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

Brandeis University
B
Waltham, MA

Brandeis University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

39% Acceptance Rate

#12 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 5,581enrollment
  • $45,565net price
  • 1370-1530SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Laboure College
L
Boston, MA
 

Laboure College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

39% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 983enrollment
  • -net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

University of Rochester
R
Rochester, NY

University of Rochester

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

39% Acceptance Rate

#10 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 12,197enrollment
  • $39,775net price
  • 1390-1540SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

California State University Long Beach
C
Long Beach, CA

California State University Long Beach

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

40% Acceptance Rate

#11 Best Public Universities in California

  • 38,973enrollment
  • $9,346net price
  • 1020-1240SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

Casa Loma College Los Angeles
C
Sherman Oaks, CA
 

Casa Loma College Los Angeles

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

40% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 415enrollment
  • $14,985net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Pacific Oaks College
P
Pasadena, CA
 

Pacific Oaks College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

40% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 1,068enrollment
  • -net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Connecticut College
C
New London, CT

Connecticut College

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

40% Acceptance Rate

#4 Best Private Colleges in Connecticut

  • 1,948enrollment
  • $43,220net price
  • 1360-1490SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Mount Holyoke College
M
South Hadley, MA

Mount Holyoke College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

40% Acceptance Rate

#10 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,392enrollment
  • $35,765net price
  • 1350-1540SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Mississippi College
M
Clinton, MS

Mississippi College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

40% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Colleges in Mississippi

  • 3,946enrollment
  • $20,874net price
  • 1140-1260SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.56Estimated Avg GPA

Brevard College
B
Brevard, NC

Brevard College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

40% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 759enrollment
  • $24,220net price
  • 965-1155SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.07Avg GPA

Aquinas College
A
Nashville, TN

Aquinas College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

40% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 342enrollment
  • $20,892net price
  • 1100-1370SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

Hampden Sydney College
H
Hampden-Sydney, VA

Hampden Sydney College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

40% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 846enrollment
  • $29,899net price
  • 1040-1310SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Centra College
C
Lynchburg, VA
 

Centra College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

40% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 227enrollment
  • $28,418net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Yeshiva Shaarei Torah of Rockland
Y
Suffern, NY
 

Yeshiva Shaarei Torah of Rockland

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

40% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 183enrollment
  • $13,353net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Loyola Marymount University
L
Los Angeles, CA

Loyola Marymount University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

41% Acceptance Rate

#8 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 10,165enrollment
  • $52,815net price
  • 1300-1460SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.92Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

American University
A
Washington, DC

American University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

41% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Colleges in District Of Columbia

  • 13,885enrollment
  • $41,369net price
  • 1290-1430SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.7Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of Central Florida
C
Orlando, FL

University of Central Florida

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

41% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Public Universities in Florida

  • 68,346enrollment
  • $13,108net price
  • 1200-1360SAT range
  • 25-29ACT range
  • 3.64Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

William Jewell College
W
Liberty, MO

William Jewell College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

41% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 853enrollment
  • $20,108net price
  • 1030-1130SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA