College Acceptance Rates 2026
How hard is it to get into the school you want? Below are acceptance rates for 50 top colleges and universities, updated for the 2026 admission cycle. We also show SAT ranges and whether each school is a Reach, Match, or Safety for typical applicants.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
Most Selective Colleges: Under 10% Acceptance Rate
These are the hardest colleges to get into in America. With acceptance rates below 10%, nearly all applicants are rejected — even those with perfect GPAs and test scores. For most students, these are Reach schools.
| School | Acceptance Rate | SAT Range | Type | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard University Cambridge, MA |
3.5% | 1500–1580 | Private | Reach |
| Stanford University Stanford, CA |
3.9% | 1510–1580 | Private | Reach |
| Columbia University New York, NY |
4.2% | 1490–1570 | Private | Reach |
| Yale University New Haven, CT |
4.5% | 1500–1580 | Private | Reach |
| Brown University Providence, RI |
5.2% | 1500–1570 | Private | Reach |
| Northeastern University Boston, MA |
5.7% | 1460–1550 | Private | Reach |
| University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA |
5.9% | 1500–1570 | Private | Reach |
| Northwestern University Evanston, IL |
7.1% | 1490–1560 | Private | Reach |
| Cornell University Ithaca, NY |
8.2% | 1480–1560 | Private | Reach |
| UCLA Los Angeles, CA |
9.0% | — | Public | Reach |
| New York University (NYU) New York, NY |
9.4% | 1480–1570 | Private | Reach |
Selective Colleges: 10%–30% Acceptance Rate
These schools accept roughly 1 in 5 to 1 in 3 applicants. If your GPA and test scores are above the school's median, you're in Match territory. Below the median, it's a Reach.
| School | Acceptance Rate | SAT Range | Type | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USC Los Angeles, CA |
10.0% | 1440–1550 | Private | Match/Reach |
| Boston University Boston, MA |
10.8% | 1400–1520 | Private | Match/Reach |
| UC Berkeley Berkeley, CA |
11.7% | — | Public | Match/Reach |
| Georgia Tech Atlanta, GA |
16.5% | 1330–1530 | Public | Match/Reach |
| University of Virginia Charlottesville, VA |
16.9% | 1410–1530 | Public | Match/Reach |
| University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI |
17.9% | 1350–1530 | Public | Match/Reach |
| University of Miami Coral Gables, FL |
18.5% | 1330–1470 | Private | Match/Reach |
| University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, NC |
18.7% | 1370–1530 | Public | Match/Reach |
| University of Florida Gainesville, FL |
24.0% | 1300–1480 | Public | Match/Reach |
| UC San Diego La Jolla, CA |
24.5% | — | Public | Match/Reach |
| Florida State University Tallahassee, FL |
25.4% | 1240–1390 | Public | Match/Reach |
| UC Irvine Irvine, CA |
25.6% | — | Public | Match/Reach |
| UC Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA |
27.8% | — | Public | Match/Reach |
| Texas A&M University Austin, TX |
29.1% | 1230–1490 | Public | Match/Reach |
More Accessible Colleges: 30%+ Acceptance Rate
These schools accept a larger share of applicants. If you meet the academic requirements, you have strong odds — making these solid Match or Safety schools for many students.
| School | Acceptance Rate | SAT Range | Type | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clemson University Clemson, SC |
38.0% | 1230–1390 | Public | Match/Safety |
| UC Merced Merced, CA |
39.2% | — | Public | Match/Safety |
| University of South Florida Tampa, FL |
41.0% | 1140–1330 | Public | Match/Safety |
| UC Davis Davis, CA |
41.6% | — | Public | Match/Safety |
| University of Washington Seattle, WA |
42.5% | — | Public | Match/Safety |
| University of Wisconsin Madison Madison, WI |
43.4% | 1360–1510 | Public | Match/Safety |
| University of Illinois Champaign, IL |
43.7% | 1270–1510 | Public | Match/Safety |
| University of Maryland College Park, MD |
44.8% | 1370–1520 | Public | Match/Safety |
| University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN |
46.0% | 1190–1340 | Public | Match/Safety |
| Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY |
49.0% | 1320–1490 | Public | Match/Safety |
| University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA |
49.7% | 1270–1450 | Public | Match/Safety |
| Purdue University West Lafayette, IN |
50.3% | 1190–1460 | Public | Match/Safety |
| Auburn University Auburn, AL |
50.5% | 1240–1380 | Public | Match/Safety |
| Ohio State University Columbus, OH |
50.8% | 1330–1480 | Public | Match/Safety |
| Penn State University University Park, PA |
54.2% | 1220–1400 | Public | Match/Safety |
| Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA |
57.0% | 1240–1420 | Public | Match/Safety |
| UC Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA |
62.5% | — | Public | Match/Safety |
| University of Texas at Austin College Station, TX |
63.2% | 1140–1380 | Public | Match/Safety |
| UC Riverside Riverside, CA |
63.3% | — | Public | Match/Safety |
| University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL |
75.8% | 1170–1400 | Public | Match/Safety |
| Indiana University Bloomington, IN |
80.4% | 1170–1400 | Public | Match/Safety |
| University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO |
83.3% | 1230–1420 | Public | Match/Safety |
| Michigan State University East Lansing, MI |
83.9% | 1150–1350 | Public | Match/Safety |
| University of Arizona Tucson, AZ |
85.7% | 1160–1420 | Public | Match/Safety |
| Arizona State University Tempe, AZ |
90.2% | — | Public | Match/Safety |
What Acceptance Rate Actually Means for You
An acceptance rate tells you one thing: what percentage of applicants got in. It does not tell you whether you will get in. Here's how to use it:
The Reach / Match / Safety Framework
| Category | What It Means | How Many to Apply To |
|---|---|---|
| Reach | Your stats are below the school's median. Acceptance is possible but unlikely. | 2–3 schools |
| Match | Your stats align with the school's admitted student profile. Realistic odds. | 3–4 schools |
| Safety | Your stats are above the school's median. You're very likely to get in. | 2–3 schools |
Why Acceptance Rate Alone Is Misleading
A school with a 5% acceptance rate might seem impossible, but that number includes thousands of unqualified applicants. If your GPA, test scores, and extracurriculars match the school's profile, your personal odds are much higher than 5%.
That's why we show CDS admission factor weights for each school — so you know what they actually care about (GPA? Essays? Extracurriculars?) instead of just the headline number.
Ivy League Acceptance Rates 2026
All eight Ivies at a glance. See full Ivy League comparison →
Explore More
Frequently Asked Questions
What college has the lowest acceptance rate in 2026?
Based on the most recent College Scorecard data, the colleges with the lowest acceptance rates are typically Harvard University (3.5%), MIT (4.7%), and Columbia University (3.9%). These schools reject over 95% of applicants.
Is a low acceptance rate better?
Not necessarily. A low acceptance rate means the school is selective, but selectivity alone doesn't mean it's the right fit for you. A school with a 40% acceptance rate may offer better programs, better ROI, or better financial aid for your situation than a 5% school.
What is a good acceptance rate for college?
There's no single 'good' rate. Under 10% is considered 'most selective' (Reach for nearly everyone). 10-30% is 'selective' (Match if you meet the profile). 30-50% is 'moderately selective.' Above 50% is 'accessible' and typically a Safety school.
Do acceptance rates include early decision?
The acceptance rates shown here are overall rates (combining all admission rounds). Early Decision acceptance rates are typically higher at selective schools — sometimes 2-3x the regular decision rate — because ED applicants demonstrate commitment.