School’s out! But college is in! Where should you apply to? Are your SAT scores good enough? Man, it is one stressful period, WHEW! We’ve compiled a list of the most prestigious universities in the U.S. and we’ve provided you with the likelihood of getting accepted to these institutions. Read on to help decide where you’d like to spend your college tuition.
Harvey Mudd College
Harvey Mudd College is considered one of the best colleges in America. It is one of the seven Claremont Colleges which are known as the elite of the elites. When it comes to getting in, just bear in mind that only 14.3% of applicants succeed. Consider if this is where you want your college tuition to go to.
Harvey Mudd College
Cornell University
Trust me, it’s not just their fancy emblem or high College tuition that got them their name. 1865 marked the birth of Cornell University and let’s just say that since then it has only gotten better with age, like a good wine, I suppose. With only 14.2% of applicants actually making the cut, we can believe that the university in Ithaca, New York means business with their selectivity.
Cornell University
Amherst College
Amherst College strongly holds the belief that all races, orientations and creeds should have access to their institution. They proved this way back in 1826 by becoming the first college in the U.S. to accept a student of color. This student would become the first African-American to graduate from their university.
Amherst College
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee houses the Vanderbilt University which was named after a charitable man who wasn’t even from the southern state. He donated $1,000,000 in 1873 to boost the private research university. Today, on average, it grants access to 13.1% of applicants.
Vanderbilt University
Northwestern University
Did you know that ‘Ross’ from Friends attended this university? No, not to study paleontology – in his real life. The university is located in Chicago, Illinois and is known to only accept about 15.1% of those trying to get in.
Northwestern University
Pitzer Colllege
My, how we have come a long way. At its inception, this college was supposed to be for women only. In the 1970’s it became a mixed establishment and perhaps a little bit more choosy when it comes to its potential students – 13% acceptance rate, if you were wondering.
Pitzer College
Pomona College
We’ve all been told that it’s important to apply for college well in advance, but how early is early enough? Well, since Pomona College only takes in 9.1% of applicants, and adding the fact that they are in the top 10 of all liberal arts colleges in the U.S., the answer would be about… RIGHT NOW! Spots for 2020 are filling up now already.
Pomona College
Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering
Millennials! Love em’ or hate em’, they’re here to stay, like the Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering which is brand-spanking new. How new do you ask? The engineering college opened in 2000. But that’s no reason not to take this establishment seriously. Its admission rate is 12%.
Franklin W. Olin College Of Engineering
Dartmouth College
Similar to other universities on our list, Dartmouth was once only designed for a specific group of people – Native Americans. Today it boasts application opportunity for all, but it only accepts 11.5% of those who apply. College tuition is rather high, but if this is what will bring you closer to your dreams, then you should go for it.
Dartmouth College
Duke University
Well, let’s say that you do find yourself as part of the 9% who actually make it in. Next you’ll have to fish out approximately $50,000 per year for your college tuition, that is unless you find yourself a scholarship.
Duke University
Claremont Mckenna College
We’ve all been told at some point to do what we love, well this might be the place to start. Claremont Mckenna College, which sits in Los Angeles, boasts being the home to very happy students. Not just ‘happy’, they were rated the 2nd happiest students in the U.S. actually. That of course means that those happy students are a part of the 10.8% who made it in!
Claremont McKenna College
University of Pennsylvania
Often mistaken as one of the early presidents of the United States, Benjamin Franklin has real accomplishments to be proud of. One of them was being a part of the founding members of this university. I wonder if they only accepted 10.4% of students back then too.
University Of Pennsylvania
United States Military Academy
The first thing you can do is release a great sigh, because at this academy there are no college tuition costs. However, that doesn’t mean that you’ll get in so easily or that it will be easy. 9.5% of those who apply make it while the rest, well, don’t make it. If you’re still not sure what we’re talking about, let me just say, West Point! Undergoing 4 years of hard training and maintaining academic greatness is a great part of becoming an officer in the United States Army.
United States Military Academy
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago came to life in 1890 and has only made a better name for itself as the years have gone by. The private research institution admits 8.8% of all applicants. It also has Phil the Phoenix as its mascot.
University Of Chicago
California Institute of Technology
Also known as Caltech by the 8.1% who make it in annually, this university has produced some famous alumni. 34 alumni members have won the Nobel Prize with another 71 who have won the United States National Medal of Science or Technology. Caltech is proud to be the top university in the U.S. whose students leave with a PhD.
California Institute Of Technology
Brown University
I hate to break the news to you, but Emma Watson didn’t go to Hogwarts, she went to Brown University. She made the cut as one of the 8.7% who actually got in. I wonder what the acceptance policy was like at Hogwarts. Brown is one of the oldest higher education institutes in America.
Brown University
Cooper Union
This private institute focuses mainly on the advancement of science and art and has been doing so since 1859. 7.7% of applicants who were accepted make up the 900+ student body at the New York university. In 2010 it was named the “Most Desirable Small School” in the U.S.
Cooper Union
Curtis Institute of Music
“The hills are alive with the sound of music!” …is probably what you hear down every corridor of the Curtis Institute of Music. In 2016, they enrolled only 174 music students. Their acceptance rate as it was determined in 2014, was 4.8%. Their ethos is to give the world’s most talented young musicians a haven to learn by doing.
Curtis Institute Of Music
Emory University
There’s a chance for us! Emory University accepts about a quarter of its applicants – 25.2% to be exact. Located in the metropolitan heart of Atlanta, the private research university has been delivering top results and offering more and more courses for their students. Exact college tuition numbers aren’t public knowledge.
Emory University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private Catholic research university located in Washington D.C., the nation’s capital. If an applicant happens to make it as one of the 17% successful candidates, the university holds a policy of doing all that they can to ensure that the student-to-be attends the university without college tuition concerns.
Georgetown University
Princeton University
When most people think of Ivy League colleges, Princeton pops up at the top. Now if you think you’ve read about selective universities, then be prepared to be blown further away. Princeton University accepts an unbelievably low rate of 6.5% applicants!
Princeton University
Spring Hill College
Unlike many others on this list, Spring Hill University in Alabama actually accepts more than 40% of their applying candidates. They boast 19 varsity sports teams, of which 11 are women’s. The school was founded in 1830 by Rev. Michael Portier who was the bishop of Mobile. College tuition isn’t too steep – $35,000 per year.
Spring Hill College
Columbia University
Barack Obama is only one of the many impressive and influential figures who attended this New York, Ivy League university. Believe it or not, 20 of the world’s billionaires and 5 of the American Founding Fathers attended Columbia University. When 7% of people make it in, we start to get an understanding of their strict entrance policies.
Columbia University
Yale University
An incredible 52 Nobel laureates, 243 Rhodes Scholars, 5 Field Medalists and 118 Marshall Scholars spent their university years at Yale – as students of course. It is the third-oldest institution of higher education in America and accepts 6.3% of applicants. College tuition usually starts around $50,000 per year.
Yale University
Harvard University
Synonymous with excellence and prestige in higher education, Harvard is the oldest of its kind in America. There’s a huge list of alumni that have made an impact on our society. Let’s mention just a few: Barack Obama (yes again), Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Natalie Portman and Matt Damon (Will?). Only 6% of candidates succeed in becoming students. Now, did you know that Harvard houses the largest private and academic library system in the world? Right?!
Harvard University
Stanford University
There are a few factors that will determine whether you’re accepted to study here or not. One – you must be a unicorn! Not really, but if you’re one of the 4.7% who DO get in, perhaps you’ll start to feel like one. Tiger Woods and Reese Witherspoon felt that way when they attended this Ivy League college, or at least we suppose they did. The best cardiovascular surgeon, Cristina Yang graduated top of her class at this prestigious institute.
Stanford University
Juilliard School
Located in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, you will find the Juilliard School of performing arts. It was only established in 1950, but it has gathered success and produced successful alumni like Robin Williams and Kevin Spacey. Their acceptance rate is 7.2% and applicants can pay up to $41,000.
Juilliard School
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University is world-renowned for its medical and research facilities. It is also famous for accepting 11.4% of applicants ever year. The university believes in following unique and innovative ideas and sharing them. Baltimore, Maryland might be where your dream starts.
Johns Hopkins University
Washington University of St. Louis
The private Washington University of St. Louis proudly hosts a vast range of subjects. It was founded in 1853 and named after the very great George Washington. 25 Nobel laureates graduated from this school of law, social work and public health. 17% acceptance rate is their lucky number.
Washington University Of St. Louis
Rice University
The huge 295-acre estate is not the only grand aspect of this prestigious university. It also happens to be the most difficult university to get into in Texas. Rice University has produced many top scholars and many of them have been significant contributors to NASA projects. If this sounds interesting to you, just hope to be a part of the 16% the university takes in.
Rice University
Alice Lloyd College
“A light unto the mountains” is their motto, but only 619 students were able to adopt that motto in 2016. The Kentucky-based university dedicates a great part of their focus to athletics and sports. But with 4% as their acceptance rate in the fall of 2016, not too many study seekers were able to make ALC their home.
Alice Lloyd College
Bowdoin College
The small liberal arts college in Brunswick, Maine likes to keep their numbers as limited as their capacity. 14.8% is their acceptance rate and we don’t see it changing any time soon. The petite college has brought out some of the most important and influential figures of our day.
Bowdoin College
Williams College
Ephraim Williams invested in this college back in 1793 and in return he had his name put on it. Unbelievably, this college has over 100 buildings! Another liberal arts college that you can choose to look into, and you might have a chance as their acceptance rate is 18%… quite high for this Ivy League list.
Williams College
Jarvis Christian College
Noted both as the blue and gold college and as one of the earliest pre-dominantly black colleges, Jarvis Christian College is well-known for its sporting achievements and its deep connection with the Disciples of Christ. It is located in Texas and has only about 8% of applicants making it through the front doors each year.
Jarvis Christian College
College of the Ozarks
Names like April Scott from CSI: Miami and Terrence R. Dake who is a retired four-star Marine Corps general make up some of the alumni of this prestigious college. Located in Missouri, the street it sits on could not be named more appropriately – “Opportunity Avenue”. That opportunity is reserved for only 12% of applicants however.
College Of The Ozarks
Tufts University
It takes being one of the 14% to make it into this university in Massachusetts and it takes another $51,000 to secure your undergrad college tuition. You’ll still have to study, of course. The university is a private research university that proudly boasts being a private, yet non-profit institution.
Tufts University
Briar Cliff University
Found in Sioux City, Iowa, United States, Briar Cliff University is a private, Franciscan, Roman Catholic, liberal arts university which accepts only about 15% of all applicants each year. This number is set rise, well at least that is what rumors seem to be saying.
Briar Cliff University
Middlebury College
When Middlebury College was founded in Vermont in 1800, it became the first operating college or university in Vermont. The liberal arts college decided to accept women and men together as a coeducational institute in the year 1883. The “Panthers” university only take in 16% of applicants.
Middlebury College
Barnard College
Some of the most colorful and talented celebrities of our time made the 16.7% admission cut and became stars. Joan Rivers, Lauren Graham and Martha Stewart are just some of the well-known names of people who attended Barnard College in New York.
Barnard College
Wesleyan University
Apart from being one of the “Little Three” colleges, Wesleyan University has more in common with Amherst College and Williams College than just that. Like their sister schools, Wesleyan U. has strict admission rates, namely 17.7% to get into the Connecticut college.
Wesleyan University
Atlanta Metropolitan State College
Currently there are 2,582 students studying at Atlanta Metropolitan State College, but that number is not nearly as high as the number of applicants the university turns down. In fact 10.1% of those trying to get in actually make it. It was established in 1974 and has lived up to its 3 beliefs: Believe, Begin, Become.
Atlanta Metropolitan State College
Colby College
The private liberal arts college, Colby College can be located in Waterville, Maine. Despite having difficult acceptance terms (17.5%), students from over 60 countries have flown in just to study at this university. Since it was founded in 1813, it makes it the 12th oldest university of its kind in the U.S.
Colby College
University of Notre Dame
What started as a small all-male institution in 1842 became a famous university that rose to fame when its soccer team made a major victory in the early 1900’s. The huge campus which covers over 1,250 acres hosts the iconic Golden Dome, the Notre Dame Stadium and the Basilica. To see these landmarks on a daily basis, you’d have to be part of the 18.2% that are accepted.
University Of Notre Dame
Grinnell College
In 2006, Grinnell College was listed as one of the 30 “Hidden Ivies” by the New York Times – offering viable alternatives to mainstream Ivy League institutions. The private liberal arts college is known for taking on social responsibility roles and for having rigorous academic curriculum, and they are also known for their 18% acceptance rate.
Grinnell College
Paine College
Located in Augusta, Georgia is the Paine College campus. The school was established in 1882 and originally served as a private black college and held the nickname of “Lions”. Their acceptance rate is only 31% and in 2010 took in 925 new students.
Paine College
Florida A&M University
This public university in Tallahassee, Florida is home to some of the greatest African-American figures of our time. One such figure is Tyrese Gibson who is famous for his bad-boy role in the “Fast And Furious” movie series. The Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University on average only allows 31% of applicants to sign up for studies.
Florida A&M University
Wake Forest University
There’s a really simple reason this university has its name, because it was founded in the Wake Forest. However, what is not simple is getting into this university as a student. 29.8% of applicants actually make it in and for the rest, well they just have to go searching elsewhere.
Wake Forest University
University of Virginia
If there’s a place you should go to, you should go to the University of Virginia… that is if you’re interested in space. Kathryn C. Thornton, a former NASA astronaut who spent almost 1,000 hours in space is now a professor at the School of Engineering and Applied Science at UV. Getting into outer space might only be a teenie-tiny bit more difficult than getting into UV which accepts 29.2% of people trying to get in.
University Of Virginia
Scripps College
Notable figures like Gabrielle Giffords, China Chow, Serena Altschul and Beth Nolan make up only some of their alumni. The reason that these alumni members are all women is because Scripps College is a liberal arts women’s college, which is in Claremont, California. 28.4% of applicants get past registration.
Scripps College
Howard University
Did you know that P. Diddy was one of the 30% who made it into Howard University? If you do make it into the private, coed, historically black university, the good news is that your college tuition fees will be less than $25,000 a year which is actually not too bad compared to others on this list.
Howard University
Calumet College of St. Joseph
The private college of Calumet College of St. Joseph is located in Whiting, Indiana. Back in 1951 the founders opened their doors to affiliates of the Roman Catholic church, but since then have limited entry to only 33.8% of applicants and have placed a great emphasis on sports.
Calumet College Of St. Joseph
Bucknell University
In 1973, Peter Balakian, the 2016 Pulitzer Prize winner for Poetry, graduated from Bucknell University. He has been noted as one of the highest honored alumni of the university. He made the cut of 24.8% to attend the private liberal arts university in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.
Bucknell University
Wellesley College
Hillary Clinton, Diana Sawyer and Madeleine Albright – what do all of these women have in common? Aside from many appearances on television and heaps of influence, they all attended Wellesley College in Massachusetts. When the entrance cut is 28%, there’s no surprise that women like these graduated from this private women’s liberal arts college.
Wellesley College
Webb Institute
Since 1889, Webb University has upheld its code of honor which prohibits lying, cheating, and stealing. The university, which is in New York only takes in 33% of those who try to get in. But with college tuition fees of $40,000 and a tiny number of 80 enrolled students in 2010, there’s no wonder it’s so difficult to get into.
Webb Institute
Skidmore College
After its establishment in 1903, the private, independent liberal arts college for women in Saratoga Springs, New York, only became more and more successful. In 1971, the school’s board decided to allow men to study at the institution too, but only if they made the cut of 28.2%.
Skidmore College
Northeastern University
What was originally known as the “Evening Institute for Younger Men”, kicked off with its first class in 1898. Even though the Boston university was small, it quickly grew, but not without become choosy about its students. Their acceptance rate is only 28%.
Northeastern University
Medaille College
The private liberal arts college in Buffalo, New York is the home to more than 1,000 graduates and 1,600 undergrads. Founders established it in 1937, and it took many decades for it to become the master it is today. Today this college offers some of the best online degree courses around. 29% is their acceptance rate.
Medaille College
Colgate University
In a U.S. News & World Report, Colgate University was placed as the 12th best liberal arts college in the US. It’s claim to fame doesn’t just lie there, but it also lies in the fact that they only accept 28.7% of applying students. The university that was built in 1819, boasts a huge campus of 575 acres in the New York state.
Colgate University
Boston University
Among Boston University’s alumni are 8 Nobel Laureates, 23 Pulitzer Prize winners, 10 Rhodes Scholars, 6 Marshall Scholars, 48 Sloan Fellows, 9 Academy Award winners, and some Emmy and Tony Award winners. When they tell you that they only accept 29% of applicants, you can understand why.
Boston University
Haverford College
Non doctior, sed meliore doctrina imbutus, which means, “Not more learned, but steeped in a higher learning.” Haverford believes in giving their students the best education they can, even if it means that students determine their own exam dates, as an example. The university adopted a “code of honor” which empowers students to do things that most other universities wouldn’t dream of allowing. Exams that students can take home is also common at Haverford College. Seems fun, but their 21% acceptance rate isn’t really.
Haverford College
United States Coast Guard Academy
Daniel C. Burbank, an astronaut who has flown two successful missions into space and has spent more than 6 months out of the Earth’s atmosphere actually spent more time behind a desk at the United States Coast Guard Academy. He was one of the very few who made it into the academy, despite admission limitations of 16%.
United States Coast Guard Academy
Carnegie Mellon University
Even though it is not actually considered an Ivy League school per se, its level of education, and definitely its percentage of acceptance (13.7%) match it to the standards of one. The private research institute based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was founded in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie – hence the name – and later merged with the Mellon Institute in 1967.
Carnegie Mellon University
Art Academy of Cincinnati
“Make art, make a difference.” Their slogan could not be any truer than it already is. The private college of art, design and art history in Cincinnati has a reputation that keeps it high on so many art university listings. It was established in 1869 and only has 21 postgraduates, probably owing to their low acceptance rate of 24.3%.
Art Academy Of Cincinnati
Florida Memorial University
The “fighting lions” university has an array of sports that they not only take part in, but that they dominate too, like basketball, cross-country, track & field, volleyball and baseball. Aside from sports, the school has also produced notable history-makers like Barrington Irving, Jr. who became the first and youngest African-American pilot to fly solo around the world in 2007. They accept 20.5% of applying students.
Florida Memorial University
Babson College
Ranked as the most prestigious entrepreneur college in the United States, it is no wonder this university only takes in 26% on registration day. The Massachusetts-based college which was established in 1919, mainly focuses on entrepreneurship education but offers more than 20 different varsity sports too.
Babson College