What are the hardest colleges to get into in Missouri?

Washington University in St. Louis stands as Missouri's most selective and challenging university to gain admission to, with an acceptance rate of approximately 13%. As a highly prestigious institution, WashU typically admits students with exceptional academic credentials, including average SAT scores above 1500 and ACT scores above 33.

Saint Louis University follows as the second most selective college in Missouri, accepting roughly 58% of applicants. The university maintains competitive admission standards, typically seeking students with strong academic records including ACT scores around 28 and impressive extracurricular achievements.

Truman State University, often called Missouri's premier public liberal arts institution, ranks among the state's most selective public universities with an acceptance rate near 63%. The university particularly values strong academic performance, with successful applicants typically presenting ACT scores around 27.

The University of Missouri (Mizzou) in Columbia, while less selective than the aforementioned institutions, still maintains competitive admission standards with an acceptance rate of approximately 82%. Despite this higher acceptance rate, certain programs within Mizzou, such as the Journalism School and Honors College, are notably more selective and challenging to enter.

When considering these selective Missouri institutions, you should focus on maintaining a strong GPA, securing competitive standardized test scores, and developing a well-rounded profile of extracurricular activities. Early application to these universities can also provide an advantage in the admissions process, as acceptance rates tend to be slightly higher for early decision or early action candidates.