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

Kentucky Mountain Bible College
K
Vancleve, KY
 

Kentucky Mountain Bible College

Private 4 Year

12 reviews

36% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 87enrollment
  • $11,160net price
  • 1090-1170SAT range
  • 21-22ACT range
  • 3.33Avg GPA

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University of Rochester
R
Rochester, NY

University of Rochester

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

36% Acceptance Rate

#9 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 12,160enrollment
  • $40,900net price
  • 1400-1540SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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Trinity Bible College
T
Ellendale, ND
 

Trinity Bible College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

36% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 244enrollment
  • $20,462net price
  • 950-1110SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.27Estimated Avg GPA

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University of Georgia
G
Athens, GA

University of Georgia

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

37% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Colleges in Georgia

  • 41,615enrollment
  • $16,303net price
  • 1160-1390SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Spring Arbor University
S
Spring Arbor, MI
 

Spring Arbor University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

37% Acceptance Rate

#8 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 2,390enrollment
  • $21,720net price
  • 935-1165SAT range
  • 17-25ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

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Connecticut College
C
New London, CT

Connecticut College

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

38% Acceptance Rate

#4 Best Private Colleges in Connecticut

  • 1,995enrollment
  • $42,941net price
  • 1340-1470SAT range
  • 31-33ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Mount Holyoke College
M
South Hadley, MA

Mount Holyoke College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

38% Acceptance Rate

#11 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,330enrollment
  • $35,782net price
  • 1350-1500SAT range
  • 31-33ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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SUNY at Binghamton
B
Vestal, NY

SUNY at Binghamton

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

38% Acceptance Rate

#23 Best Public Universities in America

  • 18,456enrollment
  • $18,860net price
  • 1320-1490SAT range
  • 29-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Cleveland Institute of Music
C
Cleveland, OH

Cleveland Institute of Music

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

38% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 350enrollment
  • $36,001net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

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Clemson University
C
Clemson, SC

Clemson University

Public 4 Year

10 reviews

38% Acceptance Rate

#24 Best Public Universities in America

  • 28,747enrollment
  • $24,408net price
  • 1230-1390SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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Brigham Young University Hawaii
B
Laie, HI

Brigham Young University Hawaii

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

38% Acceptance Rate

#1 Best Private Colleges in Hawaii

  • 2,836enrollment
  • $17,887net price
  • 985-1191SAT range
  • 21-25ACT range
  • 3.47Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science
C
Los Angeles, CA
 

Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

39% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 763enrollment
  • $27,789net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.26Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 30

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CUNY Graduate School and University Center
G
New York, NY

CUNY Graduate School and University Center

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

39% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 9,116enrollment
  • -net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Southwestern University
S
Georgetown, TX

Southwestern University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

39% Acceptance Rate

#7 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 1,457enrollment
  • $30,687net price
  • 1170-1340SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of California Merced
C
Merced, CA

University of California Merced

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

39% Acceptance Rate

#12 Best Public Universities in California

  • 9,147enrollment
  • $13,232net price
  • 960-1140SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Loyola Marymount University
L
Los Angeles, CA

Loyola Marymount University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

40% Acceptance Rate

#8 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 10,256enrollment
  • $54,471net price
  • 1300-1460SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.92Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Occidental College
O
Los Angeles, CA

Occidental College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

40% Acceptance Rate

#9 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,854enrollment
  • $47,113net price
  • 1360-1500SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 10

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University of Central Florida
C
Orlando, FL

University of Central Florida

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

40% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Public Universities in Florida

  • 69,233enrollment
  • $13,110net price
  • 1190-1350SAT range
  • 25-29ACT range
  • 3.64Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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