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    Most selective colleges

    The lowest acceptance rates in the United States. Most are reaches for any applicant, regardless of stats.

    Methodology

    Ranked by overall acceptance rate (ascending), based on the most recent IPEDS / Scorecard data. Schools without published acceptance rates are excluded.

    1. 1
      California Institute of TechnologyPasadena, CA
    2. 2
      Stanford UniversityStanford, CA
    3. 3
      Harvard UniversityCambridge, MA
    4. 4
      Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT
    5. 5
      Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew York, NY
    6. 6
      University of ChicagoChicago, IL
    7. 7
      Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridge, MA
    8. 8
      Curtis Institute of MusicPhiladelphia, PA
    9. 9
      Princeton UniversityPrinceton, NJ
    10. 10
      Northeastern UniversityBoston, MA
    11. 11
      Brown UniversityProvidence, RI
    12. 12
      Dartmouth CollegeHanover, NH
    13. 13
      University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA
    14. 14
      Duke UniversityDurham, NC
    15. 15
      Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, TN
    16. 16
      Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD
    17. 17
      Colby CollegeWaterville, ME
    18. 18
      Pomona CollegeClaremont, CA
    19. 19
      Bowdoin CollegeBrunswick, ME
    20. 20
      Washington University of Science and TechnologyAlexandria, VA
    21. 21
      Swarthmore CollegeSwarthmore, PA
    22. 22
      Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL
    23. 23
      Rice UniversityHouston, TX
    24. 24
      Williams CollegeWilliamstown, MA
    25. 25
      Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY
    26. 26
      Barnard CollegeNew York, NY
    27. 27
      University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA
    28. 28
      Amherst CollegeAmherst, MA
    29. 29
      The Juilliard SchoolNew York, NY
    30. 30
      New York UniversityNew York, NY
    31. 31
      United States Naval AcademyAnnapolis, MD
    32. 32
      Claremont McKenna CollegeClaremont, CA
    33. 33
      University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA
    34. 34
      Emory UniversityAtlanta, GA
    35. 35
      Middlebury CollegeMiddlebury, VT
    36. 36
      University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley, CA
    37. 37
      Boston UniversityBoston, MA
    38. 38
      University of Notre DameNotre Dame, IN
    39. 39
      Tufts UniversityMedford, MA
    40. 40
      Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PA
    41. 41
      College of the OzarksPoint Lookout, MO
    42. 42
      Washington University in St LouisSt. Louis, MO
    43. 43
      Haverford CollegeHaverford, PA
    44. 44
      United States Military AcademyWest Point, NY
    45. 45
      Harvey Mudd CollegeClaremont, CA
    46. 46
      Georgetown UniversityWashington, DC
    47. 47
      Bates CollegeLewiston, ME
    48. 48
      Davidson CollegeDavidson, NC
    49. 49
      Hamilton CollegeClinton, NY
    50. 50
      Colgate UniversityHamilton, NY
    51. 51
      Washington and Lee UniversityLexington, VA
    52. 52
      Tulane University of LouisianaNew Orleans, LA
    53. 53
      Webb InstituteGlen Cove, NY
    54. 54
      Wellesley CollegeWellesley, MA
    55. 55
      Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusAtlanta, GA
    56. 56
      United States Air Force AcademyUSAF Academy, CO
    57. 57
      Grinnell CollegeGrinnell, IA
    58. 58
      University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC
    59. 59
      University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MI
    60. 60
      Boston CollegeChestnut Hill, MA
    61. 61
      Wesleyan UniversityMiddletown, CT
    62. 62
      Northeastern University OaklandOakland, CA
    63. 63
      University of Virginia-Main CampusCharlottesville, VA
    64. 64
      Babson CollegeWellesley, MA
    65. 65
      Denison UniversityGranville, OH
    66. 66
      College of the Holy CrossWorcester, MA
    67. 67
      Central Penn CollegeSummerdale, PA
    68. 68
      California Miramar UniversitySan Diego, CA
    69. 69
      Colorado CollegeColorado Springs, CO
    70. 70
      Vassar CollegePoughkeepsie, NY
    71. 71
      Rhode Island School of DesignProvidence, RI
    72. 72
      University of MiamiCoral Gables, FL
    73. 73
      Berea CollegeBerea, KY
    74. 74
      Carleton CollegeNorthfield, MN
    75. 75
      Florida Agricultural and Mechanical UniversityTallahassee, FL
    76. 76
      The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and ArtNew York, NY
    77. 77
      Hillsdale CollegeHillsdale, MI
    78. 78
      Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
    79. 79
      Skidmore CollegeSaratoga Springs, NY
    80. 80
      Wake Forest UniversityWinston-Salem, NC
    81. 81
      Dallas Christian CollegeDallas, TX
    82. 82
      University of RichmondUniversity of Richmond, VA
    83. 83
      United States Coast Guard AcademyNew London, CT
    84. 84
      Citadel Military College of South CarolinaCharleston, SC
    85. 85
      Crown CollegeSaint Bonifacius, MN
    86. 86
      University of FloridaGainesville, FL
    87. 87
      Florida State UniversityTallahassee, FL
    88. 88
      Reed CollegePortland, OR
    89. 89
      Yeshiva Zichron AryehFar Rockaway, NY
    90. 90
      Pitzer CollegeClaremont, CA
    91. 91
      Franklin W Olin College of EngineeringNeedham, MA
    92. 92
      Trinity Bible College and Graduate SchoolEllendale, ND
    93. 93
      Trinity UniversitySan Antonio, TX
    94. 94
      Lehigh UniversityBethlehem, PA
    95. 95
      Inter American University of Puerto Rico-FajardoFajardo, PR
    96. 96
      The University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX
    97. 97
      University of California-San DiegoLa Jolla, CA
    98. 98
      Villanova UniversityVillanova, PA
    99. 99
      Franklin and Marshall CollegeLancaster, PA
    100. 100
      Macalester CollegeSaint Paul, MN