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

Kettering College
K
Kettering, OH
 

Kettering College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

34% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 832enrollment
  • $16,398net price
  • -SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

New Hope Christian College
N
Eugene, OR

New Hope Christian College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

34% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 38enrollment
  • $15,863net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Lafayette College
L
Easton, PA

Lafayette College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

34% Acceptance Rate

#7 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,729enrollment
  • $37,186net price
  • 1330-1480SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Brigham Young University Hawaii
B
Laie, HI

Brigham Young University Hawaii

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

34% Acceptance Rate

#1 Best Private Colleges in Hawaii

  • 2,735enrollment
  • $15,835net price
  • 1023-1236SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.47Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Oberlin College
O
Oberlin, OH

Oberlin College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

35% Acceptance Rate

#4 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 2,992enrollment
  • $46,462net price
  • 1360-1530SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Corban University
C
Salem, OR
 

Corban University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

35% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 963enrollment
  • $26,231net price
  • 1003-1165SAT range
  • 21-26ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Dickinson College
D
Carlisle, PA

Dickinson College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

35% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 2,137enrollment
  • $37,610net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Trinity College
T
Hartford, CT

Trinity College

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

36% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Colleges in Connecticut

  • 2,205enrollment
  • $32,704net price
  • 1300-1470SAT range
  • 30-32ACT range
  • 3.8Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 17

College of the Holy Cross
H
Worcester, MA

College of the Holy Cross

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

36% Acceptance Rate

#11 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 3,083enrollment
  • $34,679net price
  • 1260-1430SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

The University of Montana Western
M
Dillon, MT
 

The University of Montana Western

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

36% Acceptance Rate

#4 Best Public Universities in Montana

  • 1,424enrollment
  • $11,584net price
  • 890-1120SAT range
  • 16-21ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

Cleveland Institute of Music
C
Cleveland, OH

Cleveland Institute of Music

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

36% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 341enrollment
  • $29,383net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

Franklin and Marshall College
F
Lancaster, PA

Franklin and Marshall College

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

36% Acceptance Rate

#6 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,990enrollment
  • $31,135net price
  • 1310-1440SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of California Davis
C
Davis, CA

University of California Davis

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

37% Acceptance Rate

#11 Best Public Universities in America

  • 39,679enrollment
  • $17,385net price
  • 1160-1400SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

Baker College of Flint
B
Flint, MI
 

Baker College of Flint

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

37% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 4,106enrollment
  • $13,719net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 10

Lehigh University
L
Bethlehem, PA

Lehigh University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

37% Acceptance Rate

#5 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 7,394enrollment
  • $30,453net price
  • 1340-1490SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.81Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

The New England Conservatory of Music
N
Boston, MA

The New England Conservatory of Music

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

38% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 796enrollment
  • $53,162net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

Occidental College
O
Los Angeles, CA

Occidental College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

39% Acceptance Rate

#9 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,942enrollment
  • $44,853net price
  • 1370-1510SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 10

San Diego State University
S
San Diego, CA

San Diego State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

39% Acceptance Rate

#10 Best Public Universities in California

  • 37,402enrollment
  • $13,017net price
  • 1090-1300SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.82Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30