Being accepted into college is a significant achievement, and the institution you choose can greatly affect your career opportunities and earning potential. As demand for higher education remains high, competition for top schools is fierce. Below are the colleges that Niche identifies as the most selective in each U.S. state and the District of Columbia, based on U.S. Department of Education data on acceptance rates and SAT/ACT scores.
Alabama: University of West Alabama
University of West Alabama / Facebook
Location: Livingston
Acceptance rate: 28%
Graduation rate: 33%
SAT range: 860–1020
ACT range: 18–23
Graduates’ starting salary: $26,400
The University of West Alabama is a public institution founded in 1835 with about 1,843 students. Popular majors include liberal arts and humanities, nursing, and kinesiology and exercise science.
Alaska: University of Alaska Southeast
University of Alaska Southeast / Facebook
Location: Juneau
Acceptance rate: 71%
Graduation rate: 24%
SAT/ACT range: N/A
Graduates’ starting salary: $31,500
Founded in 1987, the University of Alaska Southeast enrolls about 629 students. Common programs include business, nursing assistant training, and liberal arts.
Arizona: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott / Facebook
Location: Prescott
Acceptance rate: 77%
Graduation rate: 60%
SAT range: 1130–1350
ACT range: 23–29
Graduates’ starting salary: $47,900
Embry-Riddle is a private university focused on aviation, aerospace, security, and intelligence. Founded in 1978, it enrolls about 2,471 students, with popular majors in aerospace engineering, aeronautics and aviation technology, and international relations.
Arkansas: University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas / Facebook
Location: Fayetteville
Acceptance rate: 66%
Graduation rate: 62%
SAT range: 1110–1280
ACT range: 23–29
Graduates’ starting salary: $37,100
Established in 1871, the University of Arkansas is a public research university with about 20,464 students. Popular majors include finance, nursing, and marketing.
California: Stanford University
Stanford University / Facebook
Location: Palo Alto
Acceptance rate: 5%
Graduation rate: 94%
SAT range: 1390–1540
ACT range: 32–35
Graduates’ starting salary: $70,400
Stanford, founded in 1885, is one of the nation’s most selective private universities with about 7,064 students. Popular fields of study include computer science, biology, and engineering.
Colorado: U.S. Air Force Academy
U.S. Air Force Academy / Facebook
Location: Near Colorado Springs (USAFA)
Acceptance rate: 12%
Graduation rate: 78%
SAT range: 1210–1390
ACT range: 28–32
The Air Force Academy, founded in 1954, is a federal service academy with about 4,276 cadets. Popular majors include business, economics, and systems engineering.
Connecticut: Yale University
Yale University / Facebook
Location: New Haven
Acceptance rate: 7%
Graduation rate: 97%
SAT range: 1460–1580
ACT range: 32–35
Graduates’ starting salary: $56,600
Founded in 1701, Yale is an elite private university with about 5,743 students. Popular majors include economics, history, and political science.
Delaware: University of Delaware
University of Delaware / Facebook
Location: Newark
Acceptance rate: 63%
Graduation rate: 82%
SAT range: 1130–1330
ACT range: 25–29
Graduates’ starting salary: $46,700
The University of Delaware, founded in 1743, is a public university with around 18,195 students. Popular majors include liberal arts and humanities, finance, and marketing.
Florida: University of Miami
University of Miami / Facebook
Location: Coral Gables
Acceptance rate: 36%
Graduation rate: 84%
SAT range: 1230–1420
ACT range: 28–32
Graduates’ starting salary: $47,500
The University of Miami is a private institution founded in 1925 with about 10,216 students. Popular majors include finance, nursing, and economics.
Georgia: Emory University
Emory University / Facebook
Location: Druid Hills
Acceptance rate: 22%
Graduation rate: 91%
SAT range: 1350–1520
ACT range: 30–33
Graduates’ starting salary: $57,500
Emory, founded in 1836, is a top private university with about 6,794 students. Common majors include business, biology, and nursing.
Hawaii: Brigham Young University–Hawaii
BYU Hawaii / Facebook
Location: Laie
Acceptance rate: 37%
Graduation rate: 56%
SAT range: 1090–1250
ACT range: 22–26
Graduates’ starting salary: $29,000
BYU–Hawaii is a private, faith-based university founded in 1955 with about 2,702 students. Popular majors include liberal arts and humanities, biology, and accounting.
Idaho: Northwest Nazarene University
Northwest Nazarene University / Facebook
Location: Nampa
Acceptance rate: 73%
Graduation rate: 56%
SAT range: 1030–1230
ACT range: 20–27
Graduates’ starting salary: $30,800
Founded in 1913, Northwest Nazarene is a private Christian university enrolling roughly 1,125 students. Popular majors include business, nursing, and accounting.
Illinois: University of Chicago
University of Chicago / Facebook
Location: Chicago
Acceptance rate: 8%
Graduation rate: 93%
SAT range: 1480–1580
ACT range: 32–35
Graduates’ starting salary: $54,300
Established in 1890, the University of Chicago is a private research university with around 5,978 students. Popular majors include economics, mathematics, and biology.
Indiana: University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame / Facebook
Location: South Bend
Acceptance rate: 19%
Graduation rate: 95%
SAT range: 1370–1520
ACT range: 32–34
Graduates’ starting salary: $61,800
Notre Dame, founded in 1842, is a leading private Catholic university with about 8,557 students. Popular majors include finance, accounting, and economics.
Iowa: Grinnell College
Grinnell College / Facebook
Location: Grinnell
Acceptance rate: 29%
Graduation rate: 87%
SAT range: 1310–1510
ACT range: 30–34
Graduates’ starting salary: $32,800
Grinnell College, founded in 1846, is a private liberal arts college with about 1,662 students. Popular majors include economics, political science, and computer science.
Kansas: Central Christian College of Kansas
Central Christian College of Kansas / Facebook
Location: McPherson
Acceptance rate: 39%
Graduation rate: 22%
SAT range: 890–1120
ACT range: 17–22
Graduates’ starting salary: $27,000
Central Christian College, founded in 1884, is a private Christian college with around 730 students. Popular majors include business, criminal justice and law enforcement administration, and liberal arts and humanities.
Kentucky: Berea College
Berea College / Facebook
Location: Berea
Acceptance rate: 35%
Graduation rate: 66%
SAT range: 970–1200
ACT range: 22–27
Graduates’ starting salary: $24,600
Berea College is a private institution founded in 1855 with about 1,615 students. Popular majors include biology, information science, and psychology.
Louisiana: Tulane University
Tulane University / Facebook
Location: New Orleans
Acceptance rate: 21%
Graduation rate: 83%
SAT range: 1330–1490
ACT range: 30–33
Graduates’ starting salary: $42,800
Tulane, founded in 1834, is a private research university with about 6,716 students. Popular majors include finance, health professions, and business.
Maine: Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College / Facebook
Location: Brunswick
Acceptance rate: 14%
Graduation rate: 95%
SAT range: 1360–1510
ACT range: 31–33
Graduates’ starting salary: $44,600
Bowdoin College, founded in 1794, is a private liberal arts college with roughly 1,813 students. Popular majors include political science, economics, and mathematics.
Maryland: Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University / Facebook
Location: Baltimore
Acceptance rate: 13%
Graduation rate: 93%
SAT range: 1450–1570
ACT range: 33–35
Graduates’ starting salary: $62,700
Johns Hopkins, established in 1876, is a leading private research university with about 5,668 students. Popular majors include public health, nursing, and international relations.
Massachusetts: Harvard University
Harvard University / Facebook
Location: Cambridge
Acceptance rate: 5%
Graduation rate: 96%
SAT range: 1460–1590
ACT range: 32–35
Graduates’ starting salary: $70,300
Harvard, founded in 1636 and the oldest college in the United States, enrolls about 7,147 students. Popular majors include economics, computer science, and history.
Michigan: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
University of Michigan / Facebook
Location: Ann Arbor
Acceptance rate: 27%
Graduation rate: 92%
SAT range: 1330–1500
ACT range: 30–33
Graduates’ starting salary: $49,800
The University of Michigan, founded in 1817, is a top public university with about 28,702 students. Popular majors include information science, business, and psychology.
Minnesota: Carleton College
Carleton College / Facebook
Location: Northfield
Acceptance rate: 21%
Graduation rate: 94%
SAT range: 1360–1530
ACT range: 31–34
Graduates’ starting salary: $39,500
Carleton College, founded in 1866, is a private liberal arts college with around 2,055 students. Popular majors include computer science, biology, and economics.
Mississippi: Mississippi College
Mississippi College / Facebook
Location: Clinton
Acceptance rate: 39%
Graduation rate: 59%
SAT range: 1070–1290
ACT range: 22–29
Graduates’ starting salary: $31,700
Mississippi College, founded in 1826, is a private Christian college with about 2,793 students. Popular majors include kinesiology and exercise science, nursing, and business.
Missouri: Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University, St. Louis / Facebook
Location: St. Louis
Acceptance rate: 16%
Graduation rate: 94%
SAT range: 1470–1570
ACT range: 32–34
Graduates’ starting salary: $56,500
WashU, founded in 1853, is a private research university with about 7,074 students. Popular majors include finance, psychology, and computer science.
Montana: Rocky Mountain College
Rocky Mountain College / Facebook
Location: Billings
Acceptance rate: 64%
Graduation rate: 52%
SAT range: 910–1150
ACT range: 20–25
Graduates’ starting salary: $30,100
Rocky Mountain College is a private Christian college founded in 1878 with about 868 students. Popular majors include business, kinesiology, and biology.
Nebraska: University of Nebraska, Lincoln
University of Nebraska, Lincoln / Facebook
Location: Lincoln
Acceptance rate: 64%
Graduation rate: 68%
SAT range: 1100–1380
ACT range: 22–29
Graduates’ starting salary: $37,200
Founded in 1869, UNL is a public university with approximately 19,534 students. Popular majors include business, psychology, and public relations.
Nevada: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada, Las Vegas / Facebook
Location: Paradise (Las Vegas)
Acceptance rate: 81%
Graduation rate: 42%
SAT range: 1030–1240
ACT range: 19–24
Graduates’ starting salary: $36,500
UNLV, founded in 1957, is a public university with about 18,958 students. Popular majors include hospitality and tourism management, psychology, and criminal justice.
New Hampshire: Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College / Facebook
Location: Hanover
Acceptance rate: 10%
Graduation rate: 96%
SAT range: 1430–1560
ACT range: 30–34
Graduates’ starting salary: $58,900
Dartmouth, founded in 1769, is a private college with about 4,360 students. Popular majors include economics, political science, and computer science.
New Jersey: Princeton University
Princeton University / Facebook
Location: Princeton
Acceptance rate: 6%
Graduation rate: 97%
SAT range: 1430–1570
ACT range: 31–35
Graduates’ starting salary: $60,800
Founded in 1746, Princeton is a top private university with about 5,260 students. Popular majors include computer hardware engineering, economics, and public policy analysis.
New Mexico: New Mexico Tech
New Mexico Tech / Facebook
Location: Socorro
Acceptance rate: 22%
Graduation rate: 47%
SAT range: 1190–1390
ACT range: 23–29
Graduates’ starting salary: $43,500
New Mexico Tech, founded in 1889, is a public STEM-focused university with about 1,294 students. Popular majors include mechanical engineering, mining and petroleum engineering, and electrical engineering.
New York: Columbia University
Columbia University / Facebook
Location: New York City
Acceptance rate: 7%
Graduation rate: 95%
SAT range: 1410–1570
ACT range: 31–34
Graduates’ starting salary: $66,500
Columbia, founded in 1754, is a leading private university with approximately 7,592 students. Popular majors include economics, computer science, and political science.
North Carolina: Duke University
Duke University / Facebook
Location: Durham
Acceptance rate: 10%
Graduation rate: 95%
SAT range: 1380–1540
ACT range: 31–35
Graduates’ starting salary: $76,300
Duke, founded in 1838, is a private research university with about 6,669 students. Popular majors include economics, computer science, and public policy analysis.
North Dakota: Mayville State University
Mayville State University / Facebook
Location: Mayville
Acceptance rate: 48%
Graduation rate: 35%
SAT range: 693–915
ACT range: 18–23
Graduates’ starting salary: $34,000
Mayville State, founded in 1889, is a public university with around 600 students. Popular majors include business, nursing, and elementary education.
Ohio: Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University / Facebook
Location: Cleveland
Acceptance rate: 33%
Graduation rate: 83%
SAT range: 1340–1520
ACT range: 30–33
Graduates’ starting salary: $59,600
Case Western, founded in 1826, is a private research university with about 4,978 students. Popular majors include bioengineering, mechanical engineering, and computer science.
Oklahoma: University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa / Facebook
Location: Tulsa
Acceptance rate: 39%
Graduation rate: 69%
SAT range: 1150–1440
ACT range: 25–32
Graduates’ starting salary: $39,800
The University of Tulsa, founded in 1894, is a private Christian university with about 3,203 students. Popular majors include mechanical engineering, finance, and petroleum engineering.
Oregon: Reed College
Reed College / Facebook
Location: Portland
Acceptance rate: 36%
Graduation rate: 80%
SAT range: 1310–1500
ACT range: 30–33
Graduates’ starting salary: $30,400
Reed College, founded in 1908, is a private liberal arts college with about 1,408 students. Popular majors include English, liberal arts and humanities, and biology.
Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania / Facebook
Location: Philadelphia
Acceptance rate: 9%
Graduation rate: 96%
SAT range: 1420–1560
ACT range: 32–35
Graduates’ starting salary: $71,600
Founded in 1740, Penn is an Ivy League university with about 10,496 students. Popular majors include finance, nursing, and economics.
Rhode Island: Brown University
Brown University / Facebook
Location: Providence
Acceptance rate: 8%
Graduation rate: 95%
SAT range: 1400–1570
ACT range: 31–35
Graduates’ starting salary: $52,500
Brown, founded in 1764, is a private Ivy League university with about 6,666 students. Popular majors include biology, economics, and computer science.
South Carolina: Clemson University
Clemson University / Facebook
Location: Clemson
Acceptance rate: 47%
Graduation rate: 82%
SAT range: 1220–1390
ACT range: 27–31
Graduates’ starting salary: $43,600
Clemson, founded in 1889, is a public research university with about 18,642 students. Popular majors include business, biology, and marketing.
South Dakota: Augustana University
Augustana University / Facebook
Location: Sioux Falls
Acceptance rate: 68%
Graduation rate: 71%
SAT range: 1070–1290
ACT range: 23–29
Graduates’ starting salary: $37,700
Augustana, founded in 1860, is a private university with about 1,679 students. Popular majors include business, nursing, and biology.
Tennessee: Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University / Facebook
Location: Nashville
Acceptance rate: 11%
Graduation rate: 92%
SAT range: 1440–1570
ACT range: 32–35
Graduates’ starting salary: $53,400
Vanderbilt, founded in 1873, is a top private university with about 6,805 students. Popular majors include economics, social science research methods, and liberal arts.
Texas: Rice University
Rice University / Facebook
Location: Houston
Acceptance rate: 16%
Graduation rate: 91%
SAT range: 1490–1580
ACT range: 33–35
Graduates’ starting salary: $56,600
Rice, founded in 1912, is a private research university with about 3,916 students. Popular majors include economics, information science, and chemical engineering.
Utah: Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University / Facebook
Location: Provo
Acceptance rate: 52%
Graduation rate: 83%
SAT range: 1210–1410
ACT range: 27–32
Graduates’ starting salary: $41,100
BYU, founded in 1875, is a private, faith-based university with about 28,156 students. Popular majors include exercise physiology, accounting, and psychology.
Vermont: Middlebury College
Middlebury College / Facebook
Location: Middlebury
Acceptance rate: 17%
Graduation rate: 95%
SAT range: 1320–1510
ACT range: 30–34
Graduates’ starting salary: $41,900
Middlebury, founded in 1800, is a private liberal arts college with about 2,528 students. Popular majors include economics, political science, and environmental science.
Virginia: Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University / Facebook
Location: Lexington
Acceptance rate: 22%
Graduation rate: 92%
SAT range: 1350–1490
ACT range: 31–33
Graduates’ starting salary: $49,900
Washington and Lee, founded in 1749, is a private liberal arts university with about 1,823 students. Popular majors include business, accounting, and economics.
Washington: University of Washington
University of Washington / Facebook
Location: Seattle
Acceptance rate: 46%
Graduation rate: 84%
SAT range: 1190–1420
ACT range: 27–32
Graduates’ starting salary: $44,900
Founded in 1861, the University of Washington is a major public research university with about 28,759 students. Popular majors include psychology, communications, and biochemistry and molecular biology.
Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University
Georgetown University / Facebook
Location: Washington, D.C.
Acceptance rate: 16%
Graduation rate: 95%
SAT range: 1350–1520
ACT range: 30–34
Graduates’ starting salary: $65,200
Georgetown, founded in 1789, is a top private Catholic university with about 6,987 students. Popular majors include political science, international relations, and finance.
West Virginia: Alderson Broaddus University
Alderson Broaddus University / Facebook
Location: Philippi
Acceptance rate: 41%
Graduation rate: 47%
SAT range: 930–1080
ACT range: 18–23
Graduates’ starting salary: $34,500
Alderson Broaddus, founded in 1871, is a private Christian university with roughly 903 students. Popular majors include nursing, business, and biology.
Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison / Facebook
Location: Madison
Acceptance rate: 54%
Graduation rate: 87%
SAT range: 1280–1450
ACT range: 27–31
Graduates’ starting salary: $45,000
The University of Wisconsin–Madison, founded in 1848, is a leading public university with about 28,977 students. Popular majors include biology, economics, and information science.
Wyoming: University of Wyoming
University of Wyoming / Facebook
Location: Laramie
Acceptance rate: 97%
Graduation rate: 58%
SAT range: 1040–1290
ACT range: 22–27
Graduates’ starting salary: $38,700
Founded in 1886, the University of Wyoming is a public university with around 8,281 students. Popular majors include nursing, psychology, and elementary education.
Note: Rankings and data are based on Niche’s compilation of U.S. Department of Education statistics for acceptance rates and standardized test scores.