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

Smith College
S
Northampton, MA

Smith College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

20% Acceptance Rate

#8 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,830enrollment
  • $27,823net price
  • 1408-1540SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Webb Institute
W
Glen Cove, NY

Webb Institute

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

20% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 105enrollment
  • $21,488net price
  • 1390-1525SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Goddard College
G
Plainfield, VT

Goddard College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

20% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 263enrollment
  • $29,344net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
F
HBCU
Tallahassee, FL

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

21% Acceptance Rate

#10 Best Public Universities in Florida

  • 9,265enrollment
  • $15,491net price
  • 1030-1150SAT range
  • 20-24ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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College of the Holy Cross
H
Worcester, MA

College of the Holy Cross

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

21% Acceptance Rate

#10 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 3,035enrollment
  • $35,455net price
  • 1250-1420SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Hillsdale College
H
Hillsdale, Michigan
 

Hillsdale College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

21% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 1,823enrollment
  • $26,030net price
  • 1340-1510SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.93Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 15

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Carleton College
C
Northfield, MN

Carleton College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

22% Acceptance Rate

#1 Best Value in Minnesota

  • 2,069enrollment
  • $29,434net price
  • 1430-1550SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Wake Forest University
W
Winston Salem, NC

Wake Forest University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

22% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 9,121enrollment
  • $27,790net price
  • 1390-1510SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Trine University Regional/Non Traditional Campuses
T
Fort Wayne, IN
 

Trine University Regional/Non Traditional Campuses

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

22% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 8,230enrollment
  • -net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Olin College of Engineering
O
Needham, MA

Olin College of Engineering

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

22% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 402enrollment
  • $40,370net price
  • 1480-1560SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.9Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Johnson University Florida
J
Kissimmee, FL

Johnson University Florida

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

23% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 136enrollment
  • $21,149net price
  • 840-1020SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 2.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Skidmore College
S
Saratoga Springs, NY

Skidmore College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

23% Acceptance Rate

#8 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,776enrollment
  • $32,368net price
  • 1300-1460SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary
B
Jacksonville, TX
 

Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

23% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 95enrollment
  • -net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jul 25

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University of Richmond
R
University of Richmond, VA

University of Richmond

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

23% Acceptance Rate

#2 Best Colleges in Virginia

  • 3,776enrollment
  • $35,263net price
  • 1410-1530SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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United States Coast Guard Academy
C
New London, Connecticut

United States Coast Guard Academy

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

24% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 1,081enrollment
  • -net price
  • 1210-1380SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Florida
F
Gainesville, FL

University of Florida

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

24% Acceptance Rate

#7 Best Public Universities in America

  • 54,814enrollment
  • $11,521net price
  • 1300-1480SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.9Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Grambling State University
G
HBCU
Grambling, LA

Grambling State University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

24% Acceptance Rate

#12 Best Public Universities in Louisiana

  • 5,114enrollment
  • $19,092net price
  • 860-1150SAT range
  • 15-19ACT range
  • 3.01Avg GPA

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Piedmont International University
P
Winston Salem, NC
 

Piedmont International University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

24% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 691enrollment
  • $15,119net price
  • 770-1230SAT range
  • 15-23ACT range
  • 3.07Estimated Avg GPA

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