The hardest colleges to get into in 2024
As of 2024, the hardest (mainstream) colleges to get into are Caltech, which has a 2.69% acceptance rate, Harvard (3.24%), and Stanford (3.68%).
Harvard is the hardest Ivy League to get into, while Cornell is the easiest.
The hardest public universities to get into are UCLA, the U.S. Naval Academy, and UC Berkeley.
Have a perfect GPA? Stellar SATs? Are you the president of 10 clubs, a Varsity synchronized swimmer, a regionally recognized oboe soloist, and the MVP of your mathlete team? Have you devoted every summer since you were 12 to giving back to your community by arranging glamorous makeovers for abandoned pets? Does your Uncle Keith make regular donations to his alma mater?
Yes? Then maybe, just maybe, you have what it takes to get into one of America’s most selective colleges.
Read on to discover the hardest colleges to get into in 2024. These schools have made a name for themselves by dashing the aspirations of overachievers from every corner of the globe.
The top 10 hardest colleges to get into in 2024
The colleges listed below have the lowest acceptance rates in the country according to the latest available IPEDS data. IPEDS is a data collection tool created by the Center for Education Statistics in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Education.
For each school, we also provide an “economic score,” which measures each college’s value proposition based on net cost and earnings potential. The lower the economic score, the better. See more details on our methodology page.
1. California Institute of Technology – 2.69% accepted
California Institute of Technology, usually referred to as Caltech, is a private research university in Pasadena, a city in Los Angeles County, California. Considered an “Ivy Plus” school (a designation for highly prestigious universities that aren’t technically in the Ivy League), it is often seen as the West-Coast counterpart to MIT.
Caltech is famous internationally for its highly prestigious science and engineering programs. World-renowned faculty and promising students engage in cutting-edge research that’s shaping the future.
The most popular bachelor’s programs at Caltech are computer science, mechanical engineering, and physics.
Interestingly, Caltech does not consider standardized test scores in its application process.
- Average SAT score – N/A
- Average GPA – 4.19
- Average earnings, 4 years after graduation – $139,418
- Economic score – 0.58
2. Harvard University – 3.2% accepted
Harvard hardly needs an introduction. The quintessential Ivy institution, Harvard is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, outside of Boston.
Founded in 1636, it is the oldest university in the United States. Students from all over the globe come to Harvard to rub shoulders with the brightest minds in the world.
At Harvard, the most popular bachelor’s programs are social sciences, economics, and computer science.
- Average SAT score – 1553
- Average GPA – 3.87
- Average earnings – $104,267
- Economic score – 0.92
3. Stanford University – 3.7% accepted
Stanford is a prestigious private research university in California’s Bay Area, between San Jose and San Francisco. It is considered an “Ivy Plus” university – it is not technically in the Ivy League, but it is just as rigorous academically.
Founded in 1885, it is one of the world’s most renowned universities. It is the alma mater of numerous world leaders, scientists, and other influential figures.
The most popular programs at Stanford are computer science, human biology, and economics.
- Average SAT score – 1553
- Average GPA – 3.87
- Average earnings – $109,840
- Economic score – 0.49
4. Columbia University – 3.9% accepted
Columbia is a private Ivy League university in New York City’s Morningside Heights neighborhood, on the border of the Upper West Side and Harlem in Manhattan.
Founded in 1754, it is the oldest university in New York and the 5th oldest university in the country. Alumni include 53 living billionaires and numerous scientists, politicians, and Nobel laureates.
The most popular bachelor’s programs among Columbia students are computer science, economics, and political science.
- Average SAT score – 1540
- Average GPA – 3.91
- Average earnings – $96,713
- Economic score – 1.23
5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology – 4.0% accepted
MIT is an “Ivy Plus” private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, just outside of Boston and a stone’s throw from Harvard.
MIT is often considered the world’s pre–eminent technical university – some of the most brilliant minds in science and technology have taught and/or studied here. Founded in 1861, it was established in response to rapid industrialization in the U.S.
At MIT, the most popular bachelor’s-level programs are computer science, mechanical engineering, and mathematics.
- Average SAT score – 1560
- Average GPA – 3.96
- Average earnings – $129,392
- Economic score – 0.58
6. Yale University – 4.6% accepted
Yale is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. An Ivy League university, it is one of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in the world.
Established in 1701, Yale is the 3rd oldest university in the country. Over 65 Noble laureates are associated with Yale, as are 5 U.S. presidents, 31 living billionaires, and hundreds of members of congress.
While Yale is well known for excellence in the humanities, its 3 most popular undergraduate programs are economics, political science, and computer science.
- Average SAT score – 1547
- Average GPA – 3.95
- Average earnings – $85,476
- Economic score – 0.79
7. Brown University – 5.1% accepted
A private research university in Providence, Rhode Island, Brown is a member of the Ivy League. Brown combines rigorous academics with an intimate learning environment that focuses on multidisciplinary research.
Brown was founded in 1764, before the American Revolution, making it one of the oldest universities in the country. It is associated with numerous Nobel prize winners, leading politicians, Rhodes scholars, and other illustrious alumni.
The most popular bachelor’s programs at Brown are computer science, applied mathematics, and economics.
- Average SAT score – 1547
- Average GPA – 3.94
- Average earnings – $72,361
- Economic score – 1.68
8. University of Chicago – 5.4% accepted
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. A pillar of Illinois’ higher education scene, UChicago’s grueling academic standards make it one of the most rigorous colleges in the country.
The University of Chicago was founded in 1890 by John D. Rockefeller, and it is associated with 99 Nobel laureates and 29 living billionaires. It is considered an Ivy Plus institution.
The most popular undergraduate degrees among UChicago students are economics, mathematics, and biology.
- Average SAT score – 1532
- Average GPA – 3.85
- Average earnings – $90,882
- Economic score – 1.46
9. Princeton University – 5.7% accepted
Princeton University is a private research university in Princeton, New Jersey, a small town between Philadelphia and New York City. Princeton is an Ivy League university.
Princeton was founded in 1746, making it the 4th oldest university in the U.S. It has the largest endowment per student in the country, allowing it to award generous scholarships, invest in cutting-edge research, and equip itself with world-class facilities.
At Princeton, the most popular bachelor’s programs are computer science, economics, and public policy analysis.
- Average SAT score – 1546
- Average GPA – 3.86
- Average earnings – $93,603
- Economic score – 0.40
10. Duke University – 6.3% accepted
Duke, a private research university in Durham, North Carolina, is an Ivy Plus institution – although not technically in the Ivy League, it is just as rigorous as one academically.
Founded in 1838, it is well known for both its rigorous academics and its beautiful campus, which contains many architectural buildings. Duke spends more than $1 billion on research each year, making it a prominent hub for science.
The most popular majors for Duke students are computer science, economics, and public policy analysis.
- Average SAT score – 1554
- Average GPA – 3.94
- Average earnings – $92,741
- Economic score – 1.46
Special mention: Minerva University
According to IPEDS data, the college with the lowest acceptance rate is technically Minerva University, an experimental, progressive institution that accepts less than 1% of applicants.
We have excluded it from our main list, however, because it is not registered as a Title IV institution within the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, meaning its students are not eligible for FAFSA.
Minerva does appear on our list of the 50 most selective colleges below, along with other highly selective special-focus or non-traditional institutions like Juilliard and various nursing colleges.
The top 50 most selective colleges
Below, you’ll find a full list of the top 50+ hardest colleges to get into in the United States.
Colleges that are not Title IV, are non-degree granting, or are not traditionally accredited are indicated with an asterisk (*). Because we’ve included them too, there are a few more than 50 schools in our table.
| College | Acceptance rate |
|---|---|
| Minerva University* | 0.99% |
| California Institute of Technology | 2.69% |
| Harvard University | 3.24% |
| Stanford University | 3.68% |
| Columbia University in the City of New York | 3.95% |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 3.96% |
| Yale University | 4.57% |
| Brown University | 5.06% |
| University of Chicago | 5.43% |
| Princeton University | 5.70% |
| Duke University | 6.35% |
| Dartmouth College | 6.38% |
| University of Pennsylvania | 6.50% |
| Vanderbilt University | 6.67% |
| Northeastern University | 6.80% |
| Swarthmore College | 6.93% |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Chicago* | 6.98% |
| Pomona College | 7.02% |
| Northwestern University | 7.21% |
| Johns Hopkins University | 7.25% |
| Amherst College | 7.26% |
| Cornell University | 7.47% |
| Colby College | 7.61% |
| Williams College | 8.50% |
| University of California-Los Angeles | 8.57% |
| Rice University | 8.68% |
| Barnard College | 8.79% |
| Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital School of Nursing* | 9.09% |
| Bowdoin College | 9.19% |
| Curtis Institute of Music* | 9.66% |
| Tufts University | 9.69% |
| Stanbridge University | 10.12% |
| Claremont McKenna College | 10.35% |
| The Juilliard School* | 10.61% |
| Circle in the Square Theatre School* | 10.62% |
| United States Naval Academy | 10.75% |
| Grinnell College | 10.76% |
| Carnegie Mellon University | 11.30% |
| University of California-Berkeley | 11.33% |
| Emory University | 11.35% |
| Tulane University of Louisiana | 11.45% |
| Washington University in St Louis | 11.76% |
| Hamilton College | 11.78% |
| Citizens School of Nursing* | 11.91% |
| United States Military Academy | 11.95% |
| Helene Fuld College of Nursing | 12.00% |
| University of Southern California | 12.02% |
| Georgetown University | 12.23% |
| Colgate University | 12.43% |
| New York University | 12.46% |
| Middlebury College | 12.69% |
| Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital School of Nursing* | 12.82% |
| Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences* | 12.90% |
| University of Notre Dame | 12.91% |
| Harvey Mudd College | 13.36% |
| Wellesley College | 13.57% |
| Bates College | 13.74% |
| Haverford College | 14.21% |
Source – IPEDS data
*Indicates a non-degree granting/non-traditional/non-Title IV institution as per the Carnegie Classification System for Institutions of Higher Education
The easiest Ivy Leagues to get into
The easiest Ivy League to get into according to the latest available data is Cornell, which admitted 7.5% of people who applied.
The hardest Ivy League college, on the other hand, is Harvard, with an acceptance rate of just 3.24%.
Below, we rank the Ivy Leagues from easiest to hardest to get into.
- Cornell – 7.5%
- University of Pennsylvania – 6.50%
- Dartmouth – 6.38%
- Princeton – 5.70%
- Brown – 5.06%
- Yale – 4.57%
- Columbia – 3.95%
- Harvard – 3.24%
Note that a number of colleges are more selective than the easiest Ivy League to get into (Cornell). These include Caltech, Stanford, MIT, University of Chicago, Duke, Vanderbilt, Northeastern University, Swarthmore, Pomona, Northwestern, John Hopkins, and Amherst.
The hardest public colleges to get into
The hardest public university to get into is the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), which accepts only 8.6% of applicants.
While most public universities are somewhat less selective than fancy privates, several state schools have shockingly low acceptance rates. Many of these colleges are considered “Public Ivies” due to their prestigious reputation and academic rigor.
| Public university | Acceptance rate |
|---|---|
| University of California-Los Angeles | 8.57% |
| United States Naval Academy | 10.75% |
| University of California-Berkeley | 11.33% |
| United States Military Academy | 11.95% |
| United States Air Force Academy | 16.23% |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 17.11% |
| Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus | 17.13% |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | 17.69% |
| University of Virginia-Main Campus | 18.66% |
| University of California-Irvine | 21.15% |
| University of Florida | 23.35% |
| University of California-San Diego | 23.71% |
The 20 colleges with the highest SAT scores
The college with the highest SAT score is MIT – the average student got a 1560.
While most colleges seek well-rounded applicants who demonstrate more than just academic prowess, some schools are more focused than others on standardized testing.
This could work to your advantage if you’re a high-IQ genius who struggles with other parts of the college application like extracurriculars.
The colleges below have student bodies with the highest average SAT scores in the nation, according to IPEDS data.
| College | Average total SAT score |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 1560 |
| Duke University | 1554 |
| Harvard University | 1553 |
| Stanford University | 1553 |
| Johns Hopkins University | 1553 |
| Yale University | 1547 |
| Brown University | 1547 |
| Princeton University | 1546 |
| University of Pennsylvania | 1546 |
| Vanderbilt University | 1546 |
| Rice University | 1546 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | 1546 |
| Columbia University | 1540 |
| Williams College | 1540 |
| Dartmouth College | 1539 |
| Harvey Mudd College | 1539 |
| Franklin W Olin College of Engineering | 1533 |
| University of Chicago | 1532 |
| Cornell University | 1527 |
Source: IPEDS data
The 20 colleges with the highest average GPA
The college whose students had the highest average cumulative GPA is Caltech, where the average student had a grade point average of 4.19 in high school.
Note that this is a weighted GPA – which means students who took advanced classes (like AP) got more grade points. Not sure about your weighted GPA? Use our handy GPA calculator to figure it out!
| College | Average weighted GPA |
|---|---|
| California Institute of Technology | 4.19 |
| Rice University | 4.12 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus | 4.07 |
| Northeastern University | 4.04 |
| Georgetown University | 4.01 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 3.96 |
| Harvey Mudd College | 3.96 |
| Yale University | 3.95 |
| Duke University | 3.94 |
| Brown University | 3.94 |
| Williams College | 3.94 |
| Bowdoin College | 3.94 |
| Northwestern University | 3.92 |
| Washington University in St Louis | 3.92 |
| Columbia University in the City of New York | 3.91 |
| University of Notre Dame | 3.91 |
| Amherst College | 3.91 |
| Tufts University | 3.91 |
| Wesleyan University | 3.91 |
Does any of this matter?
In the grand scheme of things, no. The world will continue to descend into environmental catastrophe whether or not you get into Harvard. Touch grass while you still can.
On a more pragmatic note, attending an elite college does confer certain economic advantages – although these may not be as significant as you might think.
The weighted average earnings of graduates of America’s 50 most competitive colleges, 4 years after graduation, is $78,817. Meanwhile, the figure for the top 10 most selective universities is $96,451.
This is 36.9% and 67.6% more respectively than the national average for all bachelor’s holders, 4 years on ($57,540 per year).
Because elite schools often award generous financial aid due to their large endowments, they tend to be better value, too. The average economic score of the 50 most selective schools in the U.S. is over 4 times better than the national average.
However, what you study is often more important than where you study it.
For some majors, like business and finance, attending an elite school can make a big difference. But for others, like computer science and engineering, where you got your degree is less important: you can earn a great salary whether you went to a fancy college or your state’s flagship institution.
KEY TAKEAWAY
While elite, selective colleges do provide great economic outcomes, what you study is often more important than where you study it.
Why you could benefit from applying to a selective college
Some colleges are so competitive that getting in can seem impossible. However, it may make sense to apply to several highly selective universities as your “reach schools anyway.”
You never know – a compelling personal essay could catch the eye of an admissions officer.
Furthermore, while public research universities are generally the best deal on the higher education market financially, some private colleges may be willing to award large scholarships to promising students – especially those from underserved communities.
A generous need-based grant could make an elite private education affordable and accessible.
KEY TAKEAWAY
You may get a surprising financial aid offer from an elite college, so remember to apply for a few “reach schools.”
Final thoughts
Many high-achieving students believe that their life is over if they can’t get into an Ivy League.
We’re here to remind you that it’s not.
It’s true that elite colleges provide an outstanding return on investment, given the high average salaries of graduates. However, at the end of the day, what you study matters more than where you study it.
Choosing a competitive, in-demand college major like computer science or engineering can set you up for success no matter where you get your degree.
Use our major comparison tool to see the average economic outcomes of various degrees, 4 years after graduation.
Also remember that many moderately competitive public universities are a great deal economically, given their lower tuition price. This is proven by our rankings of the best-value colleges in the country, where CUNY City College comes in at number 7!
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