Hardest College to Get Into in Every State

Being accepted into college is no small feat. And your degree can have a tremendous influence on job prospects and earnings potential. With the premium put on a higher education degree, it's as competitive as ever for aspiring high school graduates.

So what institutions have the most competition? These colleges are the hardest to get into in all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia.

Note: We used resources from Niche, which compiles information about colleges and universities. Niche bases its rankings on U.S. Department of Education data on acceptance rates and SAT/ACT scores.

Alabama: University of West Alabama

Location: Livingston

Acceptance rate: 28 percent

Graduation rate: 33 percent

SAT range: 860-1020

ACT range: 18-23

Graduates’ starting salary: $26,400

Bottom Line: University of West Alabama

The University of West Alabama is a public university founded in 1835. It has an enrollment of 1,843, and popular majors include liberal arts and humanities, nursing, and kinesiology and exercise science.

Alaska: University of Alaska Southeast

Location: Juneau

Acceptance rate: 71 percent

Graduation rate: 24 percent

SAT range: N/A

ACT range: N/A

Graduates’ starting salary: $31,500 

Bottom Line: University of Alaska Southeast

The University of Alaska Southeast is a public university founded in 1987. It has an enrollment of just 629, and popular majors include business, nursing assistant, and liberal arts and humanities.

Arizona: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott

Location: Prescott

Acceptance rate: 77 percent

Graduation rate: 60 percent

SAT range: 1130-1350

ACT range: 23-29

Graduates’ starting salary: $47,900

Bottom Line: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is a private university dedicated solely to aviation, aerospace, security and intelligence. It was founded in 1978 and has an enrollment of 2,471. Popular majors include aerospace engineering, aeronautics and aviation technology, and international relations.

Arizona Christian University has a lower acceptance rate (64 percent), but the SAT (range: 850-1080) and ACT (range: 15-21) scores of its students are lower than those at Embry-Riddle.

Arkansas: University of Arkansas

Location: Fayetteville

Acceptance rate: 66 percent

Graduation rate: 62 percent

SAT range: 1110-1280

ACT range: 23-29

Graduates’ starting salary: $37,100 

Bottom Line: University of Arkansas

The University of Arkansas is a public university founded in 1871. It has an enrollment of 20,464, and popular majors include finance, nursing and marketing.

The University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff has a lower acceptance rate (47 percent), but the SAT (range: 880-1060) and ACT (range: 16-20) scores of its students are lower than those at the University of Arkansas.

California: Stanford University

Location: Palo Alto

Acceptance rate: 5 percent

Graduation rate: 94 percent

SAT range: 1390-1540

ACT range: 32-35

Graduates’ starting salary: $70,400 

Bottom Line: Stanford University

Stanford University is considered one of the top five schools in the country and the second-most difficult to get into. It’s a private university that was founded in 1885.

Stanford has an enrollment of 7,064, and popular majors include computer science, biology and engineering.

Colorado: U.S. Air Force Academy

Location: USAFA, near Colorado Springs

Acceptance rate: 12 percent

Graduation rate: 78 percent

SAT range: 1210-1390

ACT range: 28-32

Graduates’ starting salary: N/A

Bottom Line: U.S. Air Force Academy

The Air Force Academy is a public university founded in 1954. It has an enrollment of 4,276, and popular majors include business, economics and systems engineering.

Connecticut: Yale University

Location: New Haven

Acceptance rate: 7 percent

Graduation rate: 97 percent

SAT range: 1460-1580

ACT range: 32-35

Graduates’ starting salary: $56,600 

Bottom Line: Yale University

Yale University is an elite private school founded in 1701. It has an enrollment of 5,743, and popular majors include economics, history, and political science and government.

Delaware: University of Delaware

Location: Newark

Acceptance rate: 63 percent

Graduation rate: 82 percent

SAT range: 1130-1330

ACT range: 25-29

Graduates’ starting salary: $46,700 

Bottom Line: University of Delaware

The University of Delaware was founded in 1743. The public school has an enrollment of 18,195, and popular majors include liberal arts and humanities, finance and marketing.

The public, historically black Delaware State University has a lower acceptance rate (45 percent), but the SAT (range: 820-990) and ACT (range: 17-21) scores of its students are lower than those at the University of Delaware.

Florida: University of Miami

Location: Coral Gables

Acceptance rate: 36 percent

Graduation rate: 84 percent

SAT range: 1230-1420

ACT range: 28-32

Graduates’ starting salary: $47,500 

Bottom Line: University of Miami

The University of Miami is a private university founded in 1925. It has an enrollment of 10,216, and popular majors include finance, nursing and economics.

Florida Memorial University has a lower acceptance rate (27 percent). Its SAT and ACT scores aren’t available, but they’re presumably lower than those of students at the University of Miami. 

Georgia: Emory University

Location: Druid Hills

Acceptance rate: 22 percent

Graduation rate: 91 percent

SAT range: 1350-1520

ACT range: 30-33

Graduates’ starting salary: $57,500

Bottom Line: Emory University

Emory University is one of the top private, Christian schools in the U.S. It was founded in 1836 and has an enrollment of 6,794. Popular majors include business, biology and nursing.

Hawaii: Brigham Young University, Hawaii

Location: Laie

Acceptance rate: 37 percent

Graduation rate: 56 percent

SAT range: 1090-1250

ACT range: 22-26

Graduates’ starting salary: $29,000 

Bottom Line: Brigham Young University, Hawaii

BYU Hawaii is a private, Christian university founded in 1955. It has an enrollment of 2,702, and popular majors include liberal arts and humanities, biology and accounting.

Idaho: Northwest Nazarene University

Location: Nampa

Acceptance rate: 73 percent

Graduation rate: 56 percent

SAT range: 1030-1230

ACT range: 20-27

Graduates’ starting salary: $30,800

Bottom Line: Northwest Nazarene University

Northwest Nazarene University is a private, Christian university founded in 1913. It has an enrollment of 1,125. Popular majors include business, nursing and accounting.

Illinois: University of Chicago

Location: Chicago

Acceptance rate: 8 percent

Graduation rate: 93 percent

SAT range: 1480-1580

ACT range: 32-35

Graduates’ starting salary: $54,300

Bottom Line: University of Chicago

Founded in 1890, the University of Chicago is a private university. It has an enrollment of 5,978, and popular majors include economics, mathematics and biology. 

Indiana: University of Notre Dame

Location: South Bend

Acceptance rate: 19 percent

Graduation rate: 95 percent

SAT range: 1370-1520

ACT range: 32-34

Graduates’ starting salary: $61,800 

Bottom Line: University of Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame is the top private, Catholic university in the U.S., and was founded in 1842. It has an enrollment of 8,557, and popular majors include finance, accounting and economics.

Iowa: Grinnell College

Location: Grinnell 

Acceptance rate: 29 percent

Graduation rate: 87 percent

SAT range: 1310-1510

ACT range: 30-34

Graduates’ starting salary: $32,800 

Bottom Line: Grinnell College

Grinnell College is a private college founded in 1846. It has an enrollment of 1,662, and popular majors include economics, political science and government, and computer science.

St. Luke’s College has a lower acceptance rate (27 percent), but the ACT scores (21-23) of its students are lower than those at Grinnell College. St. Luke’s SAT scores are unavailable.

Kansas: Central Christian College of Kansas

Location: McPherson

Acceptance rate: 39 percent

Graduation rate: 22 percent

SAT range: 890-1120

ACT range: 17-22

Graduates’ starting salary: $27,000 

Bottom Line: Central Christian College of Kansas

Central Christian College is a private, Christian school founded in 1884. It has an enrollment of just 730, and popular majors include business, criminal justice and law enforcement administration, and liberal arts and humanities.

Kentucky: Berea College

Location: Berea

Acceptance rate: 35 percent

Graduation rate: 66 percent

SAT range: 970-1200

ACT range: 22-27

Graduates’ starting salary: $24,600 

Bottom Line: Berea College

Berea College is a private college founded in 1855. It has an enrollment of 1,615, and popular majors include biology, information science and psychology.

Alice Lloyd College has a lower acceptance rate (26 percent), but the SAT (range: 940-1030) and ACT (18-23) scores of its students are lower than those at Berea.

Louisiana: Tulane University

Location: New Orleans

Acceptance rate: 21 percent

Graduation rate: 83 percent

SAT range: 1330-1490

ACT range: 30-33

Graduates’ starting salary: $42,800 

Bottom Line: Tulane University

Tulane University is a private university founded in 1834. It has an enrollment of 6,716, and popular majors include finance, health professions and business.

Maine: Bowdoin College

Location: Brunswick

Acceptance rate: 14 percent

Graduation rate: 95 percent

SAT range: 1360-1510

ACT range: 31-33

Graduates’ starting salary: $44,600

Bottom Line: Bowdoin College

Bowdoin College is a private college founded in 1794. It has an enrollment of 1,813, and popular majors include political science and government, economics and mathematics. 

Maryland: Johns Hopkins University

Location: Baltimore

Acceptance rate: 13 percent

Graduation rate: 93 percent

SAT range: 1450-1570

ACT range: 33-35

Graduates’ starting salary: $62,700 

Bottom Line: Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University is a top private university founded in 1876. It has an enrollment of 5,668, and popular majors include public health, nursing and international relations.

The United States Naval Academy in Annapolis has a lower acceptance rate (8 percent), but the SAT scores (range: 1150-1370) of its students are lower than those at Johns Hopkins. The U.S. Naval Academy’s ACT scores are unavailable.

Massachusetts: Harvard University

Location: Cambridge

Acceptance rate: 5 percent

Graduation rate: 96 percent

SAT range: 1460-1590

ACT range: 32-35

Graduates’ starting salary: $70,300 

Bottom Line: Harvard University

Harvard University is a private university and one of the top five schools in the U.S. It’s also the most exclusive.

It was founded in 1636, making it the oldest college in America, and it has an enrollment of 7,147. Popular majors include economics, computer science and history. 

Michigan: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Location: Ann Arbor 

Acceptance rate: 27 percent

Graduation rate: 92 percent 

SAT range: 1330-1500

ACT range: 30-33

Graduates’ starting salary: $49,800 

Bottom Line: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor is one of the top five public schools in the U.S. It was founded in 1817 and has an enrollment of 28,702.

Popular majors include Information science, business, and research and experimental psychology.

Minnesota: Carleton College

Location: Northfield

Acceptance rate: 21 percent

Graduation rate: 94 percent

SAT range: 1360-1530

ACT range: 31-34

Graduates’ starting salary: $39,500

Bottom Line: Carleton College

Founded in 1866, Carleton College is a private college. It has an enrollment of 2,055, and popular majors include computer science, biology and economics. 

Mississippi: Mississippi College

Location: Clinton

Acceptance rate: 39 percent

Graduation rate: 59 percent

SAT range: 1070-1290

ACT range: 22-29

Graduates’ starting salary: $31,700 

Bottom Line: Mississippi College

Mississippi College is a private, Christian college founded in 1826. It has an enrollment of 2,793, and popular majors include kinesiology and exercise science, nursing and business.

Missouri: Washington University in St. Louis

Location: St. Louis

Acceptance rate: 16 percent

Graduation rate: 94 percent

SAT range: 1470-1570

ACT range: 32-34

Graduates’ starting salary: $56,500 

Bottom Line: Washington University in St. Louis

Washington University, St. Louis is a private university founded in 1853. It has an enrollment of 7,074, and popular majors include finance, psychology and computer science. 

The College of the Ozarks has a lower acceptance rate (13 percent), but the SAT (range: 1090-1240) and ACT (range: 21-26) scores of its students are lower than those at WashU. 

Montana: Rocky Mountain College

Location: Billings

Acceptance rate: 64 percent

Graduation rate: 52 percent

SAT range: 910-1150

ACT range: 20-25

Graduates’ starting salary: $30,100 

Bottom Line: Rocky Mountain College

Rocky Mountain College is a private, Christian college founded in 1878. It has an enrollment of just 868, and popular majors include business, kinesiology and exercise science, and biology.

The University of Montana, Western has a lower acceptance rate (61 percent), but the SAT (range: 970-1140) and ACT (range: 16-22) scores of its students are lower than those at Rocky Mountain College.

Nebraska: University of Nebraska, Lincoln

Location: Lincoln

Acceptance rate: 64 percent

Graduation rate: 68 percent

SAT range: 1100-1380

ACT range: 22-29

Graduates’ starting salary: $37,200 

Bottom Line: University of Nebraska, Lincoln

The University of Nebraska, Lincoln is a public university founded in 1869. It has an enrollment of 19,534, and popular majors include business, psychology and public relations.

York College, Nebraska has a lower acceptance rate (48 percent), but the SAT (range: 890-1090) and ACT (range: 18-24) scores of its students are lower than those at the University of Nebraska.

Nevada: University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Location: Paradise

Acceptance rate: 81 percent

Graduation rate: 42 percent

SAT range: 1030-1240

ACT range: 19-24

Graduates’ starting salary: $36,500 

Bottom Line: University of Nevada, Las Vegas

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas is a public university founded in 1957. It has an enrollment of 18,958, and popular majors include hospitality and tourism management, psychology, and criminal justice and safety studies.

Sierra Nevada College has a lower acceptance rate (69 percent), but the SAT (range: 910-1140) and ACT (range: 19-24) scores of its students are lower than those at UNLV.

New Hampshire: Dartmouth College

Location: Hanover

Acceptance rate: 10 percent

Graduation rate: 96 percent

SAT range: 1430-1560

ACT range: 30-34

Graduates’ starting salary: $58,900 

Bottom Line: Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College is a private college founded in 1769. It has an enrollment of 4,360, and popular majors include economics, political science and government, and computer science.

New Jersey: Princeton University

Location: Princeton

Acceptance rate: 6 percent

Graduation rate: 97 percent

SAT range: 1430-1570

ACT range: 31-35

Graduates’ starting salary: $60,800 

Bottom Line: Princeton University

Founded in 1746, Princeton University is one of the top private schools in the U.S. It has an enrollment of 5,260.

Popular majors include computer hardware engineering, economics and public policy analysis.

New Mexico: New Mexico Tech

Location: Socorro

Acceptance rate: 22 percent

Graduation rate: 47 percent

SAT range: 1190-1390

ACT range: 23-29

Graduates’ starting salary: $43,500 

Bottom Line: New Mexico Tech

New Mexico Tech is a public university founded in 1889. It has an enrollment of 1,294, and popular majors include mechanical engineering, mining and petroleum engineering, and electrical engineering.

New York: Columbia University

Location: New York City

Acceptance rate: 7 percent

Graduation rate: 95 percent

SAT range: 1410-1570

ACT range: 31-34

Graduates’ starting salary: $66,500 

Bottom Line: Columbia University

Columbia University is one of the top private schools in the U.S. Founded in 1754, it has an enrollment of 7,592, and popular majors include economics, computer science, and political science and government.

North Carolina: Duke University

Location: Durham

Acceptance rate: 10 percent

Graduation rate: 95 percent

SAT range: 1380-1540

ACT range: 31-35

Graduates’ starting salary: $76,300 

Bottom Line: Duke University

Duke University is one of the top private schools in the U.S. Founded in 1838, it has an enrollment of 6,669, and popular majors include economics, computer science and public policy analysis.

North Dakota: Mayville State University

Location: Mayville

Acceptance rate: 48 percent

Graduation rate: 35 percent

SAT range: 693-915

ACT range: 18-23

Graduates’ starting salary: $34,000 

Bottom Line: Mayville State University

Mayville State University is a public university founded in 1889. It has an enrollment of just 600, and popular majors include business, nursing and elementary education.

Ohio: Case Western Reserve University

Location: Cleveland

Acceptance rate: 33 percent

Graduation rate: 83 percent

SAT range: 1340-1520

ACT range: 30-33

Graduates’ starting salary: $59,600 

Bottom Line: Case Western Reserve University

Case Western Reserve University is a private school founded in 1826. It has an enrollment of 4,978, and popular majors include bioengineering and biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering and computer science.

Kettering College has a lower acceptance rate (28 percent), but the SAT (range: 700-1430) and ACT (range: 21-25) scores of its students are lower than those at Case Western Reserve.

Oklahoma: University of Tulsa

Location: Tulsa

Acceptance rate: 39 percent

Graduation rate: 69 percent

SAT range: 1150-1440

ACT range: 25-32

Graduates’ starting salary: $39,800 

Bottom Line: University of Tulsa

The University of Tulsa is a private, Christian university founded in 1894. It has an enrollment of 3,203, and popular majors include mechanical engineering, finance, and mining and petroleum engineering.

Oregon: Reed College

Location: Portland

Acceptance rate: 36 percent

Graduation rate: 80 percent

SAT range: 1310-1500

ACT range: 30-33

Graduates’ starting salary: $30,400 

Bottom Line: Reed College

Reed College is a private college founded in 1908. It has an enrollment of 1,408, and popular majors include English, liberal arts and humanities, and biology. 

Corban University has a lower acceptance rate (33 percent), but the SAT (range: 1040-1230) and ACT (range: 21-26) scores of its students are lower than those at Reed.

Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania

Location: Philadelphia

Acceptance rate: 9 percent

Graduation rate: 96 percent

SAT range: 1420-1560

ACT range: 32-35

Graduates’ starting salary: $71,600 

Bottom Line: University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania is one of the top private schools in the U.S. Founded in 1740, it has an enrollment of 10,496. Popular majors include finance, nursing and economics.

Rhode Island: Brown University

Location: Providence

Acceptance rate: 8 percent

Graduation rate: 95 percent

SAT range: 1400-1570

ACT range: 31-35

Graduates’ starting salary: $52,500 

Bottom Line: Brown University

Brown University is a private school that was founded in 1764. It has an enrollment of 6,666, and popular majors include biology, economics and computer science.

South Carolina: Clemson University

Location: Clemson

Acceptance rate: 47 percent

Graduation rate: 82 percent

SAT range: 1220-1390

ACT range: 27-31

Graduates’ starting salary: $43,600 

Bottom Line: Clemson University

Clemson University is a public university founded in 1889. It has an enrollment of 18,642, and popular majors include business, biology and marketing.

Columbia International University has a lower acceptance rate (28 percent), but the SAT (range: 840-1070) and ACT (range: 17-25) scores of its students are lower than those at Clemson.

South Dakota: Augustana University

Location: Sioux Falls

Acceptance rate: 68 percent

Graduation rate: 71 percent

SAT range: 1070-1290

ACT range: 23-29

Graduates’ starting salary: $37,700 

Bottom Line: Augustana University

Augustana University is a private university founded in 1860. It has an enrollment of 1,679, and popular majors include business, nursing and biology. 

Mount Marty College has a lower acceptance rate (67 percent), but the ACT scores (range: 19-24) of its students are lower than those at Augustana. Its SAT scores are unavailable.

Tennessee: Vanderbilt University

Location: Nashville

Acceptance rate: 11 percent

Graduation rate: 92 percent

SAT range: 1440-1570

ACT range: 32-35

Graduates’ starting salary: $53,400 

Bottom Line: Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt University is one of the top private universities in the U.S. Founded in 1873, it has an enrollment of 6,805. Popular majors include economics, social science research methods, and liberal arts and humanities.

Texas: Rice University

Location: Houston

Acceptance rate: 16 percent

Graduation rate: 91 percent

SAT range: 1490-1580

ACT range: 33-35

Graduates’ starting salary: $56,600 

Bottom Line: Rice University

Founded in 1912, Rice University is a private school. It has an enrollment of 3,916, and popular majors include economics, information science and chemical engineering.

Utah: Brigham Young University

Location: Provo

Acceptance rate: 52 percent

Graduation rate: 83 percent

SAT range: 1210-1410

ACT range: 27-32

Graduates’ starting salary: $41,100 

Bottom Line: Brigham Young University

Brigham Young University is a private, Christian university that was founded in 1875. It has an enrollment of 28,156, and popular majors include exercise physiology, accounting and psychology.

Vermont: Middlebury College

Location: Middlebury

Acceptance rate: 17 percent

Graduation rate: 95 percent

SAT range: 1320-1510

ACT range: 30-34

Graduates’ starting salary: $41,900 

Bottom Line: Middlebury College

Middlebury College is a private school founded in 1800. It has an enrollment of 2,528, and popular majors include economics, political science and government, and environmental science.

Virginia: Washington and Lee University

Location: Lexington

Acceptance rate: 22 percent

Graduation rate: 92 percent

SAT range: 1350-1490

ACT range: 31-33

Graduates’ starting salary: $49,900 

Bottom Line: Washington and Lee University

Washington and Lee University is a private university founded in 1749. It has an enrollment of 1,823, and popular majors include business, accounting and economics.

Washington: University of Washington

Location: Seattle

Acceptance rate: 46 percent

Graduation rate: 84 percent

SAT range: 1190-1420

ACT range: 27-32

Graduates’ starting salary: $44,900 

Bottom Line: University of Washington

The University of Washington is a public university founded in 1861. It has an enrollment of 28,759, and popular majors include psychology, communications, and biochemistry and molecular biology.

Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University

Location: Washington, D.C.

Acceptance rate: 16 percent

Graduation rate: 95 percent

SAT range: 1350-1520

ACT range: 30-34

Graduates’ starting salary: $65,200 

Bottom Line: Georgetown University

Georgetown University is one of the top private, Catholic schools in the country. Founded in 1789, it has an enrollment of 6,987, and popular majors include political science and government, international relations and finance.

West Virginia: Alderson Broaddus University

Location: Philippi

Acceptance rate: 41 percent

Graduation rate: 47 percent

SAT range: 930-1080

ACT range: 18-23

Graduates’ starting salary: $34,500 

Bottom Line: Alderson Broaddus University

Alderson Broaddus University is a private, Christian university founded in 1871. It has an enrollment of just 903, and popular majors include nursing, business and biology.

Ohio Valley University has a lower acceptance rate (29 percent), and its SAT (range: 910-1110) and ACT (range: 18-23) scores are roughly equivalent to those of Alderson Broaddus. Still, Niche ranks Alderson Broaddus ahead of Ohio Valley.

Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin

Location: Madison

Acceptance rate: 54 percent

Graduation rate: 87 percent

SAT range: 1280-1450

ACT range: 27-31

Graduates’ starting salary: $45,000 

Bottom Line: University of Wisconsin

The University of Wisconsin is one of the top public schools in the U.S. Founded in 1848, it has an enrollment of 28,977, and popular majors include biology, economics and information science.

Herzing University has a lower acceptance rate (37 percent). Its SAT and ACT scores are unavailable. Presumably, they’re lower than those at UW.

Wyoming: University of Wyoming

Location: Laramie

Acceptance rate: 97 percent

Graduation rate: 58 percent

SAT range: 1040-1290

ACT range: 22-27

Graduates’ starting salary: $38,700 

Bottom Line: University of Wyoming

The University of Wyoming is a public university founded in 1886. It has an enrollment of 8,281, and popular majors include nursing, psychology and elementary education.

Related: Most Expensive Colleges by Tuition