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

Reed College
R
Portland, OR

Reed College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

31% Acceptance Rate

#1 Best Value in Oregon

  • 1,534enrollment
  • $33,106net price
  • 1320-1500SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Bryn Mawr College
B
Bryn Mawr, PA

Bryn Mawr College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

31% Acceptance Rate

#11 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,742enrollment
  • $39,072net price
  • 1280-1495SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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

The University of Texas at Austin
T
Austin, TX

The University of Texas at Austin

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

31% Acceptance Rate

#14 Best Public Universities in America

  • 52,384enrollment
  • $17,434net price
  • 1230-1500SAT range
  • 26-33ACT range
  • 3.8Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

Trinity University
T
San Antonio, TX

Trinity University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

31% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Colleges in Texas

  • 2,692enrollment
  • $30,038net price
  • 1310-1470SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Hope International University
H
Fullerton, CA

Hope International University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

32% Acceptance Rate

#32 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,116enrollment
  • $26,146net price
  • 1000-1180SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.26Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 20

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

32% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 1,104enrollment
  • $11,251net price
  • 1115-1350SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 15

Regent University
R
Virginia Beach, VA

Regent University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

32% Acceptance Rate

#15 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 10,337enrollment
  • $17,341net price
  • 1030-1250SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.34Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Yeshiva D'monsey Rabbinical College
Y
Monsey, NY
 

Yeshiva D'monsey Rabbinical College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

32% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 79enrollment
  • $5,054net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Pacific States University
P
Los Angeles, CA
 

Pacific States University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

33% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 17enrollment
  • -net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
F
HBCU
Tallahassee, FL

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

33% Acceptance Rate

#10 Best Public Universities in Florida

  • 9,215enrollment
  • $11,583net price
  • 1010-1150SAT range
  • 19-23ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Methodist College of Nursing
M
Peoria, IL
 

Methodist College of Nursing

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

33% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 456enrollment
  • $35,578net price
  • 800-1160SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 2.95Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 23

Cox College
C
Springfield, MO
 

Cox College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

33% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 852enrollment
  • -net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Bucknell University
B
Lewisburg, PA

Bucknell University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

33% Acceptance Rate

#9 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 3,787enrollment
  • $39,965net price
  • 1310-1470SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

College of William and Mary
W
Williamsburg, VA

College of William and Mary

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

33% Acceptance Rate

#4 Best Public Universities in America

  • 9,654enrollment
  • $25,688net price
  • 1375-1520SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

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

Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences
F
Orlando, FL

Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

34% Acceptance Rate

#6 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 1,610enrollment
  • $27,329net price
  • 1010-1140SAT range
  • 21-24ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

Kenyon College
K
Gambier, OH

Kenyon College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

34% Acceptance Rate

#2 Best Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,885enrollment
  • $43,044net price
  • 1350-1515SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.84Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15