What is the hardest public university to get into?

UCLA is currently the hardest public university to get into, with an acceptance rate of just 9.41% for the Class of 2029. It received 173,374 freshman applications—the most of any college in the U.S.—and admitted only 13,659 students. UC Berkeley (11.43%), Georgia Tech (13.34%), and the University of Georgia (13.34%) are the next most selective public universities.

Do public universities offer Early Decision or Early Action?

Most top public universities do not offer Early Decision or Early Action programs. The entire University of California system, for example, accepts applications only during a single window in the fall with no early admissions option. Notable exceptions among public schools that offer some form of early admissions include William & Mary, Binghamton University–SUNY, and the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, though policies vary.

What is the difference between public and private universities in terms of acceptance rates?

Public universities generally have higher acceptance rates than comparable private universities because they are state-funded and mission-driven to serve larger populations, especially in-state residents. However, the most selective public schools—like UCLA (9.41%) and UC Berkeley (11.43%)—have acceptance rates that rival many elite private institutions. The Ivy League averaged 5.4% for the Class of 2029, while the most selective public schools sit in the 9–16% range.

How much does tuition cost at public universities vs. private universities?

On average, in-state tuition at a four-year public university is approximately $9,750 per year, compared to $38,421 at a private nonprofit four-year university—nearly four times the cost. Out-of-state students at public universities typically pay around $28,000 or more annually, which is closer to private school pricing, though merit scholarships and tuition reciprocity programs may help offset the difference.

How many public universities are there in the United States?

According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics (2020–2021), there are 1,892 public universities in the U.S. This includes a wide range of four-year institutions, from large flagship state universities with national reputations to smaller regional colleges that primarily serve local students.

Does residency status affect admission chances at public universities?

Yes, residency plays a significant role at many public universities. Most state flagship schools prioritize in-state applicants due to their public mission and state funding. UC campuses and schools like the University of Michigan, UNC–Chapel Hill, and the University of Virginia typically admit a substantial portion of in-state students. Out-of-state applicants often face more competitive admissions standards and higher tuition at these schools.

Are public universities academically comparable to private universities?

Yes. Many top public universities offer academic opportunities that rival or surpass those at elite private institutions. Schools like UC Berkeley, UCLA, Georgia Tech, and the University of Michigan are internationally recognized for research, faculty quality, and graduate outcomes. Public universities often have larger research budgets, more interdisciplinary programs, and broader alumni networks than many private institutions.

Resources

Liberal Arts Colleges Acceptance Rates

Liberal Arts Colleges Acceptance Rates 2026: Admissions Statistics

College admissions have never been more competitive. For the Class of 2029, Ivy League schools had an average acceptance rate of just 5.4%. Caltech was still selective, admitting only 3.78% of applicants—making it the hardest college to get into this year. And while national universities tend to get most of the spotlight, liberal arts colleges are just as selective.

In fact, some of the most competitive liberal arts colleges have acceptance rates around 7%. That’s slightly above the Ivy League average, but still lower than Cornell’s most recent rate of 8.38%.

If you’re putting together your college list, it’s smart to give liberal arts colleges the same thoughtful consideration as top national universities. Their admissions processes are just as intense, and they draw high-achieving students from all over the country and the world.

To help you get a better sense of the landscape, we’ve pulled together admissions data from a range of liberal arts colleges. This includes their overall, early, and regular acceptance rates.

Liberal Arts Colleges Latest Acceptance Rates

The following schools are from the U.S. News & World Report’s Best National Liberal Arts Colleges 2026 list. We’ve gathered their most recent acceptance rate data directly from their U.S. News profile pages.

US News Ranking	School	Overall	Early	Regular
1	Williams College	8.61%	26.56%	7.42%
2	Amherst College	7.72%	22.25%	6.78%
3	United States Naval Academy	16.03%	N/A	16.03%
4	Swarthmore College	7.52%	17.80%	6.39%
5	Bowdoin College	6.81%	14.91%	6.19%
5	United States Air Force Academy	16.23%	N/A	16.23%
7	Claremont McKenna College	10.27%	22.09%	3.15%
7	Pomona College	7.14%	13.71%	6.13%
7	Wellesley College	14.05%	29.82%	11.93%
10	Carleton College	20.41%	36.58%	18.74%
10	Harvey Mudd College	12.33%	18.35%	11.55%
10	United States Military Academy at West Point	12.46%	N/A	12.46%
13	Barnard College	8.84%	25.62%	6.03%
13	Davidson College	13.37%	29.91%	10.67%
13	Grinnell College	14.51%	34.18%	12.69%
13	Hamilton College	13.62%	29.44%	11.90%
13	Middlebury College	12.77%	39.02%	9.87%
13	Smith College	21.00%	38.20%	18.95%
13	Vassar College	18.57%	31.23%	17.46%
13	Wesleyan University	16.49%	38.35%	14.30%
21	Washington and Lee University	13.39%	27.58%	11.51%
22	Colgate University	13.88%	19.49%	13.13%
22	University of Richmond	22.20%	33.79%	21.29%
24	Bates College	13.30%	22.94%	11.83%
24	Colby College	8%	N/A	N/A
24	Haverford College	12.37%	29.40%	10.45%
27	College of the Holy Cross	21.10%	67.15%	16.66%
28	Macalester College	20.74%	41.96%	19.52%
29	Mount Holyoke College	38.41%	50.61%	37.21%
30	Bryn Mawr College	29.43%	36.62%	28.53%
30	Bucknell University	28.93%	55.45%	25.80%
30	Colorado College	18.47%	31.81%	16.86%
30	Lafayette College	31.16%	37.99%	30.49%
34	Denison University	28.13%	18.34%	30.90%
35	Franklin & Marshall College	28.19%	28.10%	28.20%
35	Occidental College	44.17%	47.85%	43.89%
37	Pitzer College	25.16%	42.24%	22.79%
37	Scripps College	38.29%	47.04%	37.43%
37	Skidmore College	21.05%	41.39%	19.49%
37	Soka University of America	44%	N/A	N/A
37	Spelman College	23.50%	29.19%	18.47%
37	Trinity College	29.30%	N/A	N/A
37	Trinity University	25%	52.60%	27.40%
44	Union College	43.92%	44.26%	43.59%
45	Berea College	19%	N/A	N/A
45	Dickinson College	42.09%	51.38%	41.34%
45	Furman University	52.58%	66.57%	30.29%
45	Kenyon College	31.02%	28.41%	31.33%
45	The University of the South	50.89%	69.67%	50.05%
50	Connecticut College	37.04%	41.06%	36.76%
50	Hillsdale College	21%	N/A	N/A
50	St. Olaf College	43.41%	54.96%	42.62%
50	Wabash College	57.05%	89.81%	55.57%
50	Wheaton College (IL)	88.76%	N/A	N/A

The lowest acceptance rate on the list is just 6.81%, while the highest hits 88%. Still, most liberal arts colleges fall somewhere between 10% and 35%. A good number of them have rates under 20%, which shows how competitive these schools can be.

On average, the acceptance rate across these colleges is around 24.08%. That said, the top-tier liberal arts schools are still incredibly selective, with acceptance rates below 10%.

It’s also worth noting that early admission rates are usually much higher than regular ones. Many colleges admit a big chunk of their incoming class through Early Decision/Early Action, giving an edge to students who commit to attending. These early applicants are often stronger academically and help schools manage their yield and shape the class more easily.

So, these patterns help you think carefully about where and when to apply. If you’re aiming for a top liberal arts college, applying early could seriously boost your chances.

What Is the Hardest Liberal Arts College to Get Into?

Bowdoin, Pomona, and Swarthmore are currently the toughest liberal arts colleges to get into, each admitting just 6-7% of applicants for the Class of 2029. That puts them right up there with the Ivy League in terms of selectivity.

Swarthmore received 12,995 applications and admitted just 977 students. Pomona had 12,470 applicants and accepted 861. Bowdoin saw a huge 14,045 applicants and offered spots to only 957. The numbers reflect both demand and a deliberate strategy to stay small and selective.

Here’s a closer look at the top 10 hardest liberal arts colleges to get into:

While schools like Swarthmore and Pomona have long been known for their selectivity, others—like Bowdoin and the United States Military Academy at West Point—have climbed the ranks quickly thanks to smart admissions strategies, need-blind financial aid, and test-optional policies that opened the doors to more applicants.

The takeaway? A college’s selectivity today depends as much on how it positions itself nationally as it does on tradition.

What Are Liberal Arts Colleges?

Liberal arts colleges focus on undergraduates and give you a well-rounded education in everything from the humanities and social sciences to the natural sciences and math. Instead of preparing you for just one specific career, they help you develop skills like critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving—tools that are useful no matter what you end up doing.

What truly sets liberal arts colleges apart from large national universities is their size and structure. Most have around 3,000 students or fewer. For example, Barnard has about 3,233 students, while Williams is closer to 2,000. This contrasts with larger universities, where enrollments often exceed tens of thousands of students.

Liberal arts colleges also prioritize teaching over research. You’re more likely to be in a seminar-style class than a lecture hall. Faculty members, rather than graduate students, teach your courses. You’ll get to know your professors, and they’ll get to know you.

Their curriculum isn’t “light” or “soft” as the name might suggest. In fact, it’s common for students to major in fields like biology, economics, or computer science while still being required to explore a wide range of disciplines.

So, if you want a tight-knit community with high academic standards and fewer distractions, a liberal arts college may be a good fit.

How many liberal arts colleges are there in the U.S.?

According to the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, there are 228 liberal arts colleges across the U.S. That’s around 15% of all the colleges and universities in the country. Out of those 228, the vast majority—202 of them—are private, not-for-profit schools. Only 26 are public, which makes public liberal arts colleges kind of rare.

College Admissions Chances Calculator

Curious how your stats stack up at top liberal arts colleges? Our College Admissions Chances Calculator is a great place to start. It gives you a ballpark idea of your chances based on key parts of your application.

All you have to do is plug in your GPA, SAT or ACT scores, course difficulty, and extracurriculars. Then the tool compares your profile to real data from past applicants at selective schools. It’s not a crystal ball, but it can help you get a feel for where you stand.

You can also play around with different scenarios—like boosting your test scores or strengthening your extracurriculars—to see how your chances might improve. It’s super helpful when you’re building your college list and figuring out reach, match, and safety schools.

Private Consulting Program

If you’re looking for more personalized support, check out our Private Consulting Program. This one-on-one service pairs you with an expert who’ll guide you through the entire admissions process—from picking schools to perfecting your essays and preparing for interviews.

We’ll help you craft a standout application that highlights your unique strengths—especially if you’re aiming for top-tier liberal arts colleges. You can even book a free consultation to get started. We’ll review your current academic and extracurricular profile and help you figure out the best next steps.

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