West Virginia Wesleyan College Campus

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

Stanford University acceptance rate

Stanford University acceptance rate is 4.3%.
Stanford University

The average SAT score for Stanford University is 1505.

  • SAT composite: 1505
  • SAT math: 770
  • SAT reading/writing: 735

The average ACT score for Stanford University is 34.

Harvard University acceptance rate

Harvard University acceptance rate is 4.7%.
Harvard University

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.

Princeton University acceptance rate

Princeton University acceptance rate is 5.5%.
Princeton University

The average SAT score for Princeton University is 1505.

  • SAT composite: 1505
  • SAT math: 765
  • SAT reading/writing: 740

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 5.9%.
Columbia University in the City of New York

The average SAT score for Columbia University in the City of New York is 1505.

  • SAT composite: 1505
  • SAT math: 770
  • SAT reading/writing: 735

The average ACT score for Columbia University in the City of New York is 34.

Yale University acceptance rate

Yale University acceptance rate is 6.1%.
Yale University

The average SAT score for Yale University is 1515.

  • SAT composite: 1515
  • SAT math: 770
  • SAT reading/writing: 745

The average ACT score for Yale University is 34.

California Institute of Technology acceptance rate

California Institute of Technology acceptance rate is 6.4%.
California Institute of Technology

The average SAT score for California Institute of Technology is 1545.

  • SAT composite: 1545
  • SAT math: 795
  • SAT reading/writing: 750

The average ACT score for California Institute of Technology is 36.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology acceptance rate

Massachusetts Institute of Technology acceptance rate is 6.7%.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The average SAT score for Massachusetts Institute of Technology is 1535.

  • SAT composite: 1535
  • SAT math: 790
  • SAT reading/writing: 745

The average ACT score for Massachusetts Institute of Technology is 35.

University of Chicago acceptance rate

University of Chicago acceptance rate is 7.3%.
University of Chicago

The average SAT score for University of Chicago is 1520.

  • SAT composite: 1520
  • SAT math: 775
  • SAT reading/writing: 745

The average ACT score for University of Chicago is 34.

Pomona College acceptance rate

Pomona College acceptance rate is 7.4%.
Pomona College

The average SAT score for Pomona College is 1465.

  • SAT composite: 1465
  • SAT math: 745
  • SAT reading/writing: 720

The average ACT score for Pomona College is 34.

Brown University acceptance rate

Brown University acceptance rate is 7.7%.
Brown University

The average SAT score for Brown University is 1485.

  • SAT composite: 1485
  • SAT math: 755
  • SAT reading/writing: 730

The average ACT score for Brown University is 34.

Dartmouth College acceptance rate

Dartmouth College acceptance rate is 7.9%.
Dartmouth College

The average SAT score for Dartmouth College is 1500.

  • SAT composite: 1500
  • SAT math: 760
  • SAT reading/writing: 740

The average ACT score for Dartmouth College is 34.

University of Pennsylvania acceptance rate

University of Pennsylvania acceptance rate is 8.4%.
University of Pennsylvania

The average SAT score for University of Pennsylvania is 1500.

  • SAT composite: 1500
  • SAT math: 770
  • SAT reading/writing: 730

The average ACT score for University of Pennsylvania is 34.

United States Naval Academy acceptance rate

United States Naval Academy acceptance rate is 8.5%.
United States Naval Academy

The average SAT score for United States Naval Academy is 1260.

  • SAT composite: 1260
  • SAT math: 640
  • SAT reading/writing: 620

The average ACT score for United States Naval Academy is 29.

Duke University acceptance rate

Duke University acceptance rate is 8.9%.
Duke University

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.

Northwestern University acceptance rate

Northwestern University acceptance rate is 9.1%.
Northwestern University

The average SAT score for Northwestern University is 1495.

  • SAT composite: 1495
  • SAT math: 765
  • SAT reading/writing: 730

The average ACT score for Northwestern University is 34.

Claremont McKenna College acceptance rate

Claremont McKenna College acceptance rate is 9.3%.
Claremont McKenna College

The average SAT score for Claremont McKenna College is 1427.

  • SAT composite: 1427
  • SAT math: 730
  • SAT reading/writing: 697

The average ACT score for Claremont McKenna College is 32.

Swarthmore College acceptance rate

Swarthmore College acceptance rate is 9.5%.
Swarthmore College

The average SAT score for Swarthmore College is 1470.

  • SAT composite: 1470
  • SAT math: 750
  • SAT reading/writing: 720

The average ACT score for Swarthmore College is 32.

Vanderbilt University acceptance rate

Vanderbilt University acceptance rate is 9.6%.
Vanderbilt University

The average SAT score for Vanderbilt University is 1505.

  • SAT composite: 1505
  • SAT math: 775
  • SAT reading/writing: 730

The average ACT score for Vanderbilt University is 34.

Bowdoin College acceptance rate

Bowdoin College acceptance rate is 10.3%.
Bowdoin College

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.

Cornell University acceptance rate

Cornell University acceptance rate is 10.9%.
Cornell University

The average SAT score for Cornell University is 1480.

  • SAT composite: 1480
  • SAT math: 760
  • SAT reading/writing: 720

The average ACT score for Cornell University is 34.

Rice University acceptance rate

Rice University acceptance rate is 11.1%.
Rice University

The average SAT score for Rice University is 1505.

  • SAT composite: 1505
  • SAT math: 775
  • SAT reading/writing: 730

The average ACT score for Rice University is 34.

Amherst College acceptance rate

Amherst College acceptance rate is 11.3%.
Amherst College

The average SAT score for Amherst College is 1480.

  • SAT composite: 1480
  • SAT math: 755
  • SAT reading/writing: 725

The average ACT score for Amherst College is 33.

Johns Hopkins University acceptance rate

Johns Hopkins University acceptance rate is 11.5%.
Johns Hopkins University

The average SAT score for Johns Hopkins University is 1505.

  • SAT composite: 1505
  • SAT math: 770
  • SAT reading/writing: 735

The average ACT score for Johns Hopkins University is 34.

University of California Los Angeles acceptance rate

University of California Los Angeles acceptance rate is 12.3%.
University of California Los Angeles

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.

University of Southern California acceptance rate

University of Southern California acceptance rate is 13%.
University of Southern California

The average SAT score for University of Southern California is 1440.

  • SAT composite: 1440
  • SAT math: 740
  • SAT reading/writing: 700

The average ACT score for University of Southern California is 32.

Williams College acceptance rate

Williams College acceptance rate is 13%.
Williams College

The average SAT score for Williams College is 1479.

  • SAT composite: 1479
  • SAT math: 750
  • SAT reading/writing: 729

The average ACT score for Williams College is 33.

Colby College acceptance rate

Colby College acceptance rate is 13.1%.
Colby College

The average SAT score for Colby College is 1430.

  • SAT composite: 1430
  • SAT math: 730
  • SAT reading/writing: 700

The average ACT score for Colby College is 32.

The Cooper Union acceptance rate

The Cooper Union acceptance rate is 13.1%.
The Cooper Union
Ajay Suresh / Flickr / "The Cooper Union's Foundation Building - North Side" / CC BY 2.0

The average SAT score for The Cooper Union is 1413.

  • SAT composite: 1413
  • SAT math: 730
  • SAT reading/writing: 683

The average ACT score for The Cooper Union is 31.

Pitzer College acceptance rate

Pitzer College acceptance rate is 13.3%.
Pitzer College

The average SAT score for Pitzer College is 1410.

  • SAT composite: 1410
  • SAT math: 720
  • SAT reading/writing: 690

The average ACT score for Pitzer College is 31.

Barnard College acceptance rate

Barnard College acceptance rate is 13.9%.
Barnard College

The average SAT score for Barnard College is 1404.

  • SAT composite: 1404
  • SAT math: 700
  • SAT reading/writing: 704

The average ACT score for Barnard College is 31.

Harvey Mudd College acceptance rate

Harvey Mudd College acceptance rate is 14.5%.
Harvey Mudd College

The average SAT score for Harvey Mudd College is 1530.

  • SAT composite: 1530
  • SAT math: 790
  • SAT reading/writing: 740

The average ACT score for Harvey Mudd College is 35.

Georgetown University acceptance rate

Georgetown University acceptance rate is 14.5%.
Georgetown University

The average SAT score for Georgetown University is 1450.

  • SAT composite: 1450
  • SAT math: 735
  • SAT reading/writing: 715

The average ACT score for Georgetown University is 33.

Berkeley University of California acceptance rate

Berkeley University of California acceptance rate is 14.8%.
Berkeley University of California

The average SAT score for Berkeley University of California is 1415.

  • SAT composite: 1415
  • SAT math: 725
  • SAT reading/writing: 690

The average ACT score for Berkeley University of California is 31.

Colorado College acceptance rate

Colorado College acceptance rate is 15%.
Colorado College

The average SAT score for Colorado College is 1385.

  • SAT composite: 1385
  • SAT math: 700
  • SAT reading/writing: 685

The average ACT score for Colorado College is 31.

Tufts University acceptance rate

Tufts University acceptance rate is 15%.
Tufts University

The average SAT score for Tufts University is 1465.

  • SAT composite: 1465
  • SAT math: 750
  • SAT reading/writing: 715

The average ACT score for Tufts University is 33.

Washington University in Saint Louis acceptance rate

Washington University in Saint Louis acceptance rate is 15%.
Washington University in Saint Louis

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.

Carnegie Mellon University acceptance rate

Carnegie Mellon University acceptance rate is 15.4%.
Carnegie Mellon University

The average SAT score for Carnegie Mellon University is 1510.

  • SAT composite: 1510
  • SAT math: 780
  • SAT reading/writing: 730

The average ACT score for Carnegie Mellon University is 34.

Middlebury College acceptance rate

Middlebury College acceptance rate is 15.4%.
Middlebury College

The average SAT score for Middlebury College is 1445.

  • SAT composite: 1445
  • SAT math: 735
  • SAT reading/writing: 710

The average ACT score for Middlebury College is 33.

Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering acceptance rate

Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering acceptance rate is 15.7%.
Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering

The average SAT score for Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering is 1501.

  • SAT composite: 1501
  • SAT math: 770
  • SAT reading/writing: 731

The average ACT score for Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering is 34.

New York University acceptance rate

New York University acceptance rate is 16.2%.
New York University

The average SAT score for New York University is 1440.

  • SAT composite: 1440
  • SAT math: 740
  • SAT reading/writing: 700

The average ACT score for New York University is 32.

Wesleyan University acceptance rate

Wesleyan University acceptance rate is 16.3%.
Wesleyan University

The average SAT score for Wesleyan University is 1395.

  • SAT composite: 1395
  • SAT math: 700
  • SAT reading/writing: 695

The average ACT score for Wesleyan University is 32.

Tulane University acceptance rate

Tulane University acceptance rate is 17.3%.
Tulane University

The average SAT score for Tulane University is 1420.

  • SAT composite: 1420
  • SAT math: 720
  • SAT reading/writing: 700

The average ACT score for Tulane University is 32.

University of Notre Dame acceptance rate

University of Notre Dame acceptance rate is 17.7%.
University of Notre Dame

The average SAT score for University of Notre Dame is 1475.

  • SAT composite: 1475
  • SAT math: 750
  • SAT reading/writing: 725

The average ACT score for University of Notre Dame is 34.

Bates College acceptance rate

Bates College acceptance rate is 17.8%.
Bates College

The average SAT score for Bates College is 1380.

  • SAT composite: 1380
  • SAT math: 700
  • SAT reading/writing: 680

The average ACT score for Bates College is 31.

Northeastern University acceptance rate

Northeastern University acceptance rate is 18.1%.
Northeastern University

The average SAT score for Northeastern University is 1465.

  • SAT composite: 1465
  • SAT math: 750
  • SAT reading/writing: 715

The average ACT score for Northeastern University is 34.

Emory University acceptance rate

Emory University acceptance rate is 18.5%.
Emory University

The average SAT score for Emory University is 1435.

  • SAT composite: 1435
  • SAT math: 740
  • SAT reading/writing: 695

The average ACT score for Emory University is 33.

Haverford College acceptance rate

Haverford College acceptance rate is 18.8%.
Haverford College

The average SAT score for Haverford College is 1450.

  • SAT composite: 1450
  • SAT math: 740
  • SAT reading/writing: 710

The average ACT score for Haverford College is 33.

Carleton College acceptance rate

Carleton College acceptance rate is 19%.
Carleton College

The average SAT score for Carleton College is 1450.

  • SAT composite: 1450
  • SAT math: 740
  • SAT reading/writing: 710

The average ACT score for Carleton College is 33.

Wellesley College acceptance rate

Wellesley College acceptance rate is 19.5%.
Wellesley College

The average SAT score for Wellesley College is 1425.

  • SAT composite: 1425
  • SAT math: 720
  • SAT reading/writing: 705

The average ACT score for Wellesley College is 32.

Davidson College acceptance rate

Davidson College acceptance rate is 19.5%.
Davidson College

The average SAT score for Davidson College is 1372.

  • SAT composite: 1372
  • SAT math: 690
  • SAT reading/writing: 682

The average ACT score for Davidson College is 31.

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!