East Colleges with low acceptance rates

Colleges with the Lowest Acceptance Rate in East for 2024

These are the most selective public and private four-year colleges in East. The list is ranked by acceptance rate, lowest to highest and limited to schools which reject at least half of all applicants. Leading the list is Harvard University which sent acceptance letters to only 3% of the 61,221 students who applied and rejected 97%.

Not all schools on the most selective list are overly academically challenging. Some schools with less rigorous test and high school GPA requirements may receive a large numbers of qualified applicants and the school does not have space to admit them all.

If you're looking for challenging colleges, explore rankings of East colleges with the highest SAT scores, highest ACT scores and highest GPA's.
East Low Acceptance % Public Private 4 year

80 results

Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
Connect Me
C
New York, NY

Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

22% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 958enrollment
  • $26,194net price
  • 1390-1530SAT range
  • 31-35ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 8

Compare Calculate my chances 
Smith College
Connect Me
S
Northampton, MA

Smith College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

23% Acceptance Rate

#8 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,873enrollment
  • $30,790net price
  • 1370-1520SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Villanova University
Connect Me
V
Villanova, PA

Villanova University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

23% Acceptance Rate

#8 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 10,383enrollment
  • $34,837net price
  • 1378-1500SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
United States Coast Guard Academy
Connect Me
C
New London, Connecticut

United States Coast Guard Academy

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

24% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 1,037enrollment
  • -net price
  • 1160-1365SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
CUNY Graduate School and University Center
Connect Me
G
New York, NY

CUNY Graduate School and University Center

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

24% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 8,733enrollment
  • -net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
American Musical and Dramatic Academy
Connect Me
A
New York, NY

American Musical and Dramatic Academy

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

26% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 1,480enrollment
  • $48,847net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Skidmore College
Connect Me
S
Saratoga Springs, NY

Skidmore College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

26% Acceptance Rate

#8 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,758enrollment
  • $33,389net price
  • 1300-1460SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Connect Me
U
Kings Point, NY

United States Merchant Marine Academy

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

27% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 943enrollment
  • $4,891net price
  • 1150-1330SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Bryn Mawr College
Connect Me
B
Bryn Mawr, PA

Bryn Mawr College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

31% Acceptance Rate

#11 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,742enrollment
  • $39,072net price
  • 1280-1495SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Yeshiva D'monsey Rabbinical College
Connect Me
Y
Monsey, NY
 

Yeshiva D'monsey Rabbinical College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

32% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 79enrollment
  • $5,054net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Bucknell University
Connect Me
B
Lewisburg, PA

Bucknell University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

33% Acceptance Rate

#9 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 3,787enrollment
  • $39,965net price
  • 1310-1470SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Lafayette College
Connect Me
L
Easton, PA

Lafayette College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

34% Acceptance Rate

#7 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,729enrollment
  • $37,186net price
  • 1330-1480SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Dickinson College
Connect Me
D
Carlisle, PA

Dickinson College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

35% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 2,137enrollment
  • $37,610net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Trinity College
Connect Me
T
Hartford, CT

Trinity College

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

36% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Colleges in Connecticut

  • 2,205enrollment
  • $32,704net price
  • 1300-1470SAT range
  • 30-32ACT range
  • 3.8Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 17

Compare Calculate my chances 
College of the Holy Cross
Connect Me
H
Worcester, MA

College of the Holy Cross

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

36% Acceptance Rate

#11 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 3,083enrollment
  • $34,679net price
  • 1260-1430SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Franklin and Marshall College
Connect Me
F
Lancaster, PA

Franklin and Marshall College

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

36% Acceptance Rate

#6 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,990enrollment
  • $31,135net price
  • 1310-1440SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Lehigh University
Connect Me
L
Bethlehem, PA

Lehigh University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

37% Acceptance Rate

#5 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 7,394enrollment
  • $30,453net price
  • 1340-1490SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.81Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
The New England Conservatory of Music
Connect Me
N
Boston, MA

The New England Conservatory of Music

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

38% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 796enrollment
  • $53,162net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

Compare Calculate my chances