California Colleges with the Lowest Acceptance Rate

The average acceptance rate of the 78 California colleges that have competitive admission is 65.97% for the academic year 2024-2025. Compared to last year, the acceptance rate is higher by 2.95%. The acceptance rate at 49 California colleges increased and the rate of 27 colleges decreased.

California Institute of Technology has the lowest (i.e. hard to admit) acceptance rate of 2.57%. Stanford University (3.61%) and Pomona College (7.09%) are following it in the list of Tightest California Colleges to Get In.

This ranking is only based on acceptance rates and more admission stats such as SAT and ACT scores are helpful to measure the chances to get in more accurately.

California Institute of Technology stays at first place of the lowest acceptance rate ranking since last year. Stanford University also maintained its second place in the ranking.

The average undergraduate tuition & fees of the schools is $61,172 and graduate tuition & fees is $51,734 for the academic year 2024-2025.

We note that the actual tightness of admission lies in considering other admission requirements such as SAT score.

Comparison between Tightest California Colleges To Get In

Table. Tightest California Colleges To Get In Comparison
School NameAcceptance RateYieldSAT ScoreUndergraduate Tuition & FeesTotal PopulationGraduation RateStudents to Faculty Ratio
1
-		California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CAPrivate, 4-year 2.57%
0.57%		61.24%-$65,8982,43094.00%3 to 1
2
-		Stanford University Stanford, CAPrivate, 4-year 3.61%
0.30%		81.91%1,550$65,91018,62592.00%6 to 1
3
-		Pomona College Claremont, CAPrivate, 4-year 7.09%
0.33%		50.23%1,540$65,4201,70093.00%7 to 1
4
-		University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublic, 4-year 8.97%
0.24%		50.40%-$46,121
($14,233)		47,33593.00%20 to 1
5
2		Claremont McKenna College Claremont, CAPrivate, 4-year 9.59%
1.53%		53.83%1,530$67,9801,39391.00%8 to 1
6
-		University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate, 4-year 9.81%
0.21%		43.34%1,500$71,64746,56692.00%9 to 1
7
1		University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublic, 4-year 10.98%
0.68%		45.99%-$47,265
($15,377)		45,88293.00%18 to 1
8
1		Harvey Mudd College Claremont, CAPrivate, 4-year 12.66%
0.40%		35.81%1,540$68,61395192.00%8 to 1
9
1		Pitzer College Claremont, CAPrivate, 4-year 25.16%
8.50%		35.84%-$65,1921,24283.00%10 to 1
10
1		University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CAPublic, 4-year 26.71%
2.19%		20.41%-$47,676
($15,788)		44,25686.00%19 to 1
Average11.72%47.90%1,532$61,172
($15,133)		21,03890.90%11 to 1