As we enter the 2024-25 cycle, the American college admissions process continues to be insanely competitive. In this, we have gathered the top 10 hardest colleges to get into in the US, according to Niche's 2024 list.
1. California Institute of Technology
A world-renowned science and engineering institute, Caltech is known for developing some of the most esteemed engineers in the country. Located in Pasadena, California, it has only a 4% acceptance rate.
2. Stanford University
Located in Stanford, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area, Stanford's acceptance rate is only 4%. Popular majors include computer science, biology, and engineering.
3. Harvard University
High on the list is Harvard University, with an acceptance rate of only 4%. Situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts, popular majors include social science research methods, economics, and computer science.
4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MIT, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has a 4% acceptance rate. Popular majors include computer science, mechanical engineering, and mathematics.
5. Columbia University
New York City's Columbia University has a 4% acceptance rate. The Ivy League school is widely known for its Graduate School of Journalism, considered one of the best journalism graduate schools in the US.
6. Princeton University
Located in New Jersey, Princeton University has an acceptance rate of only 4%. Popular majors include computer science, public policy analysis, and economics.
7. Yale University
Known for its prominent law school, Yale University has a 5% acceptance rate. Other popular majors include economics, history, and political science and government.
8. Brown University
Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, has a 6% acceptance rate. The Ivy League college is widely known for its global studies program.
9. University of Pennsylvania
Located in Philadelphia, the University of Pennsylvania has a 6% acceptance rate. It was ranked by Niche as the best college for business for 2024.
10. Duke University
Duke University, in Durham, North Carolina, has a 6% acceptance rate. It's known for its high-quality athletics programs and its public policy education.