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Home - Academics - List of Universities and Colleges with Lowest Acceptance Rates

Academics

List of Universities and Colleges with Lowest Acceptance Rates

Students Scope January 8, 2022

There are 3 basic things students need to consider when seeking admission into university or college in the US. These are:

  • Acceptance Rate
  • Yield/Enrollment Rate.
  • GPA Score
  • SAT/ACT

These factors are very critical to students’ success at being admitted into universities. Although minimum requirements vary from university to another University, in terms of GPA score, SAT/ACT, one can determine the average across many different universities.

Contents

  • 1 What is the Acceptance Rate?
  • 2 What is Enrollment Rate?
  • 3 Universities  & Colleges with Lowest Acceptance Rates.
  • 4 Benefits of Attending Universities or Colleges with Lowest Acceptance Rates
    • 4.1 1. Career Opportunities
    • 4.2 2. Salary Benefits
  • 5 How to get into a university or College with low acceptance rates
    • 5.1 1. High GPA
    • 5.2 2. Good ACT or SAT scores
    • 5.3 3. Show Leadership Skills
    • 5.4 3. Write a good essay
    • 5.5 4. Get a professional recommendation
  • 6 FAQ on Universities and Colleges with Low Acceptance Rates
    • 6.1 Which university is the hardest to get into?
    • 6.2 How can I get accepted into top universities in the US?

What is the Acceptance Rate?

An acceptance rate is the percentage of applicants who are accepted to a university or college. The acceptance rate is determined based on the number of students admitted compared to the number of students who actually submit applications for that particular year.

There are universities or colleges with a very low acceptance rate, medium-high, and there are some with very high acceptance rates. 

Usually, institutions with low acceptance rates are highly competitive and selective in admission processes.

However, these Universities or colleges with low acceptance rates have their benefits over those with high acceptance rate.

What is Enrollment Rate?

This is the number of students that currently attend a school or a course. The enrollment process is completed after a student is granted admission to a particular university/college.

A university’s or college’s yield rate is the percentage of people who accepted their offers of acceptance. In other words, the percentage of people who chose to enroll in a university or college after they have been offered an acceptance letter. E.g, if a university had 10,000 applicants and accepted 1,000, its acceptance rate would be 10%.

The table below comprises the top universities and colleges in the United States with the lowest acceptance rate. Below the table are benefits you will find in low acceptance rate universities or colleges.

Universities  & Colleges with Lowest Acceptance Rates.

School NameLocationAcceptance Rate
Curtis Institute of MusicPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania4.2%
Stanford UniversityStanford, California4.8%
Harvard UniversityCambridge, Massachusetts5.4%
Juilliard SchoolNew York City, New York6.2%
Yale UniversityNew Haven, Connecticut6.3%
Princeton UniversityPrinceton, New Jersey6.5%
Columbia UniversityNew York City, New York6.8%
Alice Lloyd CollegePippa Passes, Kentucky7.1%
University of ChicagoChicago, Illinois7.9%
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)Cambridge, Massachusetts7.9%
Top 10
California Institute of TechnologyPasadena, California8.1%
United States Naval AcademyAnnapolis, Maryland9%
Swarthmore CollegeSwarthmore, Pennsylvania9%
Brown UniversityProvidence, Rhode Island9.3%
Pomona CollegeClaremont, California9.4%
University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania9.4%
Claremont McKenna CollegeClaremont, California9.4%
United States Military AcademyWest Point, New York10%
Franklin W. Olin College of EngineeringNeedham, Massachusetts10.2%
Dartmouth CollegeHanover, New Hampshire10.6%
Top 20
Northwestern UniversityEvanston, Illinois10.7%
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Tennessee10.7%
Duke UniversityDurham, North Carolina10.8%
Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, Maryland11.8%
Colby CollegeWaterville, Maine12.1%
Tulane UniversityNew Orleans, Los Angeles13%
Harvey Mudd CollegeClaremont, California12.9%
Pitzer CollegeClaremont, California13.7%
Amherst CollegeAmherst, Massachusetts13.7%
Cornell UniversityIthaca, New York14.1%
Top 30
College of the OzarksPoint Lookout, Missouri14.2%
Bowdoin CollegeBrunswick, Maine14.8%
Cooper UnionNew York City, New York15.1%
Rice UniversityHouston, Texas15.1%
University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley, California16%
Mississippi Valley State UniversityItta Bena, Mississippi16.2%
United States Air Force AcademyUSAF, Colorado16.6%
Washington University in St. LouisSt. Louis, Missouri17.1%
Middlebury College Middlebury, Vermont17.3%
Tufts UniversityMedford, Massachusetts17.3%
Top 40
Georgetown UniversityWashington, DC17.4%
Rust CollegeHolly Springs, Mississippi17.6%
Colorado CollegeColorado Springs, Colorado18%
University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, California18%
United States Coast Guard AcademyNew London, Connecticut18.1%
University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA)Los Angeles, California18.5%
Williams CollegeWilliamstown, Massachusetts19.4%
Washington and Lee UniversityLexington, Virginia19.6%
Liberty UniversityLynchburg, Virginia20.3%
Florida Memorial UniversityMiami, Florida20.5%
Top 50
New York UniversityNew York City, New York21%
University of Notre DameNotre Dame, Indiana21.5%
Davidson CollegeDavidson, North Carolina21.7%
Missouri Valley CollegeMarshall, Missouri22.2%
United States Merchant Marine AcademyKings Point, New York22.4%
Carleton CollegeNorthfield, Minnesota22.8%
Vassar CollegePoughkeepsie, New York23.5%
Barnard CollegeNew York, New York23.7%
Wesleyan UniversityMiddletown, Connecticut23.9%
Fort Valley State UniversityFort Valley, Georgia24.2%
Top 60
Art Academy of CincinnatiCincinnati, Ohio24.3%
Robert Morris UniversityChicago, Illinois24.4%
Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, Pennsylvania24.6%
Haverford CollegeHaverford, Pennsylvania24.7%
Kenyon CollegeGambier, Ohio25.1%
Bates CollegeJackson State UniversityLewiston, MaineJackson, Mississippi25.4%
Colgate UniversityHamilton, New York26.1%
Warner UniversityLake Wales, Florida26.2%
Babson CollegeWellesley, Massachusetts26.4%
Hamilton CollegeClinton, New York26.4%
Top 70
Emory UniversityAtlanta, Georgia26.8%
Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, Ohio27%
Lincoln UniversityLincoln University, Pennsylvania27.1%
Edward Waters CollegeJacksonville, Florida27.3%
Scripps CollegeClaremont, California27.4%
California Institute of ArtsValencia, California27.7%
CUNY–Baruch CollegeNew York City, New York28%
Grinnell CollegeGrinnell, Iowa28%
College of New RochelleNew Rochelle, New York28.5%
University of North Carolina–Chapel HillChapel Hill, North Carolina28.5%
Top 80
CUNY–Lehman CollegeBronx, New York29%
University of VirginiaCharlottesville, Virginia29%
Hampton UniversityHampton, Virginia29.1%
Lafayette CollegeEaston, Pennsylvania29.8%
Chicago State UniversityChicago, Illinois30%
Calumet College of St. JosephWhiting, Indiana30.3%
Wellesley CollegeWellesley, Massachusetts30.5%
Bucknell UniversityLewisburg, Pennsylvania30.7%
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, California30.9%
Hope International UniversityFullerton, California31%
Top 90
Wilson CollegeChambersburg, Pennsylvania31.4%
Southwestern Adventist UniversityKeene, Texas31.5%
University of RichmondUniversity of Richmond, Virginia31.9%
Northeastern UniversityBoston, Massachusetts32%
University of Michigan–Ann ArborAnn Arbor, Michigan32.3%
Ohio Valley UniversityVienna, West Virginia32.5%
Oberlin CollegeOberlin, Ohio32.7%
College of William and MaryWilliamsburg, Virginia33%
Trinity CollegeHartford, Connecticut33%
Webb InstituteGlen Cove, New York33%
Top 100

Benefits of Attending Universities or Colleges with Lowest Acceptance Rates

Students may find it difficult to gain admission into universities with low acceptance rate but there are many benefits that come with it that’s worth the time, energy and commitment in the course of the admission process.

These institutions are highly ranked, topmost prestigious schools. The prestige follows their graduates everywhere they find themselves across the world.

Below are some of the benefits you will enjoy if you are admitted into one of these schools.

1. Career Opportunities

This includes:

  • Networking: opportunity to network with the institution’s great alumni members who work in reputable organizations across the states.
  • Recommendations: Recommendations from great alumni who are professionals in top universities can be an advantage when applying for scholarships, contract offers and job offers.

2. Salary Benefits

Most top organizations only go after candidates with excellent academic performances,l. Also, one of the things that impress and draw the attention of hiring managers is the quality and excellent record the school has; something you can almost always find in high standard institutions.

Such companies hire the best and also prepare competitive salary structures. Graduates from high prestige schools often get the best of the jobs in the labour market with better pay.

How to get into a university or College with low acceptance rates

Below are the basic requirements that can increase your chances of getting accepted into any of the above mentioned universities or colleges

1. High GPA

GPA is vital if you want to get admission into the best schools having the lowest acceptance rate in the US.

A high cumulative GPA score can increase your chances of getting admission faster than any other thing.

2. Good ACT or SAT scores

Not all schools in the United States make SAT/ACT scores compulsory. But the majority of the top institutions (in the table above) do require a certain range of SAT or ACT scores. To increase your chances, aim at a minimum score that’s average.

3. Show Leadership Skills

Many schools want to build future leaders and showing that trait right from high school is an advantage and can improve your chances of getting admitted into the top university of your choice.

3. Write a good essay

Although not all schools in the US require an essay, the majority of the high ranked universities and colleges will ask you to forward an essay.

4. Get a professional recommendation

Seek recommendations from professionals relevant to your field of study; this could be your project supervisor, class adviser, or head of the department.

FAQ on Universities and Colleges with Low Acceptance Rates

Which university is the hardest to get into?

Most times, universities and colleges that are hard to enter fall among the institutions with the lowest acceptance rate. These schools usually have low enrollment rates or yield rates and are very selective.

How can I get accepted into top universities in the US?

  • Prepare your mind right from high school.
  • Get good grades and maintain them through your high school. 
  • Participate in community services and try to play a leadership role as many times as you can. 
  • Volunteer for organizations if you can.
  • Lastly, get involved in extracurricular activities.
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About The Author

Students Scope

Oladoyin Falana is a Digital Marketing and SEO Specialist, and an IT business developer. He is committed to problem-solving and empowering young students and entrepreneurs in identifying opportunities and resources to help them in their studies and businesses.

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