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

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

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Methodist College of Nursing
M
Peoria, IL
 

Methodist College of Nursing

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

31% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 391enrollment
  • $35,461net price
  • 800-1160SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 2.95Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 23

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Kenyon College
K
Gambier, OH

Kenyon College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

31% Acceptance Rate

#2 Best Colleges in Ohio

  • 2,184enrollment
  • $44,470net price
  • 1360-1500SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.84Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Bryn Mawr College
B
Bryn Mawr, PA

Bryn Mawr College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

31% Acceptance Rate

#11 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,666enrollment
  • $39,383net price
  • 1300-1470SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Lafayette College
L
Easton, PA

Lafayette College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

31% Acceptance Rate

#8 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,764enrollment
  • $34,728net price
  • 1340-1490SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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O'More College of Design
O
Franklin, TN

O'More College of Design

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

31% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 157enrollment
  • $26,987net price
  • -SAT range
  • 18-22ACT range
  • 3.78Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 31

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United States Merchant Marine Academy
U
Kings Point, NY

United States Merchant Marine Academy

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

32% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 961enrollment
  • $5,173net price
  • 1140-1300SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Bucknell University
B
Lewisburg, PA

Bucknell University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

32% Acceptance Rate

#9 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 3,892enrollment
  • $38,486net price
  • 1300-1450SAT range
  • 31-33ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Franklin and Marshall College
F
Lancaster, PA

Franklin and Marshall College

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

32% Acceptance Rate

#6 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,911enrollment
  • $37,475net price
  • 1298-1460SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Allen University
A
HBCU
Columbia, SC

Allen University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

32% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 677enrollment
  • $11,058net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

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The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Chicago
C
Chicago, IL
 

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Chicago

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

33% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 1,243enrollment
  • -net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Berea College
B
Berea, KY

Berea College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

33% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 1,487enrollment
  • $4,379net price
  • 1156-1335SAT range
  • 24-27ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 31

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Davis College
D
Johnson City, NY
 

Davis College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

33% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 137enrollment
  • $14,320net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.18Avg GPA

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University of North Carolina School of the Arts
N
Winston-Salem, NC

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

33% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 1,074enrollment
  • $11,163net price
  • 1150-1350SAT range
  • 24-27ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 15

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Art Academy of Cincinnati
A
Cincinnati, OH

Art Academy of Cincinnati

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

33% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 259enrollment
  • $28,899net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Oberlin College
O
Oberlin, OH

Oberlin College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

33% Acceptance Rate

#4 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 2,976enrollment
  • $50,484net price
  • 1370-1510SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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College of William and Mary
W
Williamsburg, VA

College of William and Mary

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

33% Acceptance Rate

#6 Best Public Universities in America

  • 9,762enrollment
  • $20,422net price
  • 1365-1510SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

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Shorter University College of Adult & Professional Programs
S
Atlanta, GA
 

Shorter University College of Adult & Professional Programs

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

33% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 35enrollment
  • $19,526net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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