Today, the United States is home to some of the world’s finest educational institutions. If you’re accepted, it’s because you excelled academically, participated actively in extracurricular activities, and studied a language other than English while in high school.
Schools have different admissions standards, but they all have very specific criteria for which applicants they will even review out of the thousands they get each year. Some schools only accept paper applications, while others use online applications and interviews to find the best applicants.
Top 11 most competitive U.S. universities.
Many qualified students are left out of the admissions process at highly selective universities due to high levels of competition and quotas on student numbers. Based on both prestige and admission rates, below is a list of the top 11 most competitive U.S. universities.
#11. The University of Pennsylvania
This city is home to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. The city’s historical importance is monumental. This is a prestigious academic institution that offers a full four years of study. The university provides several academic degree programs, including a liberal arts curriculum. It’s a prestigious four-year institution that consistently receives high marks for academic quality. Your SAT score should be between 1450 and 1560 for consideration. Average tuition and fees amount to $24,771 per year.
#10. Duke University
Durham is the home of Duke University in North Carolina. It’s a liberal arts college with a wide range of degree options and a personalized approach to education. There are options to study abroad, as well as four-year and graduate-level programs. For admission to Duke University, you’ll need an SAT score between 1880 and 1570. Annual tuition is $24,386.
#9. Chicago’s University
Chicago, Illinois is home to the University of Chicago. It is one of the state’s oldest private research universities. They started the school in 1890. There were little under 18,500 students enrolled in some capacity in the previous academic year, including 10,893 graduate students and 7,559 undergraduates. Entry into this university is quite competitive.
#8. Brown University
Brown University is a four-year college and located in Rhode Island. Passionate and diligent learners populate their classrooms. The school encourages student independence and curiosity by providing a wide variety of electives from which to select. One might choose to focus on one area of study or diversify into others. Campus life is friendly and favorable to learning success. The most difficult aspect is starting off. Cost of attendance per year is $27,218. To be taken into consideration for admission, your SAT score has to be in the 1440-1570 range. Brown University has a 7% acceptance rate for all students that apply.
#7. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
To this day, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) remains one of the most prominent universities in the United States. Cambridge, Massachusetts, to be exact. One of the top institutions for learning and study. Getting accepted to MIT is a daunting challenge. There is just a 7% chance of being accepted.
In order to be admitted, students must be among the best in their class. The range of SAT scores considered minimal is 1510-1570. Tuition for one year at this university will set you back $20,465. As the team reviews hundreds of applications from the world’s most promising students, they narrow the pool down to accept just the brightest and greatest. It is regarded as one of the most selective technical universities in the world.
#6. Pomona College
Pomona College is in Claremont, CA. One of the most competitive four-year schools in the country. When compared to other Claremont institutions, it excels and receives an A+ grade. There is more leeway in terms of SAT scores than at other institutions. They look at applications from kids with SAT/ACT scores between 1390 and 1540, but only accept around 7% of those that apply. With a price tag of $18,500 a year, it’s no surprise that competition is fierce to attend this elite institution.
#5. The University of Princeton
When it comes to American universities, Princeton University is right up there with the best of them. It’s also among the top five most competitive schools to enter. The admissions process becomes even more competitive as the acceptance rate has dropped to 4.4% from 5.6%. There is a lot of competition to get in, and candidates must show evidence of academic achievement by taking courses at the honors and advanced placement levels. Interviews are a required part of the application process, as is evidence of community service.
#4. Yale University
One of the best universities in the United States is Yale University. It may be found in the Connecticut town of Newhaven. The admittance rate for the university is quite low at 4.6%, down from 6.6% the year before. It is a prestigious university in the Ivy League, and its students are expected to meet rigorous academic standards. They had a long list of must-haves for applicants to be considered, including essays, recommendations, evidence of prior community service, and more.
#3. Harvard University
Additionally, Harvard is a very selective Ivy League institution. Each candidate must first demonstrate that they fulfill the school’s demanding academic and achievement requirements. Students’ backgrounds, academic interests, and extracurricular abilities are rigorously evaluated, and only the very finest are accepted.
Because of the intense level of competition, many otherwise qualified applicants are rejected each year. It’s true that Harvard has both an undergraduate and medical school. The admissions committee only considers the most exceptional candidates.
#2. Stanford University
The town of Stanford, California is home to the eponymous university. This university has the second-lowest admission rate in the United States. The percentage of applicants admitted to Stanford in 2021 was a low 3.9%. Applicants are expected to have a strong academic track record. The members of the panel will be reviewing this immediately.
The admissions committee will take this into account early in the evaluation process. In addition to outstanding academic achievements, students must demonstrate their uniqueness by demonstrating excellence in a variety of extracurricular and other activities.
#1. Columbia University
Today, getting into Columbia University is one of the most competitive processes in the United States. The percentage of applicants granted acceptance in 2021 was 3.9%. Columbia University was founded in 1754 as King’s College. Among the best private research institutions in the nation, it may be found in the heart of New York City.
The first structure ever constructed was at Trinity Church in Manhattan. As one of the five oldest institutions in the United States, it has a special place in history. Only 6.7% of those who applied were ultimately accepted. If you want to get there, you’ll need to have perfect grades and a lot of recommendations.
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