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Public Schools Acceptance Rates

Public Schools Acceptance Rates 2026: Admissions Statistics

Getting into a top U.S. college has become tougher than ever. Over the past few years, acceptance rates at selective schools have plummeted, and the trend hasn’t slowed.

For the Class of 2029, Ivy League schools averaged just a 5.4% acceptance rate. Some institutions have dipped even lower—Caltech, for instance, admitted only 3.78% of its applicants.

Despite this growing selectivity, public schools acceptance rates have remained relatively higher. Public universities, which receive state funding and serve larger applicant pools, tend to admit more students overall.

This doesn’t mean you’re settling, though. In fact, many public universities offer academic opportunities that rival or even surpass those at private colleges. From cutting-edge research labs to nationally ranked programs, public universities continue to be strong options for high-achieving students.

To give you a clearer picture of public schools acceptance rate trends, we’ve compiled admissions data from these schools. Let’s take a closer look at how they compare and where you might have a real shot.

Public Schools Latest Acceptance Rates

The table below shows the overall, regular, and early admission rates for top public universities across the country. We based our rankings on U.S. News & World Report’s Top Public Universities 2026 list.

For consistency, we pulled each school’s acceptance rate data directly from its corresponding U.S. News page. This ensures that you’re looking at the most reliable and up-to-date information available.

US NEWS RANK	SCHOOL	OVERALL ACCEPTANCE RATE	EARLY ACCEPTANCE RATE	REGULAR ACCEPTANCE RATE
1	University of California, Berkeley	11.43%	No EA/ED Policy	11.43%
2	University of California, Los Angeles	9.41%	No EA/ED Policy	9.41%
3	University of Michigan–Ann Arbor	16.42%	No EA/ED Policy	16.42%
4	University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill	15.34%	No ED Policy	N/A
4	University of Virginia	15.65%	No EA/ED Policy	15.65%
6	University of California San Diego	28.41%	No EA/ED Policy	28.41%
7	University of Florida	24.20%	No ED Policy	N/A
7	The University of Texas–Austin	26.64%	No ED Policy	N/A
9	Georgia Institute of Technology	13.34%	No ED Policy	N/A
9	University of California, Davis	41.82%	No EA/ED Policy	41.82%
9	University of California, Irvine	28.79%	No EA/ED Policy	28.79%
12	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign	36.61%	No ED Policy	N/A
12	University of Wisconsin–Madison	45.16%	No ED Policy	N/A
14	University of California, Santa Barbara	32.96%	No EA/ED Policy	32.96%
15	The Ohio State University	60.57%	No ED Policy	N/A
16	Rutgers University–New Brunswick	65.33%	No ED Policy	N/A
16	University of Maryland, College Park	45.03%	No ED Policy	N/A
16	University of Washington	39.14%	No EA/ED Policy	39.14%
19	Purdue University–Main Campus	43.43%	No ED Policy	N/A
19	University of Georgia	13.34%	No ED Policy	N/A
21	Florida State University	19.78%	No ED Policy	N/A
21	Texas A&M University	57.34%	No ED Policy	N/A
21	Virginia Tech	54.59%	No ED Policy	N/A
21	William & Mary	36.95%	49.22%	35.79%
25	University of California, Merced	91.42%	No EA/ED Policy	91.42%
26	The Pennsylvania State University–University Park	60.53%	No ED Policy	N/A
26	Stony Brook University–SUNY	39.94%	No ED Policy	N/A
26	University of Minnesota–Twin Cities	79.74%	No ED Policy	N/A
29	Michigan State University	84.78%	N/A	N/A
29	North Carolina State University	39.46%	No ED Policy	N/A
29	University of Massachusetts–Amherst	57.78%	No ED Policy	N/A
32	University of Connecticut	52.39%	No ED Policy	N/A
32	University of Pittsburgh	59.46%	No EA/ED Policy	59.46%
34	Binghamton University–SUNY	38.60%	49.97%	25.44%
34	Indiana University–Bloomington	75.87%	No ED Policy	N/A
36	Clemson University	38.34%	No ED Policy	N/A
36	Rutgers University–Newark	78.75%	No ED Policy	N/A
36	University at Buffalo–SUNY	74.20%	No ED Policy	N/A
36	University of California, Riverside	87.10%	No EA/ED Policy	87.10%
40	Colorado School of Mines	58%	N/A	N/A
40	New Jersey Institute of Technology	65.07%	No ED Policy	N/A
42	University of Illinois Chicago	77.35%	No ED Policy	N/A
43	University of California, Santa Cruz	72.70%	No EA/ED Policy	72.70%
43	University of Delaware	70.60%	No ED Policy	N/A
43	University of South Florida	43.19%	No ED Policy	N/A
46	Florida International University	54.66%	No EA/ED Policy	54.66%
46	Rutgers University–Camden	77.75%	No ED Policy	N/A
46	University of Colorado Boulder	76.21%	No ED Policy	N/A
46	Auburn University	45.92%	No ED Policy	N/A
46	Temple University	80.45%	No ED Policy	N/A
46	University of Iowa	79.90%	No EA/ED Policy	N/A
46	University of Missouri	73.20%	N/A	N/A
46	University of Tennessee–Knoxville	43.58%	No ED Policy	N/A

Competitiveness varies widely across public schools. Some have acceptance rates on par with top private schools. Others admit the majority of their applicants and focus more on access than selectivity.

You’ll also notice that early admission rates, when available, are typically higher than regular admission rates. This happens for several reasons. Early applicant pools tend to be smaller and more self-selecting. Students who apply early often have stronger academic records and show a high level of interest in attending.

Colleges, in turn, reward this demonstrated interest by accepting a higher percentage of early applicants. Strategic admissions planning also plays a role—many students work with counselors to make their early application as polished as possible.

That said, not all public universities offer early options. The University of California system, for example, only accepts applications during a single window in the fall.

What Is the Hardest Public University to Get Into?

UCLA is currently the hardest public university to get into. For the Class of 2028, it received 173,374 applications freshman applications—the most of any college in the U.S. Out of those, only 13,659 students were admitted. That puts UCLA’s acceptance rate at just 9.41%. With strong academic programs, global name recognition, and its location in Los Angeles, it continues to be one of the most sought-after public institutions in the country.

Here are the 10 hardest public universities to get into based on the most recent data:

Public schools acceptance rates, especially at these top institutions, show that getting in is no longer a guarantee—even for in-state students. However, geography and state residency still play a major role, particularly at UC campuses and flagship state schools that prioritize local applicants.

What's the Difference Between Public and Private Universities?

Public universities are funded primarily by state governments, which is why they often serve larger student populations. Their mission includes making higher education more accessible to residents of their home state.

Because of this, public schools acceptance rates tend to be higher than those at private institutions. They’re built to admit more students and educate them at scale.

Private universities, on the other hand, rely on tuition, donations, and endowments rather than state funding. This financial model allows them to limit their class sizes and maintain low student-to-faculty ratios. While this can translate to more personalized attention, it also means fewer seats are available, driving down acceptance rates.

One major difference you’ll notice right away is the cost. Here’s a look at the latest average tuition for public and private universities:

Public universities offer discounted tuition for in-state residents, which can make a big financial difference. On average, in-state tuition at a four-year public institution is $9,750 per year. Compare that to a private nonprofit four-year university, where the average annual tuition reaches $38,421. That’s nearly four times the cost.
Out-of-state students at public universities typically pay more—often close to or above $28,000 annually—which brings them closer to private school price tags. Still, public universities sometimes offer merit-based scholarships or tuition reciprocity programs to help offset that cost, especially for strong applicants.

Cost plays a major role in where students apply, which also influences public schools acceptance rates. Schools with lower tuition tend to attract larger pools of in-state applicants.

How many public universities are in the U.S.?

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

College Admissions Chances Calculator

If you’re wondering how your academic profile stacks up at top public universities, our College Admissions Chances Calculator can help. This free tool gives you a quick estimate of your chances based on several key factors: GPA, SAT or ACT scores, extracurricular activities, and other achievements.

It’s not a guarantee, of course, but it gives you a useful starting point. You’ll see how your stats compare to the average admitted student at your target schools. That context can help you build a smarter college list and better understand how public schools acceptance rates might apply to your situation.

Private Consulting Program

If you want a deeper, more customized strategy, we offer a Private Consulting Program. This one-on-one service gives you detailed guidance through every part of the college admissions process. From personal statement feedback to refining your activities list and preparing for interviews, you’ll get support that’s tailored to your goals.

This kind of targeted help can make a real difference, especially if you’re applying to selective schools with low public schools acceptance rates. If you’re serious about strengthening your application, you can schedule a free consultation to learn more.

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