Acceptance Rate of Universities in USA: An Admission Guide for 2025

Veda Burman Study Abroad Content Specialist

Study Abroad Content Specialist

The acceptance rate in the universities in USA reflect your likelihood of securing admission. Institutions with an acceptance rate below 40% are considered highly competitive. Universities with acceptance rates above 80% are less competitive, offering higher chances of admission.

The top universities in USA typically have acceptance rates below 20%, making them highly competitive. Some of these most competitive universities include Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Columbia, and CalTech. For 2024, California Institute of Technology (CalTech) recorded the lowest acceptance rate, admitting just 3% of the 13,000 applicants. Harvard University followed closely, accepting only 3.64% of 54,008 applicants.

To gain admission into these universities, Indian applicants must showcase an outstanding academic record and in some cases, relevant work experience. However, there are lightly selective institutes in USA like Weber State, Western New Mexico, Southern Virginia, and UT El Paso. All of these universities are well-known yet they have 100% acceptance rates, ensuring admission for all eligible applicants.

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Table of Contents

Acceptance Rate of Top Universities in USA
Low Acceptance Rate Universities in USA
High Acceptance Rate Universities in USA
Universities in USA with 100% Acceptance Rate
FAQs

Acceptance Rate of Top Universities in USA

The top universities in USA have the lowest acceptance rates in the country. These universities receive a huge number of applications due to their reputation and hence has stringent screening processes. Here are some of the top US universities and their respective acceptance rates:

Acceptance Rate of Top US Universities

THE World University Rankings 2025	University	Acceptance Rate
#2	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	4.5%
#3	Harvard University	3.64%
#4	Princeton University	4.61%
#6	Stanford University	4%
#7	California Institute of Technology	3%
#8	University of California, Berkeley	11%
#10	Yale University	3.7%
#=14	The University of Chicago	4.48%
#=14	University of Pennsylvania	5.38%
#16	Johns Hopkins University	8%
#=18	Columbia University	3.86%
#=18	University of California, Los Angeles	8.96%
#20	Cornell University	8.6%
#=22	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	20%
#24	Carnegie Mellon University	15.40%
#25	University of Washington	43%
#27	Duke University	8.2%
#31	Northwestern University	9.1%
#33	New York University	21.1%
#34	University of California, San Diego	34.3%
#40	Georgia Institute of Technology	19.07%
#46	University of Illinois at Urbana Campaign	42.4%
#50	University of Texas at Austin	29%
#56	University of Wisconsin Madison	45.17%
#=58	Brown University	5.4%

Also Read: 2025 Application Deadlines for US Universities

Low Acceptance Rate Universities in USA

Some universities in the USA are incredibly selective, admitting only a small number of students each year. To get into these institutes, you should ensure an excellent GPA, well written SOP, good LORs, proven extracurricular achievements, leadership potential and in some cases, relevant professional experience. The table below shows some top US universities with the lowest acceptance rates:

University	Applications Received	Acceptance Rate
California Institute of Technology	13,000	3%
Harvard University	54,008	3.64%
Yale University	54,465	3.7%
Columbia University	60,248	3.86%
Stanford University	60,000 (Estimated)	4%
University of Chicago	43,612	4.48%
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	28,232	4.5%
Princeton University	40,468	4.61%
University of Pennsylvania	65,235	5.38%
Brown University	48,904	5.4%

Also Check: Requirements to Study in USA for International Students

High Acceptance Rate Universities in USA

High acceptance rate universities in the USA focus on providing access to higher education for a wider range of students, rather than targeting only the top-performing applicants. Students with strong academic profiles, such as high GPAs, test scores, and active involvement in extracurricular activities, often qualify for scholarships at these universities. Here are some of the US universities with high acceptance rate and their current global rankings according to THE WUR, 2025:

THE World University Rankings 2025	Universities	Acceptance Rate
#601-800	University of Toledo	92%
#401-500	Colorado State University	91%
#401-500	Virginia Commonwealth University	91%
#801-1000	Kent State University	88%
#201-250	University of Utah	89%
#351-400	University of Kansas	88%
#251-300	University of Cincinnati	86%
#401-500	University of Texas at Dallas	85%
#601-800	University of Texas at Arlington	81%
-	Loyola University, Chicago	79%

Also Read: How to Convert Percentage in CGPA and GPA?

Universities in USA with 100% Acceptance Rate

Following are some of the universities in USA with 100% acceptance rare. All the students satisfying the eligibility criteria of these universities can enroll to these institutes:

Universities	Location
The University of Texas--El Paso	El Paso, TX
Weber State University	Ogden, UT
Western New Mexico University	Silver City, NM
Cameron University	Lawton, OK
Grace Christian University	Grand Rapids, MI
Southern Virginia University	Buena Vista, VA
Grand View University	Des Moines, IA
Middle Georgia State University	Macon, GA
Southwest Baptist University	Bolivar, MO
University of Providence	Great Falls, MT

The acceptance rate of universities in USA only provides a single data point about a school. There are other factors that influence the admission process in US Universities. While applying to US Universities, students should also consider early applications for a better chance of acceptance. The number of early applications received by universities are usually lower than the regular applications, which increases the acceptance rate.

FAQs

Ques. Which universities in the USA have the lowest acceptance rates?

Ans. Top institutions like California Institute of Technology (3%), Harvard University (3.64%), and Stanford University (4%) have the lowest acceptance rates, making them the most competitive.

Ques. Are there universities in the USA with 100% acceptance rates?

Ans. Yes, institutions like Weber State University, Western New Mexico University, Southern Virginia University, and UT El Paso have 100% acceptance rates, guaranteeing admission to eligible applicants.

Ques. How can students improve their chances of admission to competitive universities in the USA?

Ans. Students can enhance their chances by maintaining high GPAs, writing strong SOPs, obtaining solid LORs, demonstrating leadership and extracurricular achievements, and meeting all application requirements early.