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

Florida State University
F
Tallahassee, FL

Florida State University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

25% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Colleges in Florida

  • 44,161enrollment
  • $14,003net price
  • 1210-1370SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.7Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Berea College
B
Berea, KY

Berea College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

25% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 1,433enrollment
  • $2,020net price
  • 1136-1298SAT range
  • 23-27ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 31

Johnson C Smith University
J
HBCU
Charlotte, NC

Johnson C Smith University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

25% Acceptance Rate

#18 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,093enrollment
  • $20,045net price
  • 800-980SAT range
  • 13-18ACT range
  • 2.48Avg GPA

University of California Santa Barbara
C
Santa Barbara, CA

University of California Santa Barbara

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

26% Acceptance Rate

#19 Best Public Universities in America

  • 26,420enrollment
  • $16,874net price
  • 1230-1460SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.82Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

The University of Tampa
T
Tampa, FL

The University of Tampa

Private 4 Year

13 reviews

26% Acceptance Rate

#12 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 10,566enrollment
  • $34,653net price
  • 1070-1240SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

American Musical and Dramatic Academy
A
New York, NY

American Musical and Dramatic Academy

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

26% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 1,480enrollment
  • $48,847net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Skidmore College
S
Saratoga Springs, NY

Skidmore College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

26% Acceptance Rate

#8 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,758enrollment
  • $33,389net price
  • 1300-1460SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

United States Merchant Marine Academy
U
Kings Point, NY

United States Merchant Marine Academy

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

27% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 943enrollment
  • $4,891net price
  • 1150-1330SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Case Western Reserve University
C
Cleveland, OH

Case Western Reserve University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

27% Acceptance Rate

#1 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 12,201enrollment
  • $38,279net price
  • 1410-1540SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Scripps College
S
Claremont, CA

Scripps College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

28% Acceptance Rate

#6 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,099enrollment
  • $43,923net price
  • 1390-1510SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Spelman College
S
HBCU
Atlanta, GA

Spelman College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

28% Acceptance Rate

#5 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 3,102enrollment
  • $37,085net price
  • 1050-1200SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Macalester College
M
Saint Paul, MN

Macalester College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

28% Acceptance Rate

#2 Best Colleges in Minnesota

  • 2,175enrollment
  • $36,095net price
  • 1340-1500SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.81Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus
E
Portales, NM

Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

28% Acceptance Rate

#4 Best Public Universities in New Mexico

  • 5,106enrollment
  • $8,702net price
  • 840-1100SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • 3.23Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 24

Ottawa University Surprise
O
Surprise, Arizona
 

Ottawa University Surprise

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

29% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 1,736enrollment
  • $35,402net price
  • 980-1230SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Tuskegee University
T
HBCU
Tuskegee, AL

Tuskegee University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

30% Acceptance Rate

#2 Best Private Colleges in Alabama

  • 2,570enrollment
  • $35,596net price
  • 970-1215SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 15

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

  • 22,000enrollment
  • $19,184net price
  • 1220-1410SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

Alcorn State University
A
HBCU
Alcorn State, MS

Alcorn State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

30% Acceptance Rate

#8 Best Public Universities in Mississippi

  • 2,933enrollment
  • $14,864net price
  • 903-1115SAT range
  • 15-24ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

Corcoran College of Art and Design
C
Washington, District Of Columbia
 

Corcoran College of Art and Design

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

31% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 906enrollment
  • $29,051net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA