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

University of California San Diego
C
La Jolla, CA

University of California San Diego

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

25% Acceptance Rate

#9 Best Public Universities in America

  • 42,376enrollment
  • $13,293net price
  • 1270-1480SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.82Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Florida State University
F
Tallahassee, FL

Florida State University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

25% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Colleges in Florida

  • 43,234enrollment
  • $14,903net price
  • 1240-1390SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.7Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Alcorn State University
A
HBCU
Alcorn State, MS

Alcorn State University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

25% Acceptance Rate

#6 Best Public Universities in Mississippi

  • 2,894enrollment
  • $13,155net price
  • 850-998SAT range
  • 15-24ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

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American Musical and Dramatic Academy
A
New York, NY

American Musical and Dramatic Academy

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

25% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 1,511enrollment
  • $46,130net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Villanova University
V
Villanova, PA

Villanova University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

25% Acceptance Rate

#7 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 10,111enrollment
  • $37,946net price
  • 1400-1510SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of California Irvine
C
Irvine, CA

University of California Irvine

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

26% Acceptance Rate

#11 Best Public Universities in America

  • 36,582enrollment
  • $14,647net price
  • 1230-1430SAT range
  • 26-33ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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California Institute of the Arts
C
Valencia, CA

California Institute of the Arts

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

26% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 1,353enrollment
  • $57,288net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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Reed College
R
Portland, OR

Reed College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

27% Acceptance Rate

#1 Best Value in Oregon

  • 1,458enrollment
  • $36,993net price
  • 1300-1510SAT range
  • 29-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

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University of California Santa Barbara
C
Santa Barbara, CA

University of California Santa Barbara

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

28% Acceptance Rate

#18 Best Public Universities in America

  • 26,068enrollment
  • $15,283net price
  • 1230-1460SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.82Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Macalester College
M
Saint Paul, MN

Macalester College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

28% Acceptance Rate

#2 Best Colleges in Minnesota

  • 2,142enrollment
  • $38,571net price
  • 1350-1510SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.81Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Trinity University
T
San Antonio, TX

Trinity University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

28% Acceptance Rate

#2 Best Colleges in Texas

  • 2,694enrollment
  • $32,264net price
  • 1320-1465SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Case Western Reserve University
C
Cleveland, OH

Case Western Reserve University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

29% Acceptance Rate

#1 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 12,266enrollment
  • $41,351net price
  • 1430-1540SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Lehigh University
L
Bethlehem, PA

Lehigh University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

29% Acceptance Rate

#5 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 7,590enrollment
  • $33,289net price
  • 1350-1490SAT range
  • 31-33ACT range
  • 3.81Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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The University of Texas at Austin
T
Austin, TX

The University of Texas at Austin

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

29% Acceptance Rate

#16 Best Public Universities in America

  • 53,082enrollment
  • $18,036net price
  • 1230-1490SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 3.8Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

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Visible Music College
V
Memphis, TN
 

Visible Music College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

29% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 182enrollment
  • $25,502net price
  • 605-1250SAT range
  • 17-21ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
C
San Luis Obispo, CA

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

30% Acceptance Rate

#7 Best Public Universities in California

  • 22,485enrollment
  • $16,888net price
  • 1220-1410SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Shaw University
S
HBCU
Raleigh, NC

Shaw University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

30% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 962enrollment
  • $14,111net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 2.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 30

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Tuskegee University
T
HBCU
Tuskegee, AL

Tuskegee University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

31% Acceptance Rate

#2 Best Private Colleges in Alabama

  • 2,846enrollment
  • $35,126net price
  • 995-1255SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 15

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