Public Colleges with the Lowest Acceptance Rate

The average acceptance rate of the 450 public colleges that have competitive admission is 77.13% for the academic year 2024-2025. Compared to last year, the acceptance rate is lower by 0.4%. The acceptance rate at 207 public colleges increased and the rate of 240 colleges decreased.

University of California-Los Angeles has the lowest (i.e. hard to admit) acceptance rate of 8.97%. University of California-Berkeley (10.98%) and Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus (14.07%) are following it in the list of Tightest Public 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.

University of California-Los Angeles stays at first place of the lowest acceptance rate ranking since last year. University of California-Berkeley also maintained its second place in the ranking.

The average undergraduate tuition & fees of the schools is $37,587 and graduate tuition & fees is $28,685 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 Public Colleges To Get In

Table. Tightest Public Colleges To Get In Comparison
School NameAcceptance RateYieldSAT ScoreUndergraduate Tuition & FeesTotal PopulationGraduation RateStudents to Faculty Ratio
1
-		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
2
-		University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublic, 4-year 10.98%
0.68%		45.99%-$47,265
($15,377)		45,88293.00%18 to 1
3
-		Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, GAPublic, 4-year 14.07%
2.39%		45.60%1,480$34,484
($12,058)		53,36394.00%17 to 1
4
2		University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NCPublic, 4-year 15.34%
3.40%		45.45%1,480$41,203
($8,994)		32,43891.00%15 to 1
5
-		University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublic, 4-year 15.64%
2.30%		47.34%1,460$63,081
($18,848)		52,85593.00%11 to 1
6
2		University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VAPublic, 4-year 16.81%
0.05%		39.97%1,480$61,591
($23,118)		26,40996.00%15 to 1
7
-		Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Tallahassee, FLPublic, 4-year 20.56%
0.56%		30.55%1,100$17,725
($5,785)		9,31353.00%14 to 1
8Citadel Military College of South Carolina Charleston, SCPublic, 4-year 22.72%90.93%1,190$38,508
($12,570)		3,79375.00%11 to 1
9
-		University of Florida Gainesville, FLPublic, 4-year 24.20%
0.17%		42.20%1,400$28,659
($6,381)		56,31191.00%16 to 1
10
2		Florida State University Tallahassee, FLPublic, 4-year 24.22%
1.16%		30.89%1,350$21,683
($6,517)		43,88986.00%17 to 1
11
4		The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublic, 4-year 26.64%
2.48%		47.43%1,390$44,908
($11,688)		53,86489.00%18 to 1
12
2		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
13University of Virginia's College at Wise Wise, VAPublic, 4-year 28.54%15.12%1,050$28,010
($11,780)		2,16747.00%14 to 1
14
1		University of California-Irvine Irvine, CAPublic, 4-year 28.57%
3.00%		19.22%-$46,640
($14,752)		37,29787.00%19 to 1
15
1		California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CAPublic, 4-year 31.32%
1.57%		24.61%-$33,230
($12,161)		23,06986.00%19 to 1
16
2		University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CAPublic, 4-year 32.97%
5.19%		13.78%-$47,332
($15,444)		26,13383.00%17 to 1
17
-		William & Mary Williamsburg, VAPublic, 4-year 34.07%
1.35%		26.62%1,470$51,038
($25,734)		9,81889.00%12 to 1
18
23		Southern University and A & M College Baton Rouge, LAPublic, 4-year 35.12%
14.75%		20.07%900$17,272
($9,922)		8,27927.00%21 to 1
19
1		San Diego State University San Diego, CAPublic, 4-year 36.19%
1.75%		20.36%-$21,328
($8,728)		41,13776.00%27 to 1
20
1		University of Georgia Athens, GAPublic, 4-year 37.70%
0.50%		38.30%1,370$31,688
($11,450)		43,14690.00%17 to 1
21
-		Clemson University Clemson, SCPublic, 4-year 38.34%
0.29%		20.69%1,320$40,866
($15,554)		29,07787.00%16 to 1
22
2		Binghamton University Vestal, NYPublic, 4-year 38.61%
0.88%		15.87%1,410$30,447
($10,567)		18,81682.00%18 to 1
23
6		University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublic, 4-year 39.15%
3.38%		26.58%-$43,209
($12,973)		56,99785.00%20 to 1
24
-		University of Central Florida Orlando, FLPublic, 4-year 40.11%
0.59%		33.50%1,260$22,467
($6,368)		69,71378.00%28 to 1
25
9		The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, TNPublic, 4-year 41.60%
4.39%		27.37%1,280$33,256
($13,812)		38,72874.00%18 to 1
Average27.57%33.57%1,317$37,587
($12,824)		34,96381.24%17 to 1