Complete database of acceptance rates, SAT scores, and costs for 100+ top universities. Ivy League to public flagships - all the data you need to plan your college journey.
The eight Ivy League schools continue to see record-low acceptance rates. For the Class of 2029 (2025-2026 admissions cycle), competition has never been fiercer. Here's the complete breakdown.
| University | Overall Rate | ED/REA Rate | SAT Range | Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Harvard University#1 | 3.6% | 7.6% | 1510-1580 | 54,008 |
| Columbia University | 3.7% | 10.5% | 1510-1570 | 57,129 |
| Yale University | 3.9% | 10.9% | 1510-1570 | 52,250 |
| Princeton University | 4.0% | 13.6% | 1510-1580 | 39,644 |
| Brown University | 5.0% | 14.0% | 1500-1570 | 51,302 |
| UPenn (Pennsylvania) | 5.4% | 15.2% | 1500-1570 | 59,465 |
| Dartmouth College | 5.5% | 18.5% | 1490-1570 | 31,656 |
| Cornell University | 7.8% | 22.6% | 1470-1560 | 67,380 |
Ivy League acceptance rates have dropped over 50% in the past decade. In 2015, Harvard's rate was 5.3% - today it's 3.6%. The rise of the Common App and increased international applications have driven this trend.
Source: Historical admissions data analysis
Beyond the Ivy League, these elite universities also have extremely competitive admissions. Here's the complete Top 20 with acceptance rates and key statistics.
| Rank | University | Accept Rate | SAT (Mid 50%) | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Princeton University | 4.0% | 1510-1580 | $87,910 |
| 2 | MIT | 4.0% | 1520-1580 | $85,960 |
| 3 | Harvard University | 3.6% | 1510-1580 | $90,754 |
| 4 | Stanford University | 3.9% | 1510-1580 | $90,402 |
| 5 | Yale University | 3.9% | 1510-1570 | $89,270 |
| 6 | Caltech | 3.0% | 1530-1580 | $86,886 |
| 7 | Duke University | 5.5% | 1510-1570 | $91,274 |
| 8 | Johns Hopkins | 6.5% | 1510-1570 | $87,272 |
| 9 | Northwestern | 6.0% | 1500-1570 | $89,883 |
| 10 | UChicago | 5.4% | 1510-1570 | $92,169 |
| 11 | Columbia University | 3.7% | 1510-1570 | $93,504 |
| 12 | UPenn | 5.4% | 1500-1570 | $90,572 |
| 13 | Brown University | 5.0% | 1500-1570 | $88,708 |
| 14 | Dartmouth College | 5.5% | 1490-1570 | $88,878 |
| 15 | Vanderbilt | 5.1% | 1500-1570 | $88,692 |
| 16 | Rice University | 7.7% | 1500-1570 | $80,760 |
| 17 | Notre Dame | 12.0% | 1450-1550 | $85,644 |
| 18 | Cornell University | 7.8% | 1470-1560 | $87,738 |
| 19 | Georgetown | 12.0% | 1440-1540 | $87,912 |
| 20 | UC Berkeley | 11.4% | 1400-1540 | $48,465 (IS) / $83,199 (OOS) |
These excellent universities offer outstanding education with slightly higher acceptance rates. Many students find their perfect fit in this tier.
| Rank | University | Accept Rate | SAT Range | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | UCLA | 8.6% | 1400-1530 | Public |
| 22 | Emory University | 11.4% | 1430-1540 | Private |
| 23 | Carnegie Mellon | 11.0% | 1490-1560 | Private |
| 24 | UVA | 18.6% | 1390-1520 | Public |
| 25 | USC | 9.2% | 1440-1540 | Private |
| 26 | University of Michigan | 17.7% | 1380-1540 | Public |
| 27 | Washington U St. Louis | 11.0% | 1480-1570 | Private |
| 28 | NYU | 8.0% | 1450-1550 | Private |
| 29 | UNC Chapel Hill | 16.9% | 1350-1510 | Public |
| 30 | Georgia Tech | 16.0% | 1410-1540 | Public |
| 31-35 | Wake Forest, Tufts, Boston College, UF, UCSD | 15-25% | 1350-1520 | Mixed |
| 36-40 | Rochester, Case Western, UT Austin, UC Davis, UC Irvine | 20-30% | 1320-1500 | Mixed |
| 41-50 | Brandeis, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio State, Purdue, others | 25-55% | 1300-1480 | Mixed |
Early Decision (ED) and Early Action (EA) applicants often see significantly higher acceptance rates. Here's the data on how much ED can boost your chances.
Note: ED is binding - you must attend if accepted. Green = ED rate, Red = RD rate
Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Stanford offer REA instead of ED. REA is non-binding but restricts other early applications. Acceptance rates for REA are typically 10-15% - higher than regular decision but without the binding commitment.
Public flagship universities offer excellent education at lower costs, especially for in-state students. However, many have become highly competitive.
| University | Overall Rate | In-State Cost | Out-of-State Cost | SAT Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCLA | 8.6% | $35,584 | $68,474 | 1400-1530 |
| UC Berkeley | 11.4% | $48,465 | $83,199 | 1400-1540 |
| UVA | 18.6% | $36,018 | $72,870 | 1390-1520 |
| University of Michigan | 17.7% | $33,288 | $73,938 | 1380-1540 |
| UNC Chapel Hill | 16.9% | $24,894 | $57,642 | 1350-1510 |
| Georgia Tech | 16.0% | $29,832 | $52,166 | 1410-1540 |
| UT Austin | 29.0% | $29,890 | $61,634 | 1300-1480 |
| U of Florida | 23.4% | $22,276 | $43,858 | 1350-1510 |
| U of Wisconsin | 49.2% | $26,660 | $58,618 | 1330-1480 |
| Ohio State | 53.0% | $27,192 | $52,476 | 1290-1450 |
UCLA (8.6%) and UC Berkeley (11.4%) are now harder to get into than several Ivy League schools for out-of-state and international students. The UC system received over 200,000 applications for Fall 2026.
Source: UC Office of the President, 2026
The sticker price shouldn't discourage you - many top schools meet 100% of demonstrated financial need. Here's what you need to know about costs and aid.
*At top schools with generous aid
These schools meet 100% of demonstrated need with grants and scholarships only - no loans required:
Harvard
<$85K = free
Yale
<$75K = free
Princeton
<$100K = free
Stanford
<$100K = free
MIT
<$75K = free
Duke
100% need met
Brown
100% need met
Rice
<$75K = free
Acceptance rates have declined dramatically over the past two decades. Here's how competitive admissions have become.
Harvard's acceptance rate has dropped 67% since 2000