Top Colleges With The Lowest Acceptance Rates Of 2020

Going to the right school can have a positive impact on your employment opportunities after college and beyond. Getting into a top-rated school in the U.S is a true accomplishment as each university looks at a variety of factors before accepting a small percentage of students from a large pool of candidates.

Some universities in the U.S. have very low acceptance rates, and gaining admission into these schools can be incredibly competitive. These institutions look at both academics and extracurriculars when assessing potential candidates. Here are the top U.S. universities with the lowest acceptance rates.

Washington, D.C: Georgetown University

A view of Healy Hall at Georgetown University
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DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images

Georgetown University is a private Catholic school located in Washington D.C. The school was founded in 1789 and has an urban campus setting overlooking the Potomac River. The school is known for majors like finance, political science, and government. Georgetown University also has one of the best-looking campuses in the U.S.

The campus is spread over 104 acres and has a total enrollment of 7,459 students. The annual tuition is $56,058 and the starting salary for a graduate is $65,200. The acceptance rate at Georgetown is 16 percent and the graduation rate is 95 percent.

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Maryland: John Hopkins University

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Photo by JHU Sheridan Libraries/Gado via Getty Images
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Johns Hopkins was founded in 1876 and is one of the top schools in the nation. There are five undergraduate schools at the university and majors such as public health, medicine and engineering are the most popular. The school also has a very generous financial aid program.

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John Hopkins University is spread over 140 acres and has an enrollment of 6,064 students. The annual tuition is $53,350 and the starting salary for a graduate is $62,700. The school has an acceptance rate of 13 percent and a graduation rate of 93 percent.

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Connecticut: Yale University

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Yale University is an Ivy League institution located in New Haven, Connecticut. The school was founded in 1701 and is considered both a research and liberal arts school. It is ranked number 3 in the top schools in the nation. Yale is also known for its drama club and a capella group.

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Yale University stretches over 373 acres and has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,964 students. The total tuition is $55,000. The acceptance rate is 7 percent and the graduation rate is 97 percent. The starting salary for Yale graduates is $56,600.

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Illinois: University Of Chicago

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The University of Chicago is a private university founded in 1890 and located in Hyde Park. The school is known for its rigorous academic programs and is noted for its business, medicine and engineering programs. In addition to strong academics, the University of Chicago also boasts some of the best sports teams in the nation.

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The campus is spread over 217 acres and has a total student enrollment of 6,552. The total tuition is $59,298 and the starting salary for graduates is $54,300. The school is incredibly competitive and has an acceptance rate of only 8 percent.

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Indiana: University Of Notre Dame

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General view of the Main Administration Building and Golden Dome are seen on the campus of Notre Dame University
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The University of Notre Dame is a private Catholic institution that was founded in 1842. The school is located in South Bend which is a suburb of Chicago. The university contains eight schools, the largest of them being the College of Arts and Letters. Notre Dame is also known for its athletic programs.

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The University of Notre Dame is spread over 1,265 acres of land and has a total undergraduate enrollment of 8,617 students. The total tuition is $55,553 and the average graduate's starting salary is $61,800. The school's acceptance rate is 19 percent.

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Maine: Bowdoin College

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Bowdoin College is a private educational institution founded in 1794. The school is located in Brunswick, Maine. The school is known for its government, economics, and political science majors. In addition to academics, Bowdoin College also has 31 sports teams and 100 student organizations.

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The Bowdoin College campus is spread over 207 acres and has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,828 students. The tuition is $56,350 and the starting salary for a graduate is $44,600. The acceptance rate at the school is 14 percent and the graduation rate is 95 percent.

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Massachusetts: Harvard University

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Harvard University, located in Cambridge, is one of the best universities in the world. It is also the oldest college in America. Founded in 1636, Harvard boasts some of the best academic programs in the nation. The university consists of 13 schools that include majors like medicine, law, and engineering.

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Harvard University is spread over 5,076 acres and has a total student enrollment of 6,788. The annual tuition is $51,925 and the starting salary for a graduate is $70,300. The acceptance rate is 5 percent and the graduation rate is 95 percent.

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Missouri: Washington University in St. Louis

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Brookings Hall, one of the symbols of Washington University in St. Louis
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Washington University in St. Louis is a private school founded in 1853 and is now one of the best universities in the nation. The school is located in a vibrant city that offers numerous options for entertainment. Washington University is known for majors like medicine, engineering, and business.

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The school is spread over 169 acres and has a total enrollment of 7,751 students. The annual tuition is $55,292 and the starting salary for a graduate is $70,300. The acceptance rate at Washington University is 5 percent and the graduation rate is 96 percent.

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New Hampshire: Dartmouth College

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Dartmouth College is an Ivy League institution located in Hanover. The university was founded in 1769 and is considered to be one of the best schools in the nation. Dartmouth is also home to the Outing Club which is one of the oldest and most popular clubs at Dartmouth.

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The university is spread over 237 acres and has a total enrollment of 4,417 students. The annual tuition is $57,204 and the starting salary for a graduate is $58,900. Some popular majors include economics, business, and computer science. The acceptance rate at Dartmouth is 10 percent.

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New Jersey: Princeton University

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Princeton University is a member of the Ivy League and was founded in 1746. It is one of the oldest universities in the world and is located in the quiet town of Princeton in New Jersey. The college is known for its eating clubs and which are social and dining organizations. The school is committed to community service.

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Princeton University is spread over 600 acres and has a student enrollment of 5,428. The annual tuition is $51,870 and the starting salary for a graduate is $60,800. The acceptance rate at Princeton is 6 percent, while the graduation rate is 97 percent.

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New York: Columbia University

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Columbia University, located in the heart of New York City, is one of the top schools in the nation. The university was founded in 1754 and is known for majors like economics, political science, and computer science. The college also hosts the Pulitzer Prizes.

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Columbia University is spread over 36 acres and has a total enrollment of 6,202 students. Ninety percent of the students live on campus. The annual tuition is $61,850 and the starting salary for a graduate is $66,500. The acceptance rate is 7 percent and the graduation rate is 95 percent.

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North Carolina: Duke University

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Duke University is a private institution located in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1838 and is regarded as one of the top schools in the nation. The most popular majors at Duke include public policy, economics, and computer science. In addition to academics, the school also boasts one of the top athletic programs in the nation.

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Duke University has a total enrollment of 6,682 students and the annual tuition is $58,198. The acceptance rate is 10 percent and there is a 95 percent graduation rate. The starting salary for a Duke graduate is $76,300.

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Alabama: University Of West Alabama

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University of West Alabama
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The University of West Alabama is located in Livingston and was founded in 1835 by Julia Tutwiler. It was established as an all-female institution and changed its name many times over the years to represent its mission accurately. It is ranked as one of the best universities in the South.

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The campus stretches over 514 acres and the total number of students is 2,159. The in-state tuition fee at the university is $10,040 and out of state tuition is $18,490. The acceptance rate at the University of West Alabama is 28 percent and the graduation rate is 33 percent.

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Pennsylvania: University Of Pennsylvania

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Fisher Fine Art Library and Arthur Ross Gallery, University of Pennsylvania
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The University of Pennsylvania is an Ivy League institution located in Philadelphia. It was founded in 1740 and is ranked as one of the top schools in the nation. UPenn is known for majors like economics, nursing, and law. The school's lacrosse and basketball teams are some of the best in the U.S.

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UPenn is spread over 299 acres and has a total enrollment of 10,183 students. The annual tuition at the university is $57,770 and the starting salary for a graduate is $71,600. The acceptance rate is 9 percent and the graduation rate is 96 percent.

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California: Stanford University

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Stanford University is located in Palo Alto and is one of the top five schools in the nation. The university was founded in 1885 by Jane and Leland Stanford. The university is located in the Bay Area, approximately 30 miles from San Francisco. It is known for its engineering, medicine and business programs,

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The Stanford University campus stretches over 8,180 acres and has a student enrollment of 7,087. Fees at the university total $53,529. The acceptance rate is just 5 percent and the graduation rate is 94 percent.

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Rhode Island: Brown University

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Brown University is a private school located in Providence. The school was founded in 1764 and is located in a college town that offers a lot of entertainment and dining options. Brown also has Division 1 athletic teams and over 400 student organizations. The school is known for majors like English, history, and medicine.

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The university is spread over 146 acres and a total enrollment of 7,043 students. The annual tuition is $58,504 and the starting salary for a graduate is $52,500. The acceptance rate at Brown is 8 percent and the graduation rate is 95 percent.

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Tennessee: Vanderbilt University

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Vanderbilt University is a private school located in Nashville. It was founded in 1873 and is one of the best schools in the U.S. The school is located in Music City and offers various options for shopping and entertainment. Some popular majors at Vanderbilt include science, economics, and liberal arts.

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The university is spread over 333 acres and has a student enrollment of 6,861 students. The annual tuition is $52,070 and the starting salary for a graduate is $53,400. The acceptance rate at Vanderbilt University is 11 percent and the graduation rate is 92 percent.

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Texas: Rice University

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Rice University is a private school located in Houston, Texas. It has an urban campus setting and is situated in one of the prettiest neighborhoods in the world. Some popular majors at Rice University include engineering, information science, and economics. They also have Division 1 athletic teams.

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The campus is spread over 300 acres and the total enrollment is 3,992 students. The annual tuition is $49,112 and the starting salary for a graduate is $56,600. The acceptance rate at Rice University is 16 percent and the graduation rate is 91 percent.

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Vermont: Middlebury College

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Middlebury College campus
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Middlebury College is a private institution founded in 1800. It is located in Champlain Valley which is known for its ski slopes and it also hosts one of the oldest winter carnivals in the U.S. There are more than 150 student organizations on campus and various social activities available.

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The campus is spread over 350 acres and has a total enrollment of 2,579 students. The annual tuition is $56,216 and the starting salary for a graduate is $41,900. The acceptance rate at Middlebury College is 17 percent and the graduation rate is 95 percent.

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Colorado: U.S Air Force Academy

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U.S Air Force Academy
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The U.S Air Force Academy is located in Colorado Springs and was founded in 1954. The school abides by a strict schedule, where the students (also known as cadets) need to enroll in a number of extracurricular activities. Incoming students attend a five-week program that gives them an insight into life in the Air Force.

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The U.S Air Force Academy is spread over 18,500 acres of land and has a total enrollment of 4,336 students. The acceptance rate is 12 percent and the graduation rate is 78 percent. The most popular majors at the school include engineering, economics, and business.