Massachusetts Colleges with low acceptance rates

Colleges with the Lowest Acceptance Rate in Massachusetts for 2024

These are the most selective public and private four-year colleges in Massachusetts. 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 Massachusetts colleges with the highest SAT scores, highest ACT scores and highest GPA's.
Massachusetts Low Acceptance % Public Private 4 year

21 results

Harvard University
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H
Cambridge, MA

Harvard University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

3% Acceptance Rate

#4 Best Colleges in America

  • 30,631enrollment
  • $19,491net price
  • 1490-1580SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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M
Cambridge, MA

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

4% Acceptance Rate

#8 Best Colleges in America

  • 11,858enrollment
  • $20,232net price
  • 1530-1580SAT range
  • 35-36ACT range
  • 3.96Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Amherst College
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A
Amherst, MA

Amherst College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

7% Acceptance Rate

#16 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,898enrollment
  • $21,367net price
  • 1420-1550SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

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Northeastern University
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N
Boston, MA

Northeastern University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

7% Acceptance Rate

#16 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 30,013enrollment
  • $35,827net price
  • 1440-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Williams College
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W
Williamstown, MA

Williams College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

8% Acceptance Rate

#13 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,222enrollment
  • $20,965net price
  • 1480-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.94Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 10

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Tufts University
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T
Medford, MA

Tufts University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

10% Acceptance Rate

#6 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 13,431enrollment
  • $30,479net price
  • 1450-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Boston University
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B
Boston, MA

Boston University

Private 4 Year

9 reviews

14% Acceptance Rate

#9 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 36,714enrollment
  • $27,829net price
  • 1350-1500SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

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Wellesley College
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W
Wellesley, MA

Wellesley College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

14% Acceptance Rate

#17 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,447enrollment
  • $21,362net price
  • 1430-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 8

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Boston College
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B
Chestnut Hill, MA

Boston College

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

17% Acceptance Rate

#7 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 15,287enrollment
  • $30,559net price
  • 1435-1540SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Olin College of Engineering
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O
Needham, MA

Olin College of Engineering

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

19% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 386enrollment
  • $38,502net price
  • 1490-1560SAT range
  • 35-35ACT range
  • 3.9Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Babson College
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B
Wellesley, MA

Babson College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

22% Acceptance Rate

#15 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 3,989enrollment
  • $28,400net price
  • 1350-1510SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

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Smith College
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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

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College of the Holy Cross
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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

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The New England Conservatory of Music
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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

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Brandeis University
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B
Waltham, MA

Brandeis University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

39% Acceptance Rate

#12 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 5,581enrollment
  • $45,565net price
  • 1370-1530SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

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Laboure College
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L
Boston, MA
 

Laboure College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

39% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 983enrollment
  • -net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Mount Holyoke College
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M
South Hadley, MA

Mount Holyoke College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

40% Acceptance Rate

#10 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,392enrollment
  • $35,765net price
  • 1350-1540SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Emerson College
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E
Boston, MA

Emerson College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

43% Acceptance Rate

#21 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 5,891enrollment
  • $51,432net price
  • 1250-1430SAT range
  • 30-32ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 20

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