30 Top Non-Ivy League Schools in 2023
What’s Covered:
- 30 Top Schools That Aren’t in the Ivy League
- 10 Non-Ivy League Schools with Intellectual Rigor & Higher Acceptance Rates
- Understand Your Chances at These Schools
- How To Find the Right College
If you have commendable grades, high test scores, and an impressive roster of extracurriculars, you might have dreams of attending one of the Ivies.
The Ivy League—a conference of eight elite East Coast schools—consists of Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, Columbia University, Brown University, Dartmouth College, University of Pennsylvania, and Cornell University. While attending an Ivy can undoubtedly help pave the way for a brighter future, these schools aren’t the only ones you should consider.
As application numbers skyrocket for Ivy League institutions, top students are increasingly turning to other great colleges and universities around the nation. Often just as selective and academically rigorous, these schools help students achieve success in numerous fields, from law to medicine to business. In fact, 89% of the CEOs of Fortune 500 companies actually attended non-Ivies, according to a recent study. Keep reading to learn about the best non-Ivy colleges to add to your school list.
30 Top Schools That Aren’t in the Ivy League
It’s no secret that graduating from an Ivy League school comes with a certain cachet. However, the best non-Ivy League colleges in the country tend to score equally high marks in terms of student satisfaction, extracurricular options, opportunities to study abroad, and other metrics. Below are 30 of the best schools that aren’t in the Ivy League.
1. Stanford University
Location: Stanford, CA
Acceptance rate: 4%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1470-1570 SAT, 34-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 7,800
Holding the No. 6 spot on US News & World Report’s list of national universities, Stanford actually ranks ahead of several of the Ivies. Therefore, it’s no surprise that this institution is unofficially referred to as the Ivy of the West.
Along with exceptional academic programs, the school offers small class sizes—almost 70% of classes have fewer than 20 students—and the opportunity to work closely with faculty. Students are encouraged to participate in professors’ research efforts and to seek out mentorship opportunities while earning their degrees.
Learn more about Stanford and see your chances of acceptance.
2. MIT
Location: Cambridge, MA
Acceptance rate: 4%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1510-1580 SAT, 34-36 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 4,500
MIT ties with Columbia for the No. 3 spot on the list of national universities, ranking just behind Princeton and Harvard. In addition to world-class research facilities featuring the latest technologies, MIT students enjoy access to the Independent Activities Program, a monthlong January term featuring special courses and projects.
While the university’s engineering school is its largest in terms of enrollment, MIT also earns high marks for non-tech programs such as political science and economics.
Learn more about MIT and see your chances of acceptance.
3. Duke University
Location: Durham, NC
Acceptance rate: 9%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1460-1550 SAT, 33-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 7,000
With 53 majors and 52 minors, Duke students have plenty of options when it comes to crafting an education. In fact, the school offers something called Program II, in which students with interdisciplinary interests can design their own degree programs.
Additionally, each year, the school offers 18 lucky students the opportunity to participate in the Robertson Scholars Leadership Program. The selected students receive a four-year scholarship along with special access to academic and extracurricular opportunities.
Learn more about Duke and see your chances of acceptance.
4. University of Chicago
Location: Chicago, IL
Acceptance rate: 7%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1510-1580 SAT, 33-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 8,300
UChicago is perhaps best known among students for having the quirkiest supplemental essay prompts, such as “A hot dog might be a sandwich, and cereal might be a soup, but is a ___ a ___?” Regarding academics, research is a major feature of life at the University of Chicago, where students are encouraged to embark on projects at the Argonne National Laboratory, Marine Biological Laboratory, and the Giant Magellan Telescope.
However, the school isn’t just known for its exceptional programs in science and technology. In fact, the University of Chicago offers over 50 different majors, including a nationally recognized program in economics. And with 400 student clubs, you won’t have to worry about finding your niche at this fine institution.
Learn more about UChicago and see your chances of acceptance.
5. Caltech
Location: Pasadena, CA
Acceptance rate: 7%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1530-1580 SAT, 35-36 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 900
Students who are passionate about a career in science would be remiss in not considering Caltech. Home to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory—the country’s leading center for robotic space exploration—the university provides students with plenty of opportunities to take part in research during the school year and the summer.
While Caltech is known for its academics, the school also offers plenty of extracurricular programs and student clubs, including archery, karate, and Ultimate Frisbee.
Learn more about Caltech and see your chances of acceptance.
6. Northwestern University
Location: Evanston, IL
Acceptance rate: 8%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1470-1570 SAT, 34-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 9,900
Another university in Illinois, Northwestern holds the No. 9 spot on the list of best national universities. While Northwestern offers 112 different undergraduate degrees, the school earns particular acclaim for its journalism program, which boasts well known alumni such as Pulitzer Prize winner Lisa Gartner and author George R. R. Martin.
As a bonus, Northwestern students have plenty of opportunities to take courses overseas. In fact, 50% of the university’s undergrads participate in study abroad.
Learn more about Northwestern and see your chances of acceptance.
7. Rice University
Location: Houston, Texas
Acceptance rate: 9%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1490-1570 SAT, 34-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 4,300
Located in the heart of Houston, Rice boasts a unique student experience for its undergraduates. The school’s most notable attribute is its residential college system—students are randomly placed into one of 11 individual college communities that they’ll interact with and be a member of during their entire college experience. This helps students build strong affiliations and a feeling of loyalty to their college.
Academically, Rice remains one of the best schools in the nation. With a 6-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, top programs in subjects ranging from kinesiology to art to business, and over 50 majors to choose from, Rice is a great place for well-rounded students to carve out a path for themselves.
Learn more about Rice University and see your chances of acceptance.
8. Williams College
Location: Williamstown, MA
Acceptance rate: 9%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1410-1560 SAT, 32-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 2,000
If you haven’t heard of Williams College, then you aren’t alone. Although lesser known as a liberal arts college, Williams is one of the best non-Ivy colleges in the nation, with majors ranging from economics to political science, government, and history.
Additionally, Williams offers 60-70 courses in the style of the tutorial system employed by Oxford and Cambridge. Consisting of a professor and two or three students, these tutorials allow undergraduates to learn in an intimate, personalized atmosphere. During their free time, Williams students enjoy plenty of outdoor activities in Western Massachusetts, such as hiking, canoeing, and cross-country skiing.
Learn more about Williams and see your chances of acceptance.
9. Vanderbilt University
Location: Nashville, TN
Acceptance rate: 7%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1480-1570 SAT, 34-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 7,200
Vanderbilt University was ranked #1 in Princeton Review’s Their Students Love These Colleges in 2023, and it’s easy to see why. The school engages students with a creative and collaborative environment, regardless of major, through initiatives such as Immersion Vanderbilt, which calls for undergraduates to undergo a mentored experience both within and outside of the classroom.
With 63% of students involved in research on campus, Vanderbilt has a plethora of opportunities for students to study how they choose. Nearly 500 student organizations make up Vanderbilt’s campus community, giving students plenty of things to spend their time on outside of class. And the school’s location right in vibrant Nashville means there’s never a dull moment.
Learn more about Vanderbilt University and see your chances of acceptance.
10. Pomona College
Location: Claremont, CA
Acceptance rate: 7%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1470-1570 SAT, 33-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,500
Pomona College offers students a comprehensive liberal arts education in a small environment while still giving students plenty of opportunities to expand their horizons. The school does not have graduate programs, meaning that the heart and focus of the college lie fully in its undergraduate students.
Undergraduates are the ones conducting research and engaging directly with the faculty, and as a result, the campus hosts a vibrant and exciting student body. Pomona consistently ranks as one of the best small colleges in the country, and for good reason.
Learn more about Pomona College and see your chances of acceptance.
11. Bowdoin College
Location: Brunswick, ME
Acceptance rate: 9%
Middle 50% SAT: 1330-1510
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,800
Bowdoin’s central mission statement revolves around the idea that each student is part of something bigger—something that contributes to the greater good. It’s a mission statement centered around inclusivity, diverse ideas and perspectives, and exploration.
Through experiencing everything the four seasons have to offer in Bowdoin’s Maine location, students will learn both inside and outside the classroom at every turn. And backed by top-tier Global Studies, History, and English programs, Bowdoin offers a comprehensive and horizon-expanding liberal arts education to any student.
Learn more about Bowdoin College and see your chances of acceptance.
12. Johns Hopkins University
Location: Baltimore, MD
Acceptance rate: 8%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1470-1560 SAT, 33-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 8,400
Johns Hopkins has a reputation as a top medical school. However, the university also offers highly rated programs in the humanities and social sciences, with popular majors including public health and international studies. Moreover, undergraduates praise the school’s financial aid offerings. According to U.S. News data, the mean aid package totals $47,492, and the university’s alumni earn an average starting salary of $62,700.
Learn more about Johns Hopkins and see your chances of acceptance.
13. University of Notre Dame
Location: Notre Dame, IN
Acceptance rate: 15%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1410-1550 SAT, 33-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 9,000
Located in South Bend, Indiana, Notre Dame is a Catholic-based private University that is home to nearly 9,000 undergraduate students. While its religious departments are notably strong, it isn’t just Notre Dame’s Catholic presence that sets it apart from other private Universities. It is a heavily research-based University and is a national leader in advancement in subjects across medicine, science, and engineering.
Additionally, the University is very involved in ensuring students have a positive experience, with students being required to live in a residence hall for nearly their entire four years, as well as offering a plethora of extracurricular activities and events.
Learn more about the University of Notre Dame and see your chances of acceptance.
14. Washington University in St. Louis
Location: St. Louis, MO
Acceptance rate: 13%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1490-1570 SAT, 32-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 8,600
Located right by St. Louis, MO, Washington University prides itself on its engaged student body, whether that involvement is with faculty, extracurriculars, peers, or academics. The school is very much its own self-contained community within the larger St. Louis region, but much of the focus outside of the classroom involves the betterment of others in the region. Research opportunities are widely accessible to students, making for a much more collaborative environment across campus.
Learn more about Washington University in St. Louis and see your chances of acceptance.
15. Amherst College
Location: Amherst, MA
Acceptance rate: 13%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1390-1540 SAT, 31-34 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,855
Another liberal arts college located in the Bay State, Amherst holds the No. 2 spot on the list of best national liberal arts colleges. Considered one of the Hidden Ivies (along with Northwestern and Stanford), Amherst is one of the few open curriculum schools, meaning that there are no general education requirements.
Additionally, Amherst is part of the Five College Consortium, so students can take courses and participate in clubs at local schools like Smith College and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Amherst College is known for its generous need-blind, no-loan financial aid, and the school promises to meet 100% of each student’s demonstrated need. More than half the students who attend this college receive aid, with the average need-based grant totaling $54,715.
Learn more about Amherst and see your chances of acceptance.
16. Wellesley College
Location: Wellesley, MA
Acceptance rate: 16%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1400-1540 SAT, 31-34 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 2,400
Known as the best women’s college outside of the Ivy League, Wellesley is focused on advancing the impact that women can make in the world. To that end, it offers its students a comprehensive and challenging liberal arts education.
The school is consistently ranked as one of the best small colleges in the country, and it’s easy to see why. It’s hard to find a department in which Wellesley is not highly ranked, meaning that students who attend Wellesley will get to explore different career paths and subjects in a significant way.
Additionally, unlike many liberal arts schools, Wellesley has a firm commitment to financial inclusivity. The school meets 100% of calculated need for all admitted students, with nearly three-quarters of its students receiving some form of financial aid.
Learn more about Wellesley College and see your chances of acceptance.
17. Claremont McKenna College
Location: Claremont, CA
Acceptance rate: 11%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1420-1530 SAT, 32-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,400
Ranked as one of the best liberal arts and small colleges in America, Claremont McKenna College boasts a tight-knit community that is integrated with a larger research university in the form of collaboration with other Claremont Colleges.
CMC is best known for its economics and government departments, but because of the school’s connection with other colleges such as Harvey Mudd and Pomona, students have a plethora of opportunities in practically any field.
And with a student-faculty ratio of 8:1, over 80% of classes at CMC have 20 students or fewer, meaning undergrads have the chance to really connect with their professors.
Learn more about Claremont McKenna College and see your chances of acceptance.
18. University of Southern California
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Acceptance rate: 13%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1410-1510 SAT, 32-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 20,700
As one of the biggest schools on this list, USC is still immensely competitive to get into, particularly due to how many students want to take part in USC’s prestigious academics and culture. In the past year, USC received over 69,000 applicants to its freshman class. USC certainly has a big campus feel, both during the undergraduate experience and after.
Known as members of “the Trojan Family,” USC students graduate not just with a degree from one of the most prestigious institutions in the country, but also with a massive network of alumni across the country that consistently seek to support fellow alumni.
Learn more about the University of Southern California and see your chances of acceptance.
19. Tufts University
Location: Medford, MA
Acceptance rate: 11%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1440-1550 SAT, 33-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 6,600
Known as a prestigious research university, Tufts is located right outside of Boston, which serves as a core part of its campus identity. The school’s guiding principle is that it remains grounded in collaboration rather than competition, a sentiment that echoes throughout the school’s close-knit community. This guiding principle is exemplified by the vast array of resources and opportunities for all Tufts students.
Tufts also offers students a variety of opportunities to engage with the world far outside of its campus borders. Its 1+4 Bridge Year Program gives students the chance to volunteer in countries around the world before arriving at Tufts. The Tufts Civic Semester offers the same opportunity to first-semester freshmen, providing them with the chance to spend their first semester abroad in service-learning programs.
In addition to these interesting and fulfilling programs, students have the opportunity to double-major across colleges, allowing them to tailor their education to their own goals and desires.
Learn more about Tufts University and see your chances of acceptance.
20. Swarthmore College
Location: Swarthmore, PA
Acceptance rate: 8%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1430-1560 SAT, 33-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,600
Swarthmore College is a small liberal arts college located in a nature-lover’s paradise in Pennsylvania. The campus is intertwined with its lush outdoor region, allowing students to engage in research that literally extends outside the classroom. This natural setting also offers students an incredibly serene college experience.
Swarthmore is connected to two other colleges—Bryn Mawr and Haverford—through the Tri-College Consortium (Tri-Co), which allows students to cross register for courses. This arrangement helps Swarthmore to feel like a small community within a large framework.
Learn more about Swarthmore College and see your chances of acceptance.
21. Georgetown University
Location: Washington D.C.
Acceptance rate: 12%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1410-1550 SAT, 32-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 7,500
Being located in the nation’s capital, Georgetown University has some of the most prestigious political science and international relations programs in the country. The university also has designated schools for similar subjects such as the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service and the McCourt School of Public Policy.
In fact, there are many different ways to learn at Georgetown. Students can opt for the Capitol Applied Learning Lab, which allows students to intern during the day and take coursework at night. Students can even attend Georgetown’s campus in Qatar, which will allow them to receive a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service.
Its rigorous programs and prestige have helped Georgetown become one of the top producers of Fulbright scholars in the country.
Learn more about Georgetown University and see your chances of acceptance.
22. University of Michigan
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Acceptance rate: 20%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1340-1520 SAT, 30-34 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 32,200
The University of Michigan is, by some measures, the largest institution on this list, but this is by no means a bad thing. UMich is frequently in the conversation regarding the best public universities in the country; it’s even commonly referred to as a “Public Ivy.”
With over 14 schools and colleges, the University of Michigan offers more than a whopping 280 majors, meaning there is practically no stone left unturned at UMich. And the school doesn’t just provide quantity, but quality as well—it would be hard to find a major or minor program at the University of Michigan that feels overlooked.
Due to its size, the University of Michigan also hosts one of the largest alumni networks in the country. Because of the sense of Wolverine pride that flows through all of its students, being a UMich alum can be a major asset in your professional life.
Learn more about the University of Michigan and see your chances of acceptance.
23. Middlebury College
Location: Middlebury, VT
Acceptance rate: 13%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1380-1530 SAT, 32-34 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 2,800
Home to the country’s first Environmental Studies program, Middlebury remains one of the top schools for sustainability, in addition to various other subjects in the liberal arts curriculum. Located in the Champlain Valley of Vermont, the school’s isolated nature is really what makes it special.
Faculty and administration care for the needs of each and every student, students care for one another, and the campus has a sense of community that truly can’t be replicated elsewhere. Middlebury even has its own ski area, known as the Snowbowl, just twenty minutes off campus.
Learn more about Middlebury College and see your chances of acceptance.
24. Washington and Lee University
Location: Lexington, VA
Acceptance rate: 19%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1410-1530 SAT, 32-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,800
Washington and Lee University offers a comprehensive liberal arts education three hours southwest of the nation’s capital. The curriculum for its liberal arts degree is split into thirds so that students have a third of classes in their major, a third as part of a core curriculum, and a final third in whatever they choose—as a result, many students opt to double-major.
Perhaps the most notable feature of the school is the historic Washington and Lee Mock Convention held by students, which has correctly predicted the next President of the United States 20 times and has received C-SPAN coverage.
Learn more about Washington and Lee University and see your chances of acceptance.
25. Haverford College
Location: Haverford, PA
Acceptance rate: 18%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1420-1540 SAT, 33-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,400
Located just outside of Philadelphia, Haverford College is a highly ranked liberal arts college that works in conjunction with other colleges—including Bryn Mawr, Swarthmore, and even the University of Pennsylvania—to ensure that its students have access to all the resources they could possibly need. With 98% of students and 40% of faculty living on campus, the college is known for its incredibly tight-knit community.
Additionally, Haverford’s prestigious Academic Centers provide funding and support for students independently pursuing opportunities outside of the classroom, which carries over to nearly half the student body electing to study abroad whilst attending Haverford. A similar number of students receive financial aid—nearly 50% of Haverford students receive aid or grants from the school in order to attend.
Learn more about Haverford University and see your chances of acceptance.
26. Cooper Union
Location: New York, NY
Acceptance rate: 15%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1330-1500 SAT, 31-34 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 800
The Cooper Union is a college in Manhattan that comprises three schools. The schools specialize in architecture, art, and engineering, respectively. Most notably, Cooper Union offers every admitted student a half-tuition scholarship as well as need-based aid to ensure that no student feels a financial burden while attending. As such, the school has become known as one of the best value schools in the country, particularly due to how prestigious and challenging it remains.
Highly selective—with a student body of just 800—Cooper Union has students who are particularly driven. This drive is partly due to a demanding course load, but is also due to how specialized the programs are. For example, the architecture program is a five-year program that culminates in a design thesis.
Learn more about the Cooper Union and see your chances of acceptance.
27. Emory University
Location: Atlanta, GA
Acceptance rate: 13%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1420-1540 SAT, 32-34 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 7,100
Emory is home to four different undergraduate schools between its main campus and satellite campus, known as Oxford College. Emory offers programs in subjects like liberal arts and business, and even has a top-ranked program in nursing.
Incoming freshmen can choose to start at the main campus or can spend their first two years at Oxford, which is more akin to a traditional liberal arts college. Regardless, one of the defining elements of an education at Emory is flexibility. For example, 27% of students in the business school opt for a second major outside of their school.
Learn more about Emory University and see your chances of acceptance.
28. Wesleyan University
Location: Middletown, CT
Acceptance rate: 19%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1300-1510 SAT, 31-34 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 3,300
Unlike many other liberal arts colleges, Wesleyan is defined by an open curriculum approach to earning a degree. With help from faculty advisors, students are in charge of their own course loads. With respect to how they receive their general education on top of their majors and minors, students are free to explore whichever subjects they would like to explore, rather than having to adhere to strict requirements.
Wesleyan is also very prestigious in many art-related subjects, such as film, performing arts, and English. It’s also one of the only small liberal arts colleges with a graduate program, so undergraduate students interested in pursuing research have a wide variety of resources at their disposal.
Learn more about Wesleyan University and see your chances of acceptance.
29. Carleton College
Location: Northfield, MN
Acceptance rate: 20%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1320-1530 SAT, 30-34 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 2,000
A close-knit community located in rural Minnesota animated by intellectual curiosity—that’s a summary of the Carleton experience. The school has a liberal arts focus and encourages deep, broad, and dynamic learning to make sense of the “interesting messiness of life.”
A fun fact about Carleton: a former long-term employee who regularly invited students to her home for chocolate chip cookies donated her house to the college. Students continue to gather there to hang out—and even bake her beloved chocolate chip cookies, as well as make bran, beer, or carrot muffins using ingredients from the fully-stocked refrigerator.
Learn more about Carleton and see your chances of acceptance.
30. New York University
Location: New York, NY
Acceptance rate: 13%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1450-1570 SAT, 32-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 28,700
New York University is located alongside the iconic Washington Square Park, which sums it up perfectly—NYU is the college of New York City. There’s no other school as intertwined with the big city quite like NYU. Students live and learn in the heart of the metropolis, meaning that the sky is truly the limit in terms of the kind of living education you can pursue.
With very prestigious schools such as the Tisch School of Arts and the Stern School of Business, there are so many ways to discover your path at NYU. Students can easily elect to pursue fields of study outside their school through NYU’s “cross-school minors” program. Additionally, 45% of students choose to study abroad, meaning it’s easy to decide what kind of student you want to be at NYU.
Learn more about Carleton and see your chances of acceptance.
10 Non-Ivy League Schools with Intellectual Rigor & Higher Acceptance Rates
Given that there are more qualified candidates than there are spots at highly selective schools, it makes sense to include schools on your list that offer intellectual rigor but that also have higher acceptance rates. Some on this list may be familiar to you, but others may be hidden gems.
1. Brandeis University
Location: Waltham, MA
Acceptance rate: 39%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1370-1530 SAT, 31-34 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 3,500
Brandeis is a nonsectarian research university focused on its undergraduates. Justice, openness, and inclusion are in its DNA. This isn’t surprising, given that it was founded in 1948 by the Jewish American community at a time when Jews and other racial and ethnic minorities, as well as women, faced discrimination in higher education. More than 70 years later, the school remains driven by the values of inclusion, reverence for learning, critical thinking and self-criticism.
Learn more about Brandeis and see your chances of acceptance.
2. Lafayette College
Location: Easton, PA
Acceptance rate: 41%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1300-1460 SAT, 30-33 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 2,700
Lafayette College has everything you could want in a small liberal arts college and more. Located halfway between New York City and Pennsylvania, the campus overlooks the Delaware River and historic and beautiful Easton, making for some stunning views and a picturesque college experience.
Lafayette is also chock-full of great academic programs—it ranks highly in programs ranging from international studies to film to economics. And with a student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1, every student is sure to get individual attention and can find ways to carve their own path at Lafayette.
Learn more about Lafayette and see your chances of acceptance.
3. Colgate University
Location: Hamilton, NY
Acceptance rate: 17%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1350-1500 SAT, 32-34 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 3,100
Colgate has a picturesque campus in the heart of upstate New York, where its students develop as wise, thoughtful, critical thinkers and perceptive leaders. Students also enjoy direct access to faculty. The school is neither a giant research university nor a tiny liberal arts college.
To deliver on its mission, Colgate requires all students complete a course by the end of their sophomore year in each of five areas of its Core Curriculum: Legacies of the Ancient World, Challenges of Modernity, Communities and Identities, Scientific Perspectives of the World, and Global Engagements.
Learn more about Colgate and see your chances of acceptance.
4. The College of William & Mary
Location: Williamsburg, VA
Acceptance rate: 37%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1360-1520 SAT, 31-34 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 6,500
The College of William & Mary is a premier public research university located in historic and beautiful Williamsburg, Virginia. It offers undergraduate degrees in liberal arts and business. Founded in 1693 by a royal charter issued by King William III and Queen Mary II, it is the second-oldest institution of higher education in the United States—second only to Harvard. William & Mary is among the select top public schools that are considered “Public Ivies.”
Learn more about William & Mary and see your chances of acceptance.
5. Connecticut College
Location: New London, CT
Acceptance rate: 41%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1330-1480 SAT, 30-33 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,800
Conn College is the quintessential college on a hill—overlooking Long Island Sound, across the street from the Coast Guard Academy. It has 750 acres of arboretum and is two hours from Boston, one hour from Providence, and three hours from New York City.
“Connections” is the name of the school’s new approach to a liberal arts education. It was designed to encourage students to integrate their interests into a meaningful interdisciplinary curriculum or educational pathway (rather than a checklist of classes). This approach, along with ample opportunities to study abroad and college-funded internships prepare students for a fulfilling, effective career.
Learn more about Connecticut College and see your chances of acceptance.
6. Grinnell College
Location: Grinnell, IA
Acceptance rate: 11%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1370-1530 SAT, 30-34 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,700
Grinnell students design their own academic journey in conjunction with a faculty advisor. The school calls its approach an Individually Advised Curriculum. There is only one required class, called a First Year Tutorial—it’s a small, writing-intensive, discussion-based class with topics such as Kendrick Lamar, Coping with Climate Change, Exploring the Magical World of Calvin and Hobbes.
Grinnell has no general education requirements. The school prides itself on attracting students who have the curiosity and intellect to ask hard questions and question easy answers.
Learn more about Grinnell and see your chances of acceptance.
7. Kenyon College
Location: Gambier, OH
Acceptance rate: 37%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1340-1500 SAT, 31-34 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,800
The oldest private college in Ohio, Kenyon is also the first in the U.S. to implement the model of faculty members serving as academic advisors. The school has a long-standing literary tradition and is the home of the Kenyon Review—an esteemed literary magazine—so it’s not surprising that 100% of recent alumni say they learned to write better at Kenyon.
Perhaps you’ll find it surprising that the school ranks 8th in the country (ahead of every Ivy) for the proportion of STEM grads to earn a doctorate in their respective fields.
Learn more about Kenyon and see your chances of acceptance.
8. Macalester College
Location: St. Paul, MN
Acceptance rate: 31%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1340-1510 SAT, 29-33 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 2,200
With students from all 50 states and 98 countries, a philosophy of global citizenship, and a collaborative learning approach, Macalester prepares students to have a considerable impact on the world. Civic engagement is central to the ethos of the school, and it is bolstered by Macalester’s Civic Engagement Center and the Kofi Annan Institute for Global Citizenship.
Learn more about Macalester and see your chances of acceptance.
9. Oberlin College
Location: Oberlin, OH
Acceptance rate: 34%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1340-1460 SAT, 30-34 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 2,900
With both a top-rate College of Arts and Sciences and a Conservatory of Music, Oberlin is a school that inspires profound connections between intellectual and artistic discovery. Moral idealism, social engagement and creativity are also valued at Oberlin. It was the first college to adopt a policy to admit Black students and to grant undergraduate degrees to women in a co-ed program.
Learn more about Oberlin and see your chances of acceptance.
10. Occidental College
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Acceptance rate: 37%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1340-1490 SAT, 30-33 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,900
Los Angeles’s first and only liberal arts college, Occidental is nestled in the beautiful hills of LA’s Eagle Rock community, founded in 1887—before LA even had its first paved street. Oxy students have the resources of a vibrant, global city, as well as a high-quality interdisciplinary and multicultural education to prepare them for leadership in a complex, independent, and pluralistic world. The school has a history of recruiting talented students regardless of their background.
Learn more about Occidental and see your chances of acceptance.
Understand Your Chances at These Schools
Shooting for selective colleges can be daunting, as only a few students can reasonably expect to stand a chance in admissions. You may look at the low acceptance rates and wonder what your chances actually are of getting in.
Schools calculate acceptance rate by dividing the number of accepted students by the total number of students who applied. It only applies to the group as a whole. Within that applicant pool, some students have a 70% chance of acceptance, while others have a less than 10% chance of getting in.
The low acceptance rates apply to each school’s entire applicant pool; therefore, this rate should not be taken as your own personal chance of acceptance. One way to better understand your personal rate of acceptance is to compare against students with your background and to be able to compare all aspects of your profile (including extracurriculars). You can do this easily with our free admissions calculator!
It’s important to understand your personal chances to be able to make the best decisions for your school list moving forward.
How To Find the Right College
It’s important to do your research when creating a school list to ensure you will get accepted into at least one school that you’d be happy to attend. If you apply to only your safety schools, for example, you’ll run the risk of not being challenged enough and growing bored in college. If you apply to only reach schools, you might not get accepted to any of the schools on your list.
We recommend that students apply to 8-12 schools, with 25% being safety schools, 40% being target schools, and 35% being reach schools. One easy way to make sure you have a healthy school list is to search for schools based on your personal acceptance rate, not the average acceptance rate.
We’ve made this process simpler by allowing you to calculate your personal chances and then filter through hundreds of schools based on these chances using our School Hub. It’s all free, you just need to be logged in to filter for your chances.
You can also filter for other helpful things, such as location, major, cost, and even application difficulty! We highly recommend you check it out.
