2022 Tightest Colleges To Admit Rankings
At a Glance
The acceptance rate is the percentage of students who are allowed to admitted. It is calculated by dividing the number of accepted students by the number of applicants. The "admitted" does not mean that all admitted students would enroll to school. An admitted student may or may not enroll to school and the term "Yield", also known as enrollment rate, is used to represent the percentage of enrolled students over admitted students.
Suppose that 1,500 students have applied, 500 students have allowed to admit, and finally 200 students have enrolled to a school. In this case, the acceptance rate is 33.33% (500 / 1,500 * 100) and the yield (enrollment rate is ) 40% (200 / 500 * 100).
In general, the lower the acceptance rate, the harder it is admitted to school.
In fact, the acceptance rate of most top ranked schools is low and the schools tend to keep their acceptance rate low.
Harvard University has the tightest acceptance rate (5.0065%) and Stanford University has the second lowest rate (5.1938%) based on academic year 2019-2020 admission data.
Below table ranks and compares the Tightest Colleges To Admit having lowest acceptance rate. For the acceptance rate rankings, we only include 4-year colleges that more than 5,000 students have applied to.
Tightest Colleges To Admit Comparison Table
| Rank | College Name | Applicants | Admitted | Enrolled | Acceptance Rate | Yield | Tuition & Fees | Student Population | SAT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard University Cambridge, MA | 40,248 | 2,015 | 1,407 | 5.01% | 69.83% | $53,968 | 30,391 | 1,520 |
| 2 | Stanford University Stanford, CA | 45,227 | 2,349 | 1,606 | 5.19% | 68.37% | $56,169 | 15,953 | 1,495 |
| 3 | Princeton University Princeton, NJ | 32,835 | 1,848 | 1,154 | 5.63% | 62.45% | $48,502 | 7,853 | 1,510 |
| 4 | Yale University New Haven, CT | 35,220 | 2,299 | 1,264 | 6.53% | 54.98% | $57,700 | 12,060 | 1,520 |
| 5 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY | 40,462 | 2,695 | 1,521 | 6.66% | 56.44% | $60,532 | 30,135 | 1,515 |
| 6 | California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA | 8,007 | 536 | 225 | 6.69% | 41.98% | $56,862 | 2,240 | 1,555 |
| 7 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA | 20,075 | 1,457 | 1,070 | 7.26% | 73.44% | $53,450 | 11,254 | 1,545 |
| 8 | University of Chicago Chicago, IL | 34,350 | 2,510 | 1,847 | 7.31% | 73.59% | $59,298 | 17,834 | 1,535 |
| 9 | Brown University Providence, RI | 36,793 | 2,822 | 1,756 | 7.67% | 62.23% | $60,584 | 9,948 | 1,500 |
| 10 | Duke University Durham, NC | 39,639 | 3,068 | 1,580 | 7.74% | 51.50% | $57,633 | 16,172 | 1,520 |
| 11 | Pomona College Claremont, CA | 10,388 | 895 | 399 | 8.62% | 44.58% | $54,774 | 1,475 | 1,465 |
| 12 | United States Military Academy West Point, NY | 14,969 | 1,294 | 1,056 | 8.64% | 81.61% | - | 4,536 | 1,325 |
| 13 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | 42,205 | 3,789 | 2,321 | 8.98% | 61.26% | $60,042 | 26,552 | 1,515 |
| 14 | Swarthmore College Swarthmore, PA | 11,630 | 1,054 | 374 | 9.06% | 35.48% | $54,456 | 1,437 | 1,468 |
| 15 | United States Naval Academy Annapolis, MD | 15,699 | 1,426 | 1,194 | 9.08% | 83.73% | - | 4,594 | 1,340 |
| 16 | Bowdoin College Brunswick, ME | 9,402 | 861 | 464 | 9.16% | 53.89% | $56,350 | 1,777 | - |
| 17 | Dartmouth College Hanover, NH | 21,392 | 1,972 | 1,057 | 9.22% | 53.60% | $59,458 | 6,292 | 1,500 |
| 18 | Northwestern University Evanston, IL | 39,263 | 3,654 | 1,901 | 9.31% | 52.03% | $58,701 | 22,603 | 1,490 |
| 19 | Colby College Waterville, ME | 13,922 | 1,430 | 566 | 10.27% | 39.58% | $59,430 | 2,155 | 1,450 |
| 20 | Cornell University Ithaca, NY | 51,500 | 5,514 | 3,249 | 10.71% | 58.92% | $59,282 | 23,620 | 1,470 |
| 21 | Rice University Houston, TX | 23,455 | 2,555 | 993 | 10.89% | 38.87% | $51,107 | 7,643 | 1,515 |
| 22 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD | 30,115 | 3,330 | 1,405 | 11.06% | 42.19% | $54,160 | 28,890 | 1,515 |
| 23 | Tulane University of Louisiana New Orleans, LA | 43,892 | 4,877 | 1,801 | 11.11% | 36.93% | $58,852 | 13,927 | 1,420 |
| 24 | Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN | 36,646 | 4,259 | 1,698 | 11.62% | 39.87% | $54,158 | 13,537 | 1,520 |
| 25 | Amherst College Amherst, MA | 10,603 | 1,254 | 434 | 11.83% | 34.61% | $60,890 | 1,745 | 1,495 |
| 26 | Claremont McKenna College Claremont, CA | 5,306 | 708 | 315 | 13.34% | 44.49% | $56,475 | 1,264 | 1,415 |
| 27 | United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO | 10,747 | 1,443 | 1,132 | 13.43% | 78.45% | - | 4,307 | 1,325 |
| 28 | Colorado College Colorado Springs, CO | 10,257 | 1,395 | 539 | 13.60% | 38.64% | $60,864 | 2,050 | - |
| 29 | Barnard College New York, NY | 9,411 | 1,280 | 690 | 13.60% | 53.91% | $57,479 | 2,744 | 1,434 |
| 30 | Bates College Lewiston, ME | 7,696 | 1,085 | 479 | 14.10% | 44.15% | $57,353 | 1,876 | - |
| 31 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 108,870 | 15,602 | 6,386 | 14.33% | 40.93% | $43,003 | 44,589 | 1,415 |
| 32 | Williams College Williamstown, MA | 8,744 | 1,322 | 482 | 15.12% | 36.46% | $50,450 | 1,987 | 1,480 |
| 33 | Washington University in St Louis Saint Louis, MO | 27,949 | 4,477 | 1,804 | 16.02% | 40.29% | $56,893 | 15,449 | 1,520 |
| 34 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA | 59,712 | 9,618 | 3,460 | 16.11% | 35.97% | $60,275 | 46,287 | 1,435 |
| 35 | Tufts University Medford, MA | 23,127 | 3,770 | 1,615 | 16.30% | 42.84% | $60,862 | 12,219 | 1,455 |
| 36 | Georgetown University Washington, DC | 21,190 | 3,561 | 1,592 | 16.81% | 44.71% | $57,928 | 19,371 | 1,465 |
| 37 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA | 26,189 | 4,524 | 1,637 | 17.27% | 36.18% | $58,485 | 13,519 | 1,510 |
| 38 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | 88,062 | 15,390 | 6,117 | 17.48% | 39.75% | $44,066 | 42,327 | 1,420 |
| 39 | Hamilton College Clinton, NY | 7,443 | 1,370 | 438 | 18.41% | 31.97% | $58,510 | 1,902 | 1,445 |
| 40 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN | 21,253 | 4,035 | 2,193 | 18.99% | 54.35% | $57,699 | 12,809 | 1,475 |
| 41 | Emory University Atlanta, GA | 28,211 | 5,407 | 1,344 | 19.17% | 24.86% | $53,868 | 13,997 | 1,455 |
| 42 | Grinnell College Grinnell, IA | 8,137 | 1,566 | 365 | 19.25% | 23.31% | $56,680 | 1,493 | 1,446 |
| 43 | Davidson College Davidson, NC | 5,621 | 1,124 | 520 | 20.00% | 46.26% | $55,000 | 1,983 | 1,380 |
| 44 | Boston University Boston, MA | 61,007 | 12,254 | 2,914 | 20.09% | 23.78% | $58,072 | 32,718 | 1,405 |
| 45 | Wellesley College Wellesley, MA | 6,581 | 1,343 | 580 | 20.41% | 43.19% | $58,448 | 2,280 | 1,435 |
| 46 | Northeastern University Boston, MA | 64,459 | 13,199 | 3,128 | 20.48% | 23.70% | $55,452 | 22,905 | 1,475 |
| 47 | Wesleyan University Middletown, CT | 12,632 | 2,640 | 720 | 20.90% | 27.27% | $59,416 | 3,053 | - |
| 48 | New York University New York, NY | 80,210 | 16,918 | 6,701 | 21.09% | 39.61% | $54,880 | 52,775 | 1,455 |
| 49 | Carleton College Northfield, MN | 6,892 | 1,460 | 453 | 21.18% | 31.03% | $59,352 | 1,940 | 1,425 |
| 50 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, GA | 40,852 | 8,719 | 3,260 | 21.34% | 37.39% | $33,964 | 39,771 | 1,450 |
| 51 | Middlebury College Middlebury, VT | 9,174 | 2,022 | 602 | 22.04% | 29.77% | $58,316 | 2,669 | 1,430 |
| 52 | University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VA | 40,879 | 9,230 | 3,785 | 22.58% | 41.01% | $53,627 | 25,628 | 1,415 |
| 53 | Emory University-Oxford College Oxford, GA | 16,687 | 4,034 | 489 | 24.17% | 12.12% | $53,868 | 947 | 1,435 |
| 54 | Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY | 8,663 | 2,126 | 588 | 24.54% | 27.66% | $61,010 | 2,435 | 1,440 |
| 55 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | 41,773 | 10,445 | 4,445 | 25.00% | 42.56% | $36,159 | 30,092 | 1,385 |
| 56 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI | 65,021 | 16,974 | 6,879 | 26.11% | 40.53% | $54,097 | 47,907 | 1,430 |
| 57 | Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA | 29,382 | 7,752 | 2,408 | 26.38% | 31.06% | $60,202 | 14,934 | 1,415 |
| 58 | Babson College Wellesley, MA | 6,501 | 1,753 | 603 | 26.97% | 34.40% | $54,144 | 3,340 | 1,360 |
| 59 | Colgate University Hamilton, NY | 8,583 | 2,358 | 765 | 27.47% | 32.44% | $60,015 | 3,054 | 1,385 |
| 60 | Denison University Granville, OH | 9,079 | 2,558 | 605 | 28.17% | 23.65% | $56,680 | 2,258 | 1,325 |
| 61 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA | 97,938 | 29,301 | 5,765 | 29.92% | 19.68% | $43,507 | 36,303 | 1,330 |
| 62 | Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH | 29,084 | 8,804 | 1,305 | 30.27% | 14.82% | $52,948 | 11,465 | 1,430 |
| 63 | Purdue University Northwest Hammond, IN | 5,301 | 1,605 | 1,099 | 30.28% | 68.47% | $14,223 | 9,363 | 1,055 |
| 64 | Villanova University Villanova, PA | 22,083 | 6,770 | 1,700 | 30.66% | 25.11% | $57,460 | 11,032 | 1,390 |
| 65 | University of Richmond University of Richmond, VA | 12,060 | 3,727 | 811 | 30.90% | 21.76% | $56,860 | 4,056 | 1,370 |
| 66 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 48,193 | 15,002 | 6,333 | 31.13% | 42.21% | $28,659 | 53,372 | 1,375 |
| 67 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX | 57,241 | 18,290 | 8,459 | 31.95% | 46.25% | $40,032 | 50,476 | 1,340 |
| 68 | Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC | 11,959 | 3,825 | 1,452 | 31.98% | 37.96% | $57,760 | 8,789 | - |
| 69 | Skidmore College Saratoga Springs, NY | 10,433 | 3,356 | 718 | 32.17% | 21.39% | $58,128 | 2,582 | 1,312 |
| 70 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FL | 63,691 | 20,668 | 6,009 | 32.45% | 29.07% | $21,683 | 43,569 | 1,285 |
| 71 | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Tallahassee, FL | 9,472 | 3,124 | 1,039 | 32.98% | 33.26% | $17,725 | 9,184 | 1,090 |
| 72 | University of Miami Coral Gables, FL | 40,133 | 13,282 | 2,359 | 33.10% | 17.76% | $53,682 | 17,809 | 1,335 |
| 73 | Brandeis University Waltham, MA | 10,223 | 3,414 | 750 | 33.40% | 21.97% | $57,230 | 5,440 | 1,415 |
| 74 | Trinity University San Antonio, TX | 9,394 | 3,158 | 634 | 33.62% | 20.08% | $46,456 | 2,677 | 1,335 |
| 75 | Oberlin College Oberlin, OH | 9,309 | 3,292 | 680 | 35.36% | 20.66% | $58,554 | 2,658 | 1,315 |
| 76 | University of Rochester Rochester, NY | 19,607 | 6,947 | 1,363 | 35.43% | 19.62% | $58,241 | 11,741 | 1,420 |
| 77 | Lafayette College Easton, PA | 8,215 | 2,922 | 606 | 35.57% | 20.74% | $54,992 | 2,514 | 1,345 |
| 78 | Hampton University Hampton, VA | 10,811 | 3,892 | 630 | 36.00% | 16.19% | $29,312 | 3,516 | 1,050 |
| 79 | Trinity College Hartford, CT | 5,952 | 2,145 | 572 | 36.04% | 26.67% | $59,050 | 2,241 | 1,374 |
| 80 | Franklin and Marshall College Lancaster, PA | 9,062 | 3,308 | 553 | 36.50% | 16.72% | $61,062 | 2,254 | - |
| 81 | Smith College Northampton, MA | 5,249 | 1,917 | 527 | 36.52% | 27.49% | $54,224 | 2,504 | - |
| 82 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | 100,062 | 36,634 | 6,447 | 36.61% | 17.60% | $44,402 | 39,576 | 1,375 |
| 83 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA | 90,961 | 33,384 | 4,847 | 36.70% | 14.52% | $44,160 | 26,179 | 1,345 |
| 84 | San Diego State University San Diego, CA | 64,784 | 23,778 | 4,852 | 36.70% | 20.41% | $19,600 | 36,334 | 1,195 |
| 85 | Kenyon College Gambier, OH | 6,614 | 2,440 | 446 | 36.89% | 18.28% | $55,020 | 1,615 | 1,370 |
| 86 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, NY | 21,021 | 7,869 | 1,692 | 37.43% | 21.50% | $15,420 | 15,766 | 1,090 |
| 87 | Bucknell University Lewisburg, PA | 9,890 | 3,712 | 986 | 37.53% | 26.56% | $58,202 | 3,726 | 1,340 |
| 88 | Alcorn State University Alcorn State, MS | 6,846 | 2,582 | 401 | 37.72% | 15.53% | $7,290 | 3,230 | 880 |
| 89 | Connecticut College New London, CT | 6,882 | 2,596 | 434 | 37.72% | 16.72% | $59,025 | 1,737 | 1,380 |
| 90 | College of the Holy Cross Worcester, MA | 7,087 | 2,689 | 735 | 37.94% | 27.33% | $54,770 | 2,970 | 1,360 |
| 91 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA | 52,371 | 20,127 | 4,789 | 38.43% | 23.79% | $25,971 | 22,440 | 1,315 |
| 92 | Howard University Washington, DC | 24,325 | 9,398 | 2,360 | 38.64% | 25.11% | $28,440 | 10,859 | 1,195 |
| 93 | American University Washington, DC | 20,036 | 7,744 | 1,607 | 38.65% | 20.75% | $51,361 | 14,001 | 1,305 |
| 94 | Macalester College Saint Paul, MN | 6,373 | 2,466 | 547 | 38.69% | 22.18% | $58,478 | 2,049 | 1,365 |
| 95 | Delaware State University Dover, DE | 11,317 | 4,452 | 1,001 | 39.34% | 22.48% | $18,280 | 4,739 | 910 |
| 96 | Coppin State University Baltimore, MD | 5,873 | 2,361 | 301 | 40.20% | 12.75% | $13,113 | 2,348 | 895 |
| 97 | CUNY Hunter College New York, NY | 32,294 | 13,072 | 2,616 | 40.48% | 20.01% | $15,332 | 24,052 | 1,255 |
| 98 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | 24,307 | 9,895 | 2,055 | 40.71% | 20.77% | $15,412 | 19,740 | 1,265 |
| 99 | Occidental College Los Angeles, CA | 6,939 | 2,838 | 402 | 40.90% | 14.16% | $56,576 | 1,839 | 1,365 |
| 100 | Emerson College Boston, MA | 13,326 | 5,470 | 939 | 41.05% | 17.17% | $50,444 | 5,115 | 1,285 |