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Hardest Colleges to Get Into 2023

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Did you know that some of the hardest colleges to get into have acceptance rates lower than 4%? That’s right. Lower than 4%!

So, if you want to get into one of these elite institutions, you'll need to know how to stand out from the other applicants. A big heads up—we’re wary of using things like prestige and rankings to decide where you should apply to college: for more detail on why a lot of rankings are bad, head here, but essentially, they generally aren’t a way to figure out whether you and that college actually fit together well.

That said, we also understand that some of these colleges might fit you well, and acceptance rates play into students’ and families’ decisions, so we’ve compiled a list of the 20 colleges with the lowest acceptance rates (based on the most recent data).

We’ll also share information about each school's admissions process and their average standardized test scores. We’ll even highlight the easiest Ivy League school to gain admission to.

Let's dive in!

 
 

What is the hardest college to get into?

#1 Harvard University

We're sure you won't be surprised to learn that Harvard is currently the hardest college to get into, with an acceptance rate of just 3.19%. Last year, 61,220 students applied to Harvard, but only 1,950 were accepted.

As one of the most renowned Ivy League universities, Harvard's admissions process is incredibly competitive due to the increasing number of applications it receives every year and its long history of prestigious alumni. Harvard favors students with top grades, outstanding test scores, stellar extracurriculars, and strong letters of recommendation.

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Top 10 hardest colleges to get into

Harvard may have the lowest reported acceptance rate. But the colleges in positions 2-10 aren't far behind.

#2 Columbia University

Columbia University's acceptance rate of 3.73% puts it in second place in the hardest-colleges-to-get-into rankings. Last year, 60,377 students applied for admission to the Class of 2026, and only 2,253 were accepted.

Columbia’s admissions process is highly competitive while emphasizing a holistic review process for each applicant. Their admissions page highlights that admissions officers look for students who demonstrate intellect, curiosity, and dynamis.m So, be sure to submit a strong application that showcases your best self!

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#3 California Institute of Technology

The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) easily earns its spot in the top 3 hardest colleges to get into with an acceptance rate of 3.92%. Caltech hasn’t released admissions statistics for the class of 2026. But more than 13,000 students applied for admission to the Class of 2025, and only 510 were accepted. 

Caltech admissions officers school look for applicants who demonstrate a unique academic talent and passion for the sciences. To increase your chances of getting accepted into Caltech, you must have a solid academic record with high grades in rigorous courses like math and science. In addition, the school highly values extracurricular activities and exceptional research experience.

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#4 Stanford University

Coming in at 4th on our list is Stanford University. Stanford is another extremely competitive university that hasn't released admissions statistics for the class of 2026. But the acceptance rate for the class of 2025 was just 3.95%. That's after 55,471 students applied for the school, and only 2,190 were admitted!

Stanford has one of the hardest admissions processes in the country. To get accepted, you'll need to show evidence of academic excellence, extracurriculars, and leadership. Plus, Stanford's admissions team looks for well-rounded students with a strong sense of character as part of their holistic review process.

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#5 Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Next up is MIT, with an acceptance rate of 3.96%, putting it just barely behind Stanford as one of the most selective colleges. In their most recent admission cycle, 33,796 students applied to the class of 2026, and only 1,137 were admitted.

MIT is well-known for its holistic review process, meaning they're looking for well-rounded students with a track record of academic excellence, especially in the applied sciences. They also look for students that demonstrate unique interests and the potential to contribute meaningfully to the MIT community.

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#6 Princeton University

Princeton University is unsurprisingly one of the hardest colleges to get into. The Ivy League university hasn’t released admissions statistics for the class of 2026. But for the class of 2025, Princeton offered admission to 1,647 students out of the 37,601 that applied—making that year's acceptance rate 4.38%.

To get into Princeton, you need to demonstrate high academic performance and a commitment to leadership activities. The admission committee looks for students who have gone above and beyond in their studies and can contribute meaningful insight and ideas.

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#7 Yale University

It should also come as no surprise that Yale is one of the hardest colleges to get into. With an acceptance rate of 4.6%, the admissions process is highly competitive. Last year, 50,015 students applied for the class of 2026, and only 2,234 were admitted.

To even be considered for admission at Yale, you need to have top grades. Yale also looks at extracurricular activities, essays, interviews, and more. But what makes Yale a bit unique from other top schools is that their admissions website says that its admissions team reviews each application with two questions in mind: 1) "Who is the most likely to make the most of Yale's resources?" 2) "Who will contribute most significantly to the Yale community?"

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#8 Brown University

Next up is Brown University, with an acceptance rate of 5.03% after 50,649 applied for the class of 2026. Only 2,546 students gained admittance. Of course, this is not surprising since Brown has a reputation for academic excellence.

Brown looks for students who think outside the box and are motivated to learn in and outside the classroom. So, if you're applying to Brown University, make sure your application highlights the unique aspects of extracurriculars and activities that show you're committed to more than just academic work.

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#9 University of Chicago

With an acceptance rate of only 5.4% after 37,522 applied for the class of 2026, the University of Chicago is the 9th hardest college to get into. Out of this pool of applicants, only 2,041 students were accepted.

UChicago evaluates applicants based on many criteria, like academic performance, extracurricular activities, and the famous UChicago supplemental essays. Applicants should also make sure they demonstrate their academic ability by taking challenging courses. Extracurricular activities should also demonstrate potential for leadership and initiative, so make sure these are meaningful and impactful to the community in some way.

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#10 University of Pennsylvania

UPenn is well known as one of the hardest Ivy League schools to get into, and its competitive admissions process reflects that. UPenn hasn't yet released official statistics for the class of 2026. But for the class of 2025, UPenn admitted 3,304 students from the 56,332 that applied. That year, the acceptance rate was 5.87%.

No single factor determines admission to UPenn—the university uses a holistic approach to evaluate applicants. That being said, with such stiff competition, it’s essential to ensure you have participated in meaningful extracurriculars and have a top-notch academic record demonstrating you've taken a rigorous high school course load.

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Top 20 hardest colleges to get into

#11 Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt University ranks 11th on our list of the hardest colleges to get into in the United States. As one of the most academically rigorous universities, it had an acceptance rate of just 6.1% for the class of 2026.

Vanderbilt's admissions standards are high—they look at academic performance, standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, community involvement, and a student's character. In addition to those factors, Vanderbilt also wants to see that you have taken a rigorous high school course load.

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#12 Dartmouth College

In 12th place is Dartmouth College, which had an acceptance rate of 6.2% after 28,357 applied for the class of 2026. Dartmouth has long been known for its academic excellence, with a small student body and a focus on providing an intimate learning environment.

Dartmouth's admissions process is highly competitive, so you will need to demonstrate a commitment to learning with your academic record, leadership potential, creativity, and intellectual curiosity by crafting compelling essays and having a strong application overall.

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#13 Duke University

Next up is Duke University, with an acceptance rate of 6.2%. For the class of 2026, Duke received 50,002 applications, and only 3,085 were accepted.

Duke is well known for its rigorous academics and strong alumni network. The university seeks students with leadership potential, creativity, and intellectual curiosity. So, make sure you craft unique and interesting stories in your essays, show your passion through activities outside of school, and demonstrate diverse perspectives to stand out from the crowd!

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#14 John Hopkins University

John Hopkins University is next, with an acceptance rate of 6.5%. Last year, JHU received 37,150 applications and only admitted 2,407 students—making it one of many top colleges that continue to see an increase in applications with each passing year.

The admissions process at JHU is very competitive and focuses heavily on excellence in academic performance, leadership experiences, extracurricular activities, and essays. We recommend that students applying to JHU do their research and be knowledgeable about the school’s program offerings to stand out in the applicant pool.

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#15 Swarthmore College

In 15th place, Swarthmore is the first but not last of the elite liberal arts colleges to make this list. For the class of 2026, 14,700 students applied for admissions, and only 1,021 were accepted, resulting in an acceptance rate of 6.95%.

Swarthmore is known for its rigorous academics and intellectual curiosity. Students are encouraged to showcase their academic capabilities, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and internships to stand out. Additionally, students should demonstrate their leadership potential and be able to articulate why they want to attend Swarthmore.

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#16 Pomona College

Next is Pomona College, another renowned liberal arts college. After receiving 10,663 applications for the class of 2026, only 413 students were accepted—making Pomona's acceptance rate 7%.

Pomona's small first-year class size makes the competition stiff for admission. To gain admission, students must demonstrate strong academic potential, a commitment to service and outreach, and a drive to be engaged in the larger world.

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#17 Colby College

Also with an acceptance rate of 7%, Colby College ranks 17th on our list of the hardest colleges to get into. For the class of 2026, 16,891 students applied to Colby, and only 1,258 were accepted —making for a very competitive admissions process.

Colby emphasizes a holistic approach when reviewing applicants, looking for students with unique experiences, academic potential, and passion. If admitted to Colby College, high achievers will find a rigorous academic environment and resources to help them succeed.

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#18 Northwestern University

Northwestern University ranks 18th among hardest colleges to get into, with an acceptance rate of 7.2% after 51,554 students applied for the class of 2026.

Northwestern is known for its rigorous academics and highly competitive admissions process. The university looks for students who excel in the classroom, have notable extracurricular activities, and demonstrate a passion for learning. Northwestern encourages first-year applicants to think about questions like “How have you shown initiative in learning more about the world around you?” when putting together their applications. 

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#19 Cornell University

Next on the list is Cornell University, making it the easiest Ivy League to get into. But does it really count as "easy" with an acceptance rate of 7.2%? Last year, a whopping 71,164 students applied, and only 5,168 were accepted.

Despite being slightly less competitive than the other Ivies, Cornell is highly selective in its admissions process, looking for well-rounded students who excel academically, actively engage in extracurricular activities, and demonstrate a commitment to their community. They also prioritize applicants who have challenged themselves with rigorous high school coursework.

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#20 Amherst College

Last but not least, Amherst College, another elite liberal arts college, has an acceptance rate of 7.3% after 14,684 applied for the class of 2026. Out of those applicants, only 1,079 gained admittance.

Despite being a small liberal arts school, Amherst College offers an innovative academic curriculum designed to challenge students intellectually and help them develop their own individual paths. To stand out in Amherst's competitive admissions process, applicants should have a strong academic record, impressive extracurricular activities, and a compelling personal essay.

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Final thoughts

Applying to any of the selective colleges on this list may seem intimidating, but with the right preparation, hard work, and dedication, you can make it happen! Do your research on each college's admissions process and requirements to give yourself the best chance of success.

And if you need support with any part of the application process, check out our college application hub with in-depth resources on everything from how to build a college list to applying for financial aid. 

Special thanks to Ameer Drane for writing this blog post.

Ameer is a freelance writer who specializes in writing about college admissions and career development. Prior to freelancing, Ameer worked for three years as a college admissions consultant at a Hong Kong-based education center, helping local high school students prepare and apply for top colleges and universities in the US. He has a B.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Chicago and an M.A. in Spanish Linguistics from UCLA. When he’s not working, Ameer loves traveling, weight lifting, writing, reading, and learning foreign languages. He currently lives in Bangkok, Thailand. 

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