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

Hillsdale College
H
Hillsdale, Michigan
 

Hillsdale College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

21% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 1,678enrollment
  • $24,196net price
  • 1360-1520SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.93Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 15