Hardest colleges to get into in the United States
Top 50 colleges in the United States with the lowest acceptance rates
What are the hardest colleges to get into in the United States? We've got you covered. We've compiled a national college database and have created a list of the hardest universities to get into in the United States below. These are the hardest 4 year colleges to get into in the United States, and sometimes some of the hardest colleges to get into in the US. You could even say these are the best colleges in the United States. We also include each college's average SAT and ACT scores so that you can see where you're most competitive. Read on to find out more.
Table of contents
51.Conclusion
Stanford University acceptance rate
Stanford University acceptance rate is 3.6%.
The average SAT score for Stanford University is 1540.
- SAT composite: 1540
- SAT math: 770
- SAT reading/writing: 735
The average ACT score for Stanford University is 35.
Harvard University acceptance rate
Harvard University acceptance rate is 3.63%.
The average SAT score for Harvard University is 1520.
- SAT composite: 1520
- SAT math: 770
- SAT reading/writing: 750
The average ACT score for Harvard University is 34.
Yale University acceptance rate
Yale University acceptance rate is 3.87%.
The average SAT score for Yale University is 1530.
- SAT composite: 1530
- SAT math: 770
- SAT reading/writing: 760
The average ACT score for Yale University is 34.
University of Chicago acceptance rate
University of Chicago acceptance rate is 4.48%.
The average SAT score for University of Chicago is 1550.
- SAT composite: 1550
- SAT math: 770
- SAT reading/writing: 760
The average ACT score for University of Chicago is 35.
Vanderbilt University acceptance rate
Vanderbilt University acceptance rate is 4.6%.
The average SAT score for Vanderbilt University is 1520.
- SAT composite: 1520
- SAT math: 770
- SAT reading/writing: 750
The average ACT score for Vanderbilt University is 34.
Princeton University acceptance rate
Princeton University acceptance rate is 4.62%.
The average SAT score for Princeton University is 1510.
- SAT composite: 1510
- SAT math: 760
- SAT reading/writing: 750
The average ACT score for Princeton University is 34.
Columbia University in the City of New York acceptance rate
Columbia University in the City of New York acceptance rate is 4.9%.
The average SAT score for Columbia University in the City of New York is 1530.
- SAT composite: 1530
- SAT math: 770
- SAT reading/writing: 760
The average ACT score for Columbia University in the City of New York is 34.
University of Pennsylvania acceptance rate
University of Pennsylvania acceptance rate is 4.9%.
The average SAT score for University of Pennsylvania is 1520.
- SAT composite: 1520
- SAT math: 780
- SAT reading/writing: 740
The average ACT score for University of Pennsylvania is 35.
Northeastern University acceptance rate
Northeastern University acceptance rate is 5.21%.
The average SAT score for Northeastern University is 1490.
- SAT composite: 1490
- SAT math: 740
- SAT reading/writing: 720
The average ACT score for Northeastern University is 34.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology acceptance rate
Massachusetts Institute of Technology acceptance rate is 5.5%.
The average SAT score for Massachusetts Institute of Technology is 1560.
- SAT composite: 1560
- SAT math: 790
- SAT reading/writing: 770
The average ACT score for Massachusetts Institute of Technology is 36.
Brown University acceptance rate
Brown University acceptance rate is 5.65%.
The average SAT score for Brown University is 1520.
- SAT composite: 1520
- SAT math: 755
- SAT reading/writing: 730
The average ACT score for Brown University is 35.
Dartmouth College acceptance rate
Dartmouth College acceptance rate is 6%.
The average SAT score for Dartmouth College is 1490.
- SAT composite: 1490
- SAT math: 750
- SAT reading/writing: 740
The average ACT score for Dartmouth College is 33.
Duke University acceptance rate
Duke University acceptance rate is 6.2%.
The average SAT score for Duke University is 1510.
- SAT composite: 1510
- SAT math: 770
- SAT reading/writing: 740
The average ACT score for Duke University is 34.
California Institute of Technology acceptance rate
California Institute of Technology acceptance rate is 6.4%.
The average SAT score for California Institute of Technology is 1555.
- SAT composite: 1555
- SAT math: 795
- SAT reading/writing: 760
The average ACT score for California Institute of Technology is 36.
Pomona College acceptance rate
Pomona College acceptance rate is 6.76%.
The average SAT score for Pomona College is 1525.
- SAT composite: 1525
- SAT math: 770
- SAT reading/writing: 755
The average ACT score for Pomona College is 34.
Bowdoin College acceptance rate
Bowdoin College acceptance rate is 6.8%.
The average SAT score for Bowdoin College is 1405.
- SAT composite: 1405
- SAT math: 710
- SAT reading/writing: 695
The average ACT score for Bowdoin College is 32.
Northwestern University acceptance rate
Northwestern University acceptance rate is 7%.
The average SAT score for Northwestern University is 1540.
- SAT composite: 1540
- SAT math: 770
- SAT reading/writing: 770
The average ACT score for Northwestern University is 34.
Colby College acceptance rate
Colby College acceptance rate is 7%.
The average SAT score for Colby College is 1520.
- SAT composite: 1520
- SAT math: 760
- SAT reading/writing: 735
The average ACT score for Colby College is 34.
Amherst College acceptance rate
Amherst College acceptance rate is 7%.
The average SAT score for Amherst College is 1490.
- SAT composite: 1490
- SAT math: 750
- SAT reading/writing: 740
The average ACT score for Amherst College is 34.
Johns Hopkins University acceptance rate
Johns Hopkins University acceptance rate is 7.4%.
The average SAT score for Johns Hopkins University is 1510.
- SAT composite: 1510
- SAT math: 770
- SAT reading/writing: 740
The average ACT score for Johns Hopkins University is 34.
Swarthmore College acceptance rate
Swarthmore College acceptance rate is 7.4%.
The average SAT score for Swarthmore College is 1485.
- SAT composite: 1485
- SAT math: 750
- SAT reading/writing: 735
The average ACT score for Swarthmore College is 34.
New York University acceptance rate
New York University acceptance rate is 7.7%.
The average SAT score for New York University is 1450.
- SAT composite: 1450
- SAT math: 740
- SAT reading/writing: 710
The average ACT score for New York University is 33.
Rice University acceptance rate
Rice University acceptance rate is 8%.
The average SAT score for Rice University is 1535.
- SAT composite: 1535
- SAT math: 775
- SAT reading/writing: 730
The average ACT score for Rice University is 35.
Williams College acceptance rate
Williams College acceptance rate is 8.5%.
The average SAT score for Williams College is 1490.
- SAT composite: 1490
- SAT math: 750
- SAT reading/writing: 740
The average ACT score for Williams College is 34.
Cornell University acceptance rate
Cornell University acceptance rate is 8.9%.
The average SAT score for Cornell University is 1535.
- SAT composite: 1535
- SAT math: 770
- SAT reading/writing: 740
The average ACT score for Cornell University is 34.
Barnard College acceptance rate
Barnard College acceptance rate is 9%.
The average SAT score for Barnard College is 1480.
- SAT composite: 1480
- SAT math: 755
- SAT reading/writing: 735
The average ACT score for Barnard College is 33.
United States Naval Academy acceptance rate
United States Naval Academy acceptance rate is 9.36%.
The average SAT score for United States Naval Academy is 1310.
- SAT composite: 1310
- SAT math: 640
- SAT reading/writing: 650
The average ACT score for United States Naval Academy is 29.
University of California Los Angeles acceptance rate
University of California Los Angeles acceptance rate is 9.4%.
The average SAT score for University of California Los Angeles is 1405.
- SAT composite: 1405
- SAT math: 715
- SAT reading/writing: 690
The average ACT score for University of California Los Angeles is 31.
Claremont McKenna College acceptance rate
Claremont McKenna College acceptance rate is 9.6%.
The average SAT score for Claremont McKenna College is 1520.
- SAT composite: 1520
- SAT math: 730
- SAT reading/writing: 697
The average ACT score for Claremont McKenna College is 33.
University of Southern California acceptance rate
University of Southern California acceptance rate is 9.81%.
The average SAT score for University of Southern California is 1450.
- SAT composite: 1450
- SAT math: 740
- SAT reading/writing: 710
The average ACT score for University of Southern California is 33.
Emory University acceptance rate
Emory University acceptance rate is 10%.
The average SAT score for Emory University is 1490.
- SAT composite: 1490
- SAT math: 750
- SAT reading/writing: 740
The average ACT score for Emory University is 34.
Tufts University acceptance rate
Tufts University acceptance rate is 10.5%.
The average SAT score for Tufts University is 1490.
- SAT composite: 1490
- SAT math: 750
- SAT reading/writing: 740
The average ACT score for Tufts University is 34.
Boston University acceptance rate
Boston University acceptance rate is 11%.
The average SAT score for Boston University is 1442.
- SAT composite: 1442
- SAT math: 721
- SAT reading/writing: 721
The average ACT score for Boston University is 33.
The Cooper Union acceptance rate
The Cooper Union acceptance rate is 11%.
The average SAT score for The Cooper Union is 1470.
- SAT composite: 1470
- SAT math: 760
- SAT reading/writing: 710
The average ACT score for The Cooper Union is 33.
Berkeley University of California acceptance rate
Berkeley University of California acceptance rate is 11.4%.
The average SAT score for Berkeley University of California is 1450.
- SAT composite: 1450
- SAT math: 740
- SAT reading/writing: 710
The average ACT score for Berkeley University of California is 33.
Carnegie Mellon University acceptance rate
Carnegie Mellon University acceptance rate is 11.7%.
The average SAT score for Carnegie Mellon University is 1540.
- SAT composite: 1540
- SAT math: 790
- SAT reading/writing: 750
The average ACT score for Carnegie Mellon University is 35.
Georgetown University acceptance rate
Georgetown University acceptance rate is 12%.
The average SAT score for Georgetown University is 1470.
- SAT composite: 1470
- SAT math: 740
- SAT reading/writing: 720
The average ACT score for Georgetown University is 33.
Washington University in Saint Louis acceptance rate
Washington University in Saint Louis acceptance rate is 12%.
The average SAT score for Washington University in Saint Louis is 1520.
- SAT composite: 1520
- SAT math: 780
- SAT reading/writing: 740
The average ACT score for Washington University in Saint Louis is 34.
Saint Andrews University acceptance rate
Saint Andrews University acceptance rate is 12%.
The average SAT score for Saint Andrews University is 1010.
- SAT composite: 1010
- SAT math: 510
- SAT reading/writing: 500
The average ACT score for Saint Andrews University is 19.
Haverford College acceptance rate
Haverford College acceptance rate is 12.4%.
The average SAT score for Haverford College is 1485.
- SAT composite: 1485
- SAT math: 485
- SAT reading/writing: 485
The average ACT score for Haverford College is 34.
University of Virginia acceptance rate
University of Virginia acceptance rate is 12.4%.
The average SAT score for University of Virginia is 1460.
- SAT composite: 1460
- SAT math: 740
- SAT reading/writing: 720
The average ACT score for University of Virginia is 33.
Davidson College acceptance rate
Davidson College acceptance rate is 12.6%.
The average SAT score for Davidson College is 1410.
- SAT composite: 1410
- SAT math: 710
- SAT reading/writing: 700
The average ACT score for Davidson College is 32.
Georgia Institute of Technology acceptance rate
Georgia Institute of Technology acceptance rate is 12.7%.
The average SAT score for Georgia Institute of Technology is 1450.
- SAT composite: 1450
- SAT math: 750
- SAT reading/writing: 720
The average ACT score for Georgia Institute of Technology is 32.
Harvey Mudd College acceptance rate
Harvey Mudd College acceptance rate is 12.96%.
The average SAT score for Harvey Mudd College is 1525.
- SAT composite: 1525
- SAT math: 790
- SAT reading/writing: 740
The average ACT score for Harvey Mudd College is 35.
Bates College acceptance rate
Bates College acceptance rate is 13.32%.
The average SAT score for Bates College is 1315.
- SAT composite: 1315
- SAT math: 700
- SAT reading/writing: 680
The average ACT score for Bates College is 30.
Hamilton College acceptance rate
Hamilton College acceptance rate is 13.62%.
The average SAT score for Hamilton College is 1470.
- SAT composite: 1470
- SAT math: 740
- SAT reading/writing: 730
The average ACT score for Hamilton College is 33.
Wellesley College acceptance rate
Wellesley College acceptance rate is 13.7%.
The average SAT score for Wellesley College is 1470.
- SAT composite: 1470
- SAT math: 740
- SAT reading/writing: 730
The average ACT score for Wellesley College is 33.
Boston College acceptance rate
Boston College acceptance rate is 13.9%.
The average SAT score for Boston College is 1503.
- SAT composite: 1503
- SAT math: 710
- SAT reading/writing: 700
The average ACT score for Boston College is 34.
Middlebury College acceptance rate
Middlebury College acceptance rate is 13.9%.
The average SAT score for Middlebury College is 1450.
- SAT composite: 1450
- SAT math: 720
- SAT reading/writing: 730
The average ACT score for Middlebury College is 33.
Washington and Lee University acceptance rate
Washington and Lee University acceptance rate is 14%.
Bobak Ha'Eri / Wikimedia Commons / "Iconic buildings of Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. From left to right: Newcomb Hall, Payne Hall, Washington Hall (center), Robinson Hall, Tucker Hall." / CC BY 3.0
The average SAT score for Washington and Lee University is 1485.
- SAT composite: 1485
- SAT math: 740
- SAT reading/writing: 730
The average ACT score for Washington and Lee University is 34.
Conclusion
Getting into any college is an accomplishment, but these schools are arguably the hardest to get into in the United States. Knowledge is power, and we hope this list gives you the key data you need to make a decision on where you should apply. You will want to be above the average SAT or ACT score, and have a strong GPA with good extracurriculars. Good luck!
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