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Most Selective Colleges

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Editorial
Oct 9, 2018
10 minute read

College rankings on TheClassroom.com use recent data about four-year colleges from publicly available sources using transparent methodology. This is a ranking of colleges by acceptance rate in ascending order. See if your school is in the ranking!

Most Selective Colleges

Top 20 by Acceptance Rate

Stanford University (4.8%) 4.81/12.87
Harvard University (5.4%) 5.40/12.87
Yale University (6.3%) 6.32/12.87
Princeton University (6.5%) 6.52/12.87
Columbia University in the City of New York (6.8%) 6.83/12.87
University of Chicago (7.9%) 7.94/12.87
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (7.9%) 7.94/12.87
California Institute of Technology (8.1%) 8.07/12.87
Brown University (9.3%) 9.31/12.87
University of Pennsylvania (9.4%) 9.44/12.87
Pomona College (9.4%) 9.44/12.87
Claremont McKenna College (9.4%) 9.44/12.87
Dartmouth College (10.6%) 10.59/12.87
Northwestern University (10.7%) 10.66/12.87
Vanderbilt University (10.7%) 10.75/12.87
Duke University (10.8%) 10.83/12.87
Southern University at New Orleans (11.5%) 11.54/12.87
Swarthmore College (12.8%) 12.80/12.87
Johns Hopkins University (12.8%) 12.84/12.87
Harvey Mudd College (12.9%) 12.87/12.87
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Most Selective Colleges - Complete List

Rank College Acceptance Rate # Students Median Salary
1 Stanford University 4.8% 7,034 $85,700
2 Harvard University 5.4% 7,151 $90,900
3 Yale University 6.3% 5,469 $83,200
4 Princeton University 6.5% 5,251 $80,500
5 Columbia University in the City of New York 6.8% 7,552 $78,200
6 University of Chicago 7.9% 5,967 $65,500
6 Massachusetts Institute of Technology 7.9% 4,476 $94,200
8 California Institute of Technology 8.1% 979 $74,200
9 Brown University 9.3% 6,565 $63,100
10 University of Pennsylvania 9.4% 10,468 $82,400
10 Pomona College 9.4% 1,556 $56,600
10 Claremont McKenna College 9.4% 1,346 $75,000
13 Dartmouth College 10.6% 4,270 $70,000
14 Northwestern University 10.7% 8,298 $65,900
14 Vanderbilt University 10.7% 6,817 $64,500
16 Duke University 10.8% 6,577 $77,900
17 Southern University at New Orleans 11.5% 1,371 $28,200
18 Swarthmore College 12.8% 1,542 $52,500
18 Johns Hopkins University 12.8% 5,621 $69,800
20 Harvey Mudd College 12.9% 829 $74,200
21 Amherst College 13.7% 1,849 $59,700
21 Pitzer College 13.7% 1,029 $47,100
23 Cornell University 14.1% 14,556 $73,600
24 College of the Ozarks 14.2% 1,499 $32,800
25 Tufts University 14.3% 5,435 $66,500
26 Bowdoin College 14.8% 1,801 $58,700
27 Rice University 15.3% 3,836 $64,300
28 Colorado College 16.0% 2,084 $41,900
29 Middlebury College 16.1% 2,506 $55,600
30 Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Metro 16.5% 5,119 $19,100
30 Washington University in St Louis 16.5% 6,915 $66,300
32 University of Southern California 16.6% 18,195 $70,400
33 Barnard College 16.7% 2,461 $56,400
34 Georgetown University 16.8% 7,056 $90,100
35 University of California-Berkeley 16.9% 28,108 $61,800
36 Williams College 17.6% 2,058 $54,100
37 Wesleyan University 17.8% 2,918 $49,200
38 University of California-Los Angeles 18.0% 30,343 $58,700
39 Colby College 18.7% 1,879 $55,000
39 University of Notre Dame 18.7% 8,514 $71,600
41 Davidson College 20.1% 1,796 $54,600
42 Grinnell College 20.2% 1,658 $44,300
43 United States Merchant Marine Academy 20.3% 904 $78,900
44 Haverford College 21.4% 1,268 $56,300
45 Carnegie Mellon University 21.7% 6,069 $81,800
46 American Musical and Dramatic Academy 21.9% 1,565 $26,900
47 Alice Lloyd College 22.2% 572 $31,300
48 Carleton College 22.6% 2,087 $52,600
48 Bates College 22.6% 1,780 $55,700
50 Robert Morris University Illinois 23.1% 2,253 $31,300
51 New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology 23.5% 1,388 $52,900
51 Southwestern Assemblies of God University 23.5% 1,506 $33,200
51 Central Methodist University-College of Graduate and Extended Studies 23.5% 1,032 $34,700
54 Washington and Lee University 23.6% 1,824 $72,300
54 California Institute of the Arts 23.6% 943 $36,500
56 Liberty University 24.4% 27,112 $35,200
57 Babson College 24.6% 2,283 $91,400
58 Florida Memorial University 25.0% 1,231 $25,900
59 Emory University 25.3% 6,714 $61,500
60 Tulane University of Louisiana 25.5% 6,487 $56,200
61 Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus 25.8% 13,815 $75,800
62 American University 25.9% 7,544 $59,200
63 Hamilton College 26.1% 1,868 $59,400
63 Lehigh University 26.1% 5,003 $77,200
65 Fort Valley State University 26.5% 1,998 $28,200
66 Kenyon College 26.6% 1,689 $44,300
67 Vassar College 26.9% 2,405 $51,400
67 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 26.9% 17,869 $54,100
69 Brigham Young University-Hawaii 27.1% 2,419 $41,000
70 Oberlin College 28.0% 2,869 $40,200
71 Lafayette College 28.3% 2,505 $67,500
72 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor 28.6% 27,969 $60,100
72 Wellesley College 28.6% 2,347 $60,100
74 Colgate University 28.8% 2,864 $61,300
75 Northeastern University 28.9% 13,444 $64,000
76 Skidmore College 29.1% 2,643 $47,100
77 Boston University 29.4% 16,628 $62,000
78 California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 29.5% 19,703 $63,100
79 Plaza College 29.7% 712 $22,900
80 University of Virginia-Main Campus 29.9% 15,476 $60,700
80 Scripps College 29.9% 1,030 $49,700
80 Bucknell University 29.9% 3,530 $66,200
83 Howard University 30.0% 5,575 $46,800
84 Wake Forest University 30.3% 4,900 $60,200
85 CUNY Bernard M Baruch College 30.7% 11,288 $55,300
86 Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University 31.1% 6,623 $35,800
86 Boston College 31.1% 9,647 $70,000
88 Reed College 31.3% 1,379 $37,900
89 New York University 31.9% 24,888 $59,600
89 California State University-Long Beach 31.9% 27,953 $47,100
91 Hope International University 32.1% 726 $35,800
92 University of Richmond 32.5% 3,078 $60,700
92 CUNY Lehman College 32.5% 6,600 $41,200
94 Berea College 32.8% 1,616 $31,800
95 Oakland City University 33.1% 540 $34,200
96 Louisiana State University-Alexandria 33.3% 1,850 $33,000
97 Washington Adventist University 33.4% 698 $43,900
97 Brandeis University 33.4% 3,591 $55,300
99 CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice 33.8% 9,831 $43,300
99 Berklee College of Music 33.8% 4,875 $29,100
101 Trinity College 34.0% 2,159 $58,800
102 Rhode Island School of Design 34.1% 1,999 $46,800
103 Corban University 34.6% 973 $36,500
103 Houston Baptist University 34.6% 2,161 $46,600
103 San Diego State University 34.6% 26,790 $48,300
106 Connecticut College 35.1% 1,819 $53,400
107 California State University-Monterey Bay 35.2% 6,226 $42,200
108 Case Western Reserve University 35.4% 4,990 $69,900
109 University of Rochester 35.5% 6,170 $57,500
110 Brenau University 35.6% 1,038 $40,700
111 University of California-San Diego 35.7% 27,386 $58,600
111 University of South Florida-St Petersburg 35.7% 2,739 $41,800
111 Spelman College 35.7% 2,061 $46,800
114 University of California-Santa Barbara 35.8% 21,199 $52,500
115 Greensboro College 36.2% 768 $34,900
116 Franklin and Marshall College 36.4% 2,225 $53,600
117 Huston-Tillotson University 36.5% 917 $31,800
117 College of William and Mary 36.5% 6,209 $55,400
119 Pepperdine University 36.9% 3,222 $61,100
119 Union College 36.9% 2,132 $63,200
121 University of Tulsa 37.0% 3,259 $45,100
122 Macalester College 37.1% 2,108 $45,300
123 Smith College 37.2% 2,503 $44,900
124 Sterling College 37.4% 587 $34,400
125 CUNY Brooklyn College 37.5% 10,198 $43,500
126 Texas Christian University 37.6% 8,608 $49,900
127 University of Miami 37.7% 10,164 $57,800
128 University of South Florida-Sarasota-Manatee 37.8% 1,019 $41,800
129 CUNY Hunter College 37.9% 12,223 $45,100
130 University of Maryland Eastern Shore 38.4% 2,918 $36,200
131 College of the Holy Cross 38.5% 2,689 $65,200
132 Bay State College 38.6% 524 $30,800
133 Stevens Institute of Technology 39.1% 3,108 $87,300
134 Metropolitan College of New York 39.3% 621 $37,800
135 Dillard University 39.4% 1,179 $32,800
136 Coppin State University 39.6% 1,888 $35,000
137 Baylor University 39.7% 14,109 $49,400
138 Bryn Mawr College 39.9% 1,361 $53,100
139 George Washington University 40.2% 10,430 $67,100
140 Colorado School of Mines 40.4% 4,395 $82,100
140 The University of Texas at Austin 40.4% 37,234 $54,900
140 Fashion Institute of Technology 40.4% 7,395 $46,800
140 Andrews University 40.4% 1,371 $38,200
144 Emmanuel College 40.5% 796 $29,800
145 Binghamton University 40.6% 13,185 $59,200
145 University of California-Irvine 40.6% 26,889 $55,100
145 Delaware State University 40.6% 3,593 $34,300
148 Trinity University 40.7% 2,250 $54,600
148 Stony Brook University 40.7% 15,858 $55,100
148 Western Carolina University 40.7% 7,871 $36,200
148 Post University 40.7% 2,566 $39,400
152 The University of West Florida 40.8% 7,153 $36,600
153 Menlo College 40.9% 761 $46,400
153 Barton College 40.9% 903 $35,500
153 Clayton State University 40.9% 3,636 $37,600
156 Virginia Union University 41.0% 1,314 $31,400
156 Marist College 41.0% 4,966 $54,700
156 CUNY York College 41.0% 5,066 $39,200
159 Southwestern Christian University 41.1% 636 $25,800
160 Texas Wesleyan University 41.2% 1,488 $42,000
161 Bowie State University 41.3% 3,939 $46,400
161 Governors State University 41.3% 1,926 $39,500
161 CUNY Queens College 41.3% 11,693 $47,400
164 Alderson Broaddus University 41.4% 934 $43,200
165 FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising-Los Angeles 41.5% 2,349 $35,200
166 Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Barranquitas 41.6% 1,706 $19,100
167 Bryan College-Dayton 41.8% 889 $34,900
167 Claflin University 41.8% 1,873 $28,100
169 Stillman College 41.9% 579 $27,200
169 University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 41.9% 2,502 $26,700
171 Central State University 42.0% 1,601 $24,400
172 Brevard College 42.2% 693 $29,100
173 University of California-Davis 42.3% 28,564 $56,300
174 Belhaven University 42.6% 1,331 $35,700
174 Texas Lutheran University 42.6% 1,212 $44,200
174 Gettysburg College 42.6% 2,378 $53,400
177 Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon 42.7% 3,772 $19,100
178 St Lawrence University 42.9% 2,345 $46,500
178 State University of New York at New Paltz 42.9% 6,198 $43,700
180 Dallas Baptist University 43.1% 2,408 $42,500
181 Dickinson College 43.2% 2,376 $54,800
182 Villanova University 43.5% 6,490 $74,500
182 SUNY at Purchase College 43.5% 3,673 $35,800
182 Spring Hill College 43.5% 1,367 $42,400
185 Warner University 43.6% 835 $39,200
185 Denison University 43.6% 2,259 $48,400
185 Sewanee-The University of the South 43.6% 1,718 $40,600
188 The College of New Rochelle 43.7% 2,490 $34,400
189 Northwestern Oklahoma State University 43.8% 1,424 $35,700
190 Pfeiffer University 44.1% 739 $35,900
191 LeTourneau University 44.2% 1,262 $47,700
192 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 44.3% 6,246 $77,900
193 University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 44.4% 29,566 $49,800
194 St Olaf College 44.8% 2,990 $47,300
195 Universidad Central de Bayamon 44.9% 1,055 $18,700
196 Southwestern University 45.0% 1,464 $50,000
197 Augsburg University 45.1% 2,066 $47,300
197 Grambling State University 45.1% 3,598 $28,000
199 Fordham University 45.2% 8,763 $57,400
200 Johnson C Smith University 45.3% 1,284 $28,300
200 AmeriTech College-Draper 45.3% 506 $26,800
200 Southern Virginia University 45.3% 756 $34,900
200 University of Washington-Seattle Campus 45.3% 28,380 $54,800
204 Faulkner University 45.4% 1,779 $35,900
204 CUNY City College 45.4% 10,067 $45,800
206 Florida Southern College 45.5% 2,323 $39,300
207 Occidental College 45.8% 1,952 $49,700
208 Southeastern University 45.9% 3,888 $33,200
208 Alabama State University 45.9% 4,368 $26,700
208 La Sierra University 45.9% 1,780 $45,100
208 University of Florida 45.9% 31,014 $53,100
212 Texas A & M University-Commerce 46.1% 6,015 $37,600
213 Bentley University 46.3% 4,140 $80,600
214 Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo 46.5% 3,296 $19,100
214 Missouri Valley College 46.5% 1,329 $33,400
214 Pacific Union College 46.5% 1,286 $50,200
217 Webster University 46.6% 2,296 $41,100
217 University of South Florida-Main Campus 46.6% 24,013 $41,800
217 Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla 46.6% 3,355 $19,100
220 Brescia University 46.8% 711 $37,400
221 Rust College 46.9% 872 $22,900
221 Eastern Illinois University 46.9% 5,133 $40,100
223 Johnson University 47.0% 690 $28,900
224 Catawba College 47.1% 1,243 $38,300
225 Washington & Jefferson College 47.3% 1,386 $51,600
226 College for Creative Studies 47.4% 1,143 $40,200
227 North Carolina State University at Raleigh 47.5% 20,951 $49,300
228 Limestone College 47.6% 2,156 $36,700
229 University of Mount Olive 47.7% 1,447 $37,000
230 Livingstone College 47.8% 1,188 $21,400
231 California State University-Dominguez Hills 47.9% 9,320 $43,600
232 McMurry University 48.0% 932 $38,400
233 University of La Verne 48.1% 3,851 $48,900
233 University of Maryland-College Park 48.1% 26,350 $61,700
233 Emerson College 48.1% 3,733 $43,700
233 University of Houston-Victoria 48.1% 1,586 $39,200
237 California State University-Fullerton 48.2% 27,994 $44,500
237 California State University-Northridge 48.2% 29,104 $43,400
239 Muhlenberg College 48.3% 2,318 $55,300
239 The University of Tampa 48.3% 7,124 $45,800
239 Santa Clara University 48.3% 5,353 $69,600
242 Oakwood University 48.4% 1,626 $32,200
242 Birmingham Southern College 48.4% 1,284 $45,600
242 Graceland University-Lamoni 48.4% 1,167 $37,400
242 Worcester Polytechnic Institute 48.4% 4,275 $82,600
246 University of Connecticut 48.8% 18,655 $55,800
246 University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma 48.8% 714 $32,300
248 The College of New Jersey 48.9% 6,496 $56,200
248 Shaw University 48.9% 1,604 $27,100
248 Cumberland University 48.9% 1,265 $38,300
248 Southern Methodist University 48.9% 6,296 $57,300
252 University of Alaska Southeast 49.0% 659 $36,800
252 Kentucky State University 49.0% 1,049 $28,600
252 Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Guayama 49.0% 1,443 $19,100
252 Washington College 49.0% 1,458 $45,300
256 Jacksonville University 49.2% 2,113 $45,600
256 University of St Francis 49.2% 1,322 $47,600
258 University of Baltimore 49.4% 1,995 $55,100
258 University of Saint Mary 49.4% 648 $37,100
260 Mississippi College 49.5% 2,721 $38,400
260 Bluffton University 49.5% 728 $37,600
262 Albany State University 49.7% 2,194 $31,500
262 Concordia University-Chicago 49.7% 1,357 $39,000
262 Webber International University 49.7% 628 $33,000
265 Coe College 49.9% 1,344 $44,100
266 Southwestern Adventist University 50.0% 670 $39,200
266 Tuskegee University 50.0% 2,346 $35,300
266 University of Central Florida 50.0% 38,508 $43,300
269 Ottawa University-Ottawa 50.1% 621 $40,100
269 Florida International University 50.1% 26,312 $44,200
271 Lincoln Memorial University 50.2% 1,189 $36,600
272 Lane College 50.3% 1,356 $23,300
272 Spalding University 50.3% 920 $43,700
274 Tarleton State University 50.4% 8,059 $41,600
275 Davis & Elkins College 50.5% 771 $35,600
275 Bacone College 50.5% 935 $31,700
275 Clemson University 50.5% 17,883 $50,900
278 Yeshiva University 50.7% 2,628 $55,900
279 Savannah State University 50.8% 4,132 $31,000
280 Abilene Christian University 50.9% 3,562 $41,400
280 East Texas Baptist University 50.9% 1,177 $38,900
280 Virginia Military Institute 50.9% 1,713 $63,200
283 William Carey University 51.0% 1,648 $34,700
283 SUNY College at Plattsburgh 51.0% 4,822 $40,300
285 Whitman College 51.1% 1,453 $46,600
285 William Jewell College 51.1% 977 $44,200
285 University of Louisiana at Lafayette 51.1% 12,876 $38,300
285 Albright College 51.1% 2,284 $44,700
289 Brigham Young University-Provo 51.2% 28,012 $56,800
289 Missouri Baptist University 51.2% 1,440 $34,600
291 SUNY College of Technology at Delhi 51.3% 2,574 $36,500
292 University of San Diego 51.4% 5,499 $59,300
292 King University 51.4% 2,120 $42,100
292 Point University 51.4% 1,366 $32,800
295 Texas Southern University 51.5% 5,776 $30,500
296 Augustana College 51.6% 2,523 $48,500
297 Sarah Lawrence College 51.8% 1,417 $39,900
297 Tougaloo College 51.8% 812 $25,900
297 MidAmerica Nazarene University 51.8% 1,001 $40,800
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