What Are the Hardest Colleges to Get Into?
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Do you have what it takes to stand out among tens of thousands of applicants to get into the most elite colleges? We gathered the top schools with the lowest acceptance rates, many of which are Ivy League colleges: elite private schools that offer some of the best education in the world.
Even the most elite schools can be accessible to everyone. Most Ivy League schools offer free or reduced tuition to students from families meeting certain income requirements — some even provide a completely free education.Ivy League schools have built up their reputations through a combination of academic excellence, large endowments, and notable alumni and faculty. Explore our list of the ten hardest colleges to get into.
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Top 10 Hardest Colleges to Get Into
Ivy League schools dominate the list of the hardest colleges to get into. All of the top ten schools accept 6% or less of applicants.
The California Institute of Technology, a non-Ivy elite private school, ties with Harvard University for being the most selective school, accepting only 3% of applicants.
| School | Location | Acceptance Rate | Number of Applicants |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Institute of Technology | Pasadena, CA | 3% | 13,107 |
| Harvard University | Cambridge, MA | 3% | 56,937 |
| Columbia University | New York, NY | 4% | 57,613 |
| Princeton University | Princeton, NJ | 4% | 39,644 |
| Stanford University | Stanford, CA | 4% | 53,733 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, MA | 5% | 26,904 |
| University of Chicago | Chicago, IL | 5% | 38,631 |
| Yale University | New Haven, CT | 5% | 51,803 |
| Brown University | Providence, RI | 5% | 51,316 |
| Dartmouth College | Hanover, NH | 6% | 28,841 |
1. California Institute of Technology, 3% Acceptance Rate
- Number of Applicants: 13,107
- Student Population: 2,401
California Institute of Technology (Caltech) is the smallest prestigious college on our list of hardest colleges to get into. The student-faculty ratio is 3:1, so you’ll never feel lost in the crowd. Caltech fosters interdisciplinary teamwork, mutual support, and a deep understanding of concepts. According to Caltech, 1 out of 10 students conduct research.While the university specializes in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs like aerospace, electrical engineering, physics, and computational and neural systems, you can pursue some social sciences and liberal arts majors.
2. Harvard University, 3% Acceptance Rate
- Number of Applicants: 56,937
- Student Population: 30,631
Harvard ties with Caltech for the hardest university to get into. However, unlike Caltech, Harvard has more program offerings, including an extensive catalog of majors and minors spread across 13 schools in STEM, social sciences, and liberal arts.
The university also offers plenty of extracurriculars, such as varsity and club sports, 15 museums, community gardens, and the oldest library system in the country.
3. Columbia University, 4% Acceptance Rate
- Number of Applicants: 57,613
- Student Population: 34,782
Columbia is an elite school in New York City that houses three undergraduate schools and 15 graduate and professional schools. Whether you’re looking for photography, music, visual arts, nursing, engineering, or pre-med, Columbia has it all.
If you also want to experience all New York City has to offer, the campus is located right in the heart of the city. In fact, Columbia is the only Ivy League school set in a major metropolitan city.
4. Princeton University, 4% Acceptance Rate
- Number of Applicants: 39,644
- Student Population: 8,842
At Princeton, you can major in most fields, such as humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, engineering, and applied science.
There’s plenty to do on campus, thanks to the hundreds of student organizations, campus centers, and varsity and club sports. According to Princeton, its teams have won more Ivy League championships than any other school during the last two decades, and a few have won national titles.
5. Stanford University, 4% Acceptance Rate
- Number of Applicants: 53,733
- Student Population: 18,283
The research institute, located near the coast of California, boasts a 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio and 66 majors, including languages, electrical engineering, film and media studies, music, religious studies, sustainable architecture and engineering, and sociology.
It might be hard to be bored at Stanford, with over 14,000 students living on campus, over 600 student groups, an arts district, a performing arts center, and two museums. Stanford also houses some of the country’s most competitive sports programs, with 36 varsity and 43 club sports. Several alums have even competed in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 5% Acceptance Rate
- Number of Applicants: 26,904
- Student Population: 11,858
The educational juggernaut for STEM degrees hosts 30 departments across five schools and one college. Students can choose from various science, engineering, arts, humanities, social sciences, and interdisciplinary programs.
Aside from teaching, many faculty members at MIT also participate in interdisciplinary research, such as clean energy and cancer.
At MIT, you can join one of over 500 clubs, including chocolate science, 33 varsity sports, or tons of arts, music, and creative performances.
7. University of Chicago, 5% Acceptance Rate
- Number of Applicants: 38,631
- Student Population: 18,339
Discover 65 majors and 63 minors in the heart of Chicago. Major in anything from environment, geography, and urbanization to molecular engineering. If you’re looking to go abroad, the university also has partnerships with other universities worldwide and even a marine biology laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.
The university has over 400 student organizations and year-round activities like career and academic activities, intramural sports, theater, improv, and music groups. If you want to explore off-campus, the entire city of Chicago is at your fingertips.
8. Yale University, 5% Acceptance Rate
- Number of Applicants: 51,803
- Student Population: 14,776
This centuries-old Ivy League liberal arts college offers engineering, social sciences, applied science, and humanities majors. One of the unique aspects of Yale is the residential colleges, which provide a small campus experience at a large university. You’ll be assigned to one of 14 residential colleges and stay affiliated with them throughout your college career and beyond.
Yale has 30 varsity teams, 40 club sports, 50 performance groups, and 60 cultural associations. If you’re looking for a way to engage with your faith on campus, Yale also has an office for religious and spiritual life, representing 13 faiths.
9. Brown University, 5% Acceptance Rate
- Number of Applicants: 51,316
- Student Population: 11,189
Brown’s unique “Open Curriculum” allows you to create and navigate a personalized study course instead of completing core courses. Brown says that through this model, graduates are prepared to be independent, innovative leaders in any path they choose.
Whether you want to dive into sports, public service, or a tight-knit community, Brown has you covered. The school has over 500 student organizations, 4,100 intramural sports participants, and 60 public service groups. According to Brown, almost 60% of undergraduates declare the arts as their co-curricular interest.
10. Dartmouth College, 6% Acceptance Rate
- Number of Applicants: 28,841
- Student Population: 6,744
Dartmouth College rounds off our list of the hardest colleges to get into. Dartmouth has over 60 majors in humanities, engineering, arts, and performing arts. In addition to the arts and sciences, there is a medical school, a school of engineering, and a school of business.
Dartmouth has a tight-knit on-campus student population of about 3,190 and 160 student-managed clubs and organizations. The rural Ivy League is ideal for anyone who wants to escape the city and experience a sustainability-focused education.
What Makes a College Hard to Get Into?
Low admissions rates are a part of what makes prestigious colleges prestigious. By taking only the best, they set themselves to a higher academic standard than colleges with higher admissions rates.
Competitive colleges often have large endowments and financial aid capabilities due to alums who loved their experience at the college and donated to the university. Many of these colleges’ reputations precede them and are extremely attractive to potential employers.
5 Tips for Getting Into a Selective College
Preparing for a selective college starts in high school. Since these schools take the best of the best, you must be determined to get straight A’s and go above and beyond in your academics. Your GPA, SAT and ACT scores, college essays, and extracurriculars all matter to college admissions.
- 1
Make Yourself Stand Out With Extracurriculars
Good grades and test scores are essential, but most colleges look to see if you’re a well-rounded student involved in your community, school, and classes. Most selective colleges seek student leaders who can work hard in school, lead others, and contribute to their campus culture and community.
Want to join a club in high school? See what it’s like to go the extra mile and make yourself an integral part of the club, not just a participant. List all your extracurricular activities on your applications.
- 2
Have a Perfect GPA
Most students who get into the most selective colleges have around a 4.0 GPA. If you’re about to enter high school and want to attend some of the most prestigious schools, study hard to get straight A’s and take AP classes that will boost your weighted GPA.
- 3
Polish Your College Essay
Explain what makes you you and show why you want to attend the college of your choice. Colleges want to know who you are, what drives you, and your academic goals. Your college essay lets your college know who you are besides your accomplishments. Connect your academics, interests, and extracurricular activities.
- 4
Talk with an Advisor
Your high school counselor can provide guidance on how to get into a selective college and help you plan while in high school to maximize your chances. You can also speak with an alum you know or a college advisor on how to apply for college.
- 5
Study for the SAT and ACT
ACT and SAT scores are factors in college admissions. If you’re looking to stand out academically and match some of the most competitive students, you typically need a perfect or near-perfect score on one or both exams. If you want to prepare for these tests, there are plenty of books and practice tests you can take.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Hardest Colleges to Get Into
We’ve ranked MIT as the best college to attend this year. However, other lists frequently list the most prestigious colleges like Harvard, Princeton, and Columbia as the top schools to attend. Your preferences may make one college better than another, so determine the environment, culture, and programs of your top picks.
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