Getting into college is a major achievement, and the choice of institution can significantly shape career opportunities and earning potential. With more emphasis than ever on higher education, competition for spots at many colleges is fierce. Below is a state-by-state list of the most competitive colleges and universities—one for each state and the District of Columbia—based on acceptance rates, test-score ranges and other data compiled by Niche using U.S. Department of Education statistics.
Alabama: University of West Alabama
University of West Alabama
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, founded in 1835, enrolls about 1,843 students. Common majors include liberal arts and humanities, nursing, and kinesiology and exercise science.
Alaska: University of Alaska Southeast
University of Alaska Southeast
Location: Juneau
Acceptance rate: 71%
Graduation rate: 24%
SAT/ACT: N/A
Graduates’ starting salary: $31,500
Established in 1987, the University of Alaska Southeast is a small public university with around 629 students. Popular fields of study include business, nursing assistant programs, and liberal arts.
Arizona: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott
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 roughly 2,471 students and is known for majors such as aerospace engineering, aeronautics and aviation technology, and international relations.
Arkansas: University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
Location: Fayetteville
Acceptance rate: 66%
Graduation rate: 62%
SAT range: 1110–1280
ACT range: 23–29
Graduates’ starting salary: $37,100
Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas enrolls about 20,464 students. Popular majors include finance, nursing and marketing.
California: Stanford University
Stanford University
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. It enrolls about 7,064 students and is particularly strong in computer science, biology and engineering.
Colorado: U.S. Air Force Academy
U.S. Air Force Academy
Location: Near Colorado Springs (USAFA)
Acceptance rate: 12%
Graduation rate: 78%
SAT range: 1210–1390
ACT range: 28–32
Graduates’ starting salary: N/A
Founded in 1954, the Air Force Academy is a public service academy with an enrollment of about 4,276. Popular majors include business, economics and systems engineering.
Connecticut: Yale University
Yale University
Location: New Haven
Acceptance rate: 7%
Graduation rate: 97%
SAT range: 1460–1580
ACT range: 32–35
Graduates’ starting salary: $56,600
Yale is an elite private university founded in 1701 with about 5,743 students. Common majors include economics, history and political science.
Delaware: University of Delaware
University of Delaware
Location: Newark
Acceptance rate: 63%
Graduation rate: 82%
SAT range: 1130–1330
ACT range: 25–29
Graduates’ starting salary: $46,700
Founded in 1743, the University of Delaware is a public institution with about 18,195 students. Popular majors include liberal arts, finance and marketing.
Florida: University of Miami
University of Miami
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 university founded in 1925 with approximately 10,216 students. Popular majors include finance, nursing and economics.
Georgia: Emory University
Emory University
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 leading private university with around 6,794 students. Top majors include business, biology and nursing.
Hawaii: Brigham Young University, Hawaii
BYU–Hawaii
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 established in 1955 with about 2,702 students. Common majors include liberal arts, biology and accounting.
Idaho: Northwest Nazarene University
Northwest Nazarene University
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 with about 1,125 students. Popular majors include business, nursing and accounting.
Illinois: University of Chicago
University of Chicago
Location: Chicago
Acceptance rate: 8%
Graduation rate: 93%
SAT range: 1480–1580
ACT range: 32–35
Graduates’ starting salary: $54,300
Founded in 1890, the University of Chicago is a prestigious private university with around 5,978 students. Notable majors include economics, mathematics and biology.
Indiana: University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
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
Location: Grinnell
Acceptance rate: 29%
Graduation rate: 87%
SAT range: 1310–1510
ACT range: 30–34
Graduates’ starting salary: $32,800
Grinnell is a private liberal arts college founded in 1846 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
Location: McPherson
Acceptance rate: 39%
Graduation rate: 22%
SAT range: 890–1120
ACT range: 17–22
Graduates’ starting salary: $27,000
Central Christian, founded in 1884, is a small private Christian college with about 730 students. Popular majors include business, criminal justice and liberal arts.
Kentucky: Berea College
Berea College
Location: Berea
Acceptance rate: 35%
Graduation rate: 66%
SAT range: 970–1200
ACT range: 22–27
Graduates’ starting salary: $24,600
Founded in 1855, Berea is a private college with about 1,615 students. Common majors include biology, information science and psychology.
Louisiana: Tulane University
Tulane University
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 university with about 6,716 students. Popular majors include finance, health professions and business.
Maine: Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
Location: Brunswick
Acceptance rate: 14%
Graduation rate: 95%
SAT range: 1360–1510
ACT range: 31–33
Graduates’ starting salary: $44,600
Bowdoin is a private liberal arts college founded in 1794 with around 1,813 students. Popular majors include political science, economics and mathematics.
Maryland: Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
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. Notable majors include public health, nursing and international relations.
Massachusetts: Harvard University
Harvard University
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, is the oldest college in the U.S. and one of the nation’s most selective private universities, enrolling about 7,147 students. Popular majors include economics, computer science and history.
Michigan: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
University of Michigan
Location: Ann Arbor
Acceptance rate: 27%
Graduation rate: 92%
SAT range: 1330–1500
ACT range: 30–33
Graduates’ starting salary: $49,800
Founded in 1817, the University of Michigan is a top public research university with about 28,702 students. Popular majors include information science, business and psychology.
Minnesota: Carleton College
Carleton College
Location: Northfield
Acceptance rate: 21%
Graduation rate: 94%
SAT range: 1360–1530
ACT range: 31–34
Graduates’ starting salary: $39,500
Carleton, founded in 1866, is a private liberal arts college with about 2,055 students. Popular majors include computer science, biology and economics.
Mississippi: Mississippi College
Mississippi College
Location: Clinton
Acceptance rate: 39%
Graduation rate: 59%
SAT range: 1070–1290
ACT range: 22–29
Graduates’ starting salary: $31,700
Mississippi College is a private Christian college founded in 1826 with about 2,793 students. Popular majors include kinesiology, nursing and business.
Missouri: Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis
Location: St. Louis
Acceptance rate: 16%
Graduation rate: 94%
SAT range: 1470–1570
ACT range: 32–34
Graduates’ starting salary: $56,500
Founded in 1853, WashU 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
Location: Billings
Acceptance rate: 64%
Graduation rate: 52%
SAT range: 910–1150
ACT range: 20–25
Graduates’ starting salary: $30,100
Rocky Mountain College, founded in 1878, is a private Christian college with about 868 students. Popular majors include business, kinesiology and biology.
Nebraska: University of Nebraska, Lincoln
University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Location: Lincoln
Acceptance rate: 64%
Graduation rate: 68%
SAT range: 1100–1380
ACT range: 22–29
Graduates’ starting salary: $37,200
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln, founded in 1869, enrolls about 19,534 students. Popular majors include business, psychology and public relations.
Nevada: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Location: Paradise
Acceptance rate: 81%
Graduation rate: 42%
SAT range: 1030–1240
ACT range: 19–24
Graduates’ starting salary: $36,500
UNLV, established in 1957, enrolls roughly 18,958 students. Popular majors include hospitality and tourism management, psychology, and criminal justice.
New Hampshire: Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
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. Common majors include economics, political science and computer science.
New Jersey: Princeton University
Princeton University
Location: Princeton
Acceptance rate: 6%
Graduation rate: 97%
SAT range: 1430–1570
ACT range: 31–35
Graduates’ starting salary: $60,800
Princeton, founded in 1746, is a top private university with about 5,260 students. Popular majors include engineering, economics and public policy analysis.
New Mexico: New Mexico Tech
New Mexico Tech
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, mining and electrical engineering.
New York: Columbia University
Columbia University
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 about 7,592 students. Popular majors include economics, computer science and political science.
North Carolina: Duke University
Duke University
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 top private university with about 6,669 students. Popular majors include economics, computer science and public policy analysis.
North Dakota: Mayville State University
Mayville State University
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 small public institution with about 600 students. Popular majors include business, nursing and elementary education.
Ohio: Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
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, known for engineering and computer science programs.
Oklahoma: University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
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 is a private Christian university founded in 1894 with around 3,203 students. Popular majors include mechanical engineering, finance and petroleum engineering.
Oregon: Reed College
Reed College
Location: Portland
Acceptance rate: 36%
Graduation rate: 80%
SAT range: 1310–1500
ACT range: 30–33
Graduates’ starting salary: $30,400
Reed, founded in 1908, is a private liberal arts college with about 1,408 students. Popular majors include English, liberal arts and biology.
Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
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 a top private university with about 10,496 students. Popular majors include finance, nursing and economics.
Rhode Island: Brown University
Brown University
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 university with about 6,666 students. Popular majors include biology, economics and computer science.
South Carolina: Clemson University
Clemson University
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 university with about 18,642 students. Popular majors include business, biology and marketing.
South Dakota: Augustana University
Augustana University
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
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
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 university with about 3,916 students. Popular majors include economics, information science and chemical engineering.
Utah: Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
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
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 college with about 2,528 students. Popular majors include economics, political science and environmental science.
Virginia: Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University
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 university with about 1,823 students. Popular majors include business, accounting and economics.
Washington: University of Washington
University of Washington
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.
Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University
Georgetown University
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 leading private Catholic university with about 6,987 students. Common majors include political science, international relations and finance.
West Virginia: Alderson Broaddus University
Alderson Broaddus University
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 small private Christian university with about 903 students. Popular majors include nursing, business and biology.
Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin
Location: Madison
Acceptance rate: 54%
Graduation rate: 87%
SAT range: 1280–1450
ACT range: 27–31
Graduates’ starting salary: $45,000
Founded in 1848, the University of Wisconsin–Madison is a top public research university with about 28,977 students. Popular majors include biology, economics and information science.
Wyoming: University of Wyoming
University of Wyoming
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 enrolls around 8,281 students. Popular majors include nursing, psychology and elementary education.
Note: Rankings and figures are drawn from Niche’s compilation of U.S. Department of Education data, including acceptance rates and SAT/ACT score ranges. Test-score ranges, acceptance rates and graduation rates provide a snapshot of selectivity and outcomes, but individual fit, program strengths and financial considerations should guide any college decision.