College Regular Acceptance Rates
Regular Decision Acceptance Rates 2025: Data for Top U.S. Schools
College acceptance rates have been shrinking in recent years, but Regular Decision (RD) rates have taken the biggest hit.
Take Harvard, for example: its overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was 3.6%, but for RD applicants, it dropped to just 2.7%. Yale’s numbers tell a similar story, with an overall acceptance rate of 3.7% and an RD acceptance rate of only 3.1%. These figures show just how competitive the RD round has become.
To give you a clearer look at RD trends, we’ve gathered acceptance rate data from the Class of 2024 through the Class of 2028 for top schools ranked by U.S. News & World Report (2025). All our data comes straight from official school announcements, Common Data Sets (CDS), and verified institutional sources.
National Universities Regular Decision Acceptance Rates
National universities offer a wide range of undergraduate majors along with master’s and doctoral programs. These schools emphasize faculty research and often grant professional practice doctorates.
With large student populations, significant research funding, and diverse academic offerings, they include some of the most prestigious institutions in the U.S.—from Ivy League schools to top private research universities and major public flagship colleges.
Below, you’ll find historical RD acceptance rates from the Class of 2024 to the Class of 2028 at some of the highest-ranked national universities:
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY | U.S. News 2025 Ranking | Class of 2029 (2025) | Class of 2028 (2024) | Class of 2027 (2023) | Class of 2026 (2022) | Class of 2025 (2021) | Class of 2024 (2020) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Princeton University | 1 | ~5% | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | 3.7% |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 2 | TBA | 3.9% | 3.8% | 3.3% | 3.4% | 7.1% |
Harvard University | 3 | 2.8% | 2.7% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 2.6% | 3.2% |
Stanford University | 4 | TBA | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Undisclosed |
Yale University | 5 | 4.5% | 3.1% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 4.2% | 5.1% |
California Institute of Technology | 6 | 2.3% | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Undisclosed |
Duke University | 6 | 3.6% | 4.1% | 4.8% | 4.6% | 4.3% | 6% |
Johns Hopkins University | 6 | 4% | TBA | 6.4% | 5.9% | 6.2% | 7.1% |
Northwestern University | 6 | 3.3% | 5.9% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 5.2% | 7% |
University of Pennsylvania | 10 | 4.9% | TBA | 4.4% | 4.4% | 4.2% | 6% |
Columbia University | 11 | 3.3% | 3.0% | 3.1% | 3% | 2.9% | 5.1% |
Cornell University | 11 | TBA | 6.2% | 5.7% | 5% | 6.7% | 8.7% |
University of Chicago | 11 | 5.4% | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Undisclosed |
Brown University | 13 | 4% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 3.7% | 4% | 5.4% |
Dartmouth College | 15 | 6% | 3.8% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.6% | 6.9% |
University of California, Los Angeles | 15 | 9% | 9% | 8.7% | 8.6% | 10.8% | 14.3% |
University of California, Berkeley | 17 | 11% | 11% | 11.7% | 11.3% | 14.4% | 17.5% |
Rice University | 18 | 7.8% | 6.8% | 7% | 7.7% | 8.6% | 10% |
University of Notre Dame | 18 | 6.7% | 8.7% | 10.5% | 10.4% | 11.9% | 16.7% |
Vanderbilt University | 18 | 3.3% | 3.7% | 4.2% | 4.7% | 6.7% | 9% |
Carnegie Mellon University | 21 | TBA | TBA | 11.1% | 11.1% | 12.9% | 16.7% |
University of Michigan | 21 | 17% | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Undisclosed |
Washington University in St. Louis | 21 | 8% | 8% | 9% | 9.2% | 8% | 8-10% |
Emory University | 24 | 14.9% | 12.8% | 15.1% | 14.6% | 20% | 16.6% |
Georgetown University | 24 | 12.3% | 13.3% | 15.4% | 13.3% | 12.5% | 19.5% |
University of Virginia | 24 | 9.3% | 16.1% | 16.2% | 17.7% | 19.6% | 22% |
University of Southern California | 27 | 8.5% | 12.4% | 14.2% | 20.3% | 12.5% | 16.1% |
University of California, San Diego | 29 | TBA | 26.8% | 24.8% | 23.8% | 34.3% | 38.3% |
New York University | 30 | TBA | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Undisclosed |
University of Texas-Austin | 30 | 7.8% | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Undisclosed |
Georgia Institute of Technology | 33 | 3.3% | TBA | 17.5% | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | 13.9% |
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | 33 | TBA | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | 22.6 |
Boston College | 37 | TBA | 12% | 14% | 15.8% | 18.9% | 22% |
Tufts University | 37 | TBA | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Undisclosed |
Boston University | 41 | 11.1% | 44% | Undisclosed | 13.4% | Undisclosed | Undisclosed |
Wake Forest University | 46 | TBA | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Undisclosed |
Case Western Reserve University | 51 | TBA | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | 27.3% | Undisclosed | 27% |
Northeastern University | 54 | 5.6% | TBA | Undisclosed | 6% | Undisclosed | Undisclosed |
National Liberal Arts Colleges Regular Decision Acceptance Rates
Unlike national universities, which prioritize graduate programs and faculty research, national liberal arts colleges emphasize small class sizes, close faculty-student interactions, and a well-rounded education across the humanities, sciences, and social sciences.
Many of these schools are highly selective, known for their rigorous academics, tight-knit communities, and emphasis on critical thinking. They also focus almost entirely on undergraduate education, with at least half of their degrees awarded in the arts and sciences.
Below, you’ll find historical RD acceptance rates from the Class of 2024 to the Class of 2028 at some of the top-ranked national liberal arts colleges:
NATIONAL LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES | U.S. News 2025 Ranking | Class of 2029 (2025) | Class of 2028 (2024) | Class of 2027 (2023) | Class of 2026 (2022) | Class of 2025 (2021) | Class of 2024 (2020) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Williams College | 1 | TBA | 6.4% | 8.3% | 33.2% | 13.2% | 8.3% |
Amherst College | 2 | 7% | 7.8% | 6.5% | 7% | 7.9% | 8.8% |
Swarthmore College | 3 | 6% | 6.4% | 6% | 5.9% | 6.5% | 7.7% |
Pomona College | 5 | TBA | 7% | 7% | 5.2% | 6.6% | 7.4% |
Wellesley College | 7 | 13.7% | 11.9% | 11.7% | 11.7% | Undisclosed | 18.4% |
Claremont McKenna College | 8 | 11.2% | 9.5% | 11.1% | 7.5% | 11.2% | 11.1% |
Harvard Mudd College | 12 | 13.1% | 12.1% | 12.4% | 12.6% | 8.7% | 17.3% |
Barnard College | 14 | TBA | 6.3% | 12.4% | Undisclosed | 8.4% | 11.8% |
Wesleyan University | 14 | 16% | 14.3% | 15.2% | 12.4% | 16.8% | 18.9% |
Regular vs. Early Admissions
When applying to college, you’ll need to decide between regular and early admissions. Both can get you to the same place—an acceptance letter—but the timing, level of commitment, and chances of getting in vary significantly.
- Regular Decision (RD). RD is the most competitive round because it attracts the largest pool of applicants. Deadlines typically fall in early January, with decisions released in March or April. Many top schools admit a large portion of their class through early admissions, which means fewer spots are left for RD applicants—making acceptance rates lower in this round.
- Early Action (EA). EA lets you apply early, usually by November 1 or 15, and get your decision by mid-December or January. Since EA applicants tend to be highly motivated students, acceptance rates are often higher than in RD. But because EA is non-binding, you’re not locked into enrolling—you can weigh your options and compare financial aid before making a final decision.
- Early Decision (ED). ED, on the other hand, is binding. If you’re accepted, you’re committing to enroll. Because of this, schools tend to admit a higher percentage of ED applicants. ED is the best option if you’re set on one school and have a strong application ready by the early deadline, which typically falls in November, with decisions released in mid-December.
Want to see how early acceptance rates compare? Check out our page on early acceptance rates for a deeper dive.
Why Are Regular Decision Acceptance Rates Lower?
Regular Decision (RD) is often the toughest round of college admissions. Several factors contribute to this:
- One of the biggest reasons RD is more competitive is that many colleges fill a large portion of their class through early admissions. Some top schools admit 40% to 50% (or more) of their freshman class through ED and EA rounds. By the time RD applications are reviewed, there are fewer seats left, making the process far more selective. At some Ivy League schools—like Columbia and Brown—ED acceptance rates can be three to four times higher than RD rates.
- RD is packed with high-achieving students, including those who were deferred from early rounds. Many of these applicants already have strong credentials, making the competition even tougher.
- Colleges also prioritize students who are more likely to enroll. ED applicants are a sure thing, making them more attractive to schools trying to predict their yield. In contrast, RD applicants might have multiple offers and choose to go elsewhere, so colleges are more selective in deciding who to admit.
- Schools also use RD to fine-tune their incoming class, considering factors like geographic diversity, first-generation status, and institutional needs. This can reduce the number of spots available for even highly qualified applicants.
RD is the most competitive admissions round because it has fewer available spots, a stronger applicant pool, and additional institutional priorities at play. While getting in is tough, understanding these factors can help you plan your application strategy wisely.
College Admissions Chances Calculator
Understanding where you stand in the applicant pool can help you make smarter decisions. Our College Admissions Chances Calculator gives you a rough estimate of your likelihood of admission, helping you refine your college list and application strategy. The calculator evaluates key parts of your academic and extracurricular profile.
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