Mid Atlantic Colleges with low acceptance rates

Colleges with the Lowest Acceptance Rate in Mid Atlantic for 2025

These are the most selective public and private four-year colleges in Mid Atlantic. 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 Princeton University which sent acceptance letters to only 4% of the 39,644 students who applied and rejected 96%.

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 Mid Atlantic colleges with the highest SAT scores, highest ACT scores and highest GPA's.
Mid Atlantic Low Acceptance % Public Private 4 year

46 results

American Musical and Dramatic Academy
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A
New York, NY

American Musical and Dramatic Academy

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

25% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 1,511enrollment
  • $46,130net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Villanova University
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V
Villanova, PA

Villanova University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

25% Acceptance Rate

#7 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 10,111enrollment
  • $37,946net price
  • 1400-1510SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Lehigh University
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L
Bethlehem, PA

Lehigh University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

29% Acceptance Rate

#5 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 7,590enrollment
  • $33,289net price
  • 1350-1490SAT range
  • 31-33ACT range
  • 3.81Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Bryn Mawr College
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B
Bryn Mawr, PA

Bryn Mawr College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

31% Acceptance Rate

#11 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,666enrollment
  • $39,383net price
  • 1300-1470SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Lafayette College
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L
Easton, PA

Lafayette College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

31% Acceptance Rate

#8 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,764enrollment
  • $34,728net price
  • 1340-1490SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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United States Merchant Marine Academy
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U
Kings Point, NY

United States Merchant Marine Academy

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

32% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 961enrollment
  • $5,173net price
  • 1140-1300SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Bucknell University
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B
Lewisburg, PA

Bucknell University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

32% Acceptance Rate

#9 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 3,892enrollment
  • $38,486net price
  • 1300-1450SAT range
  • 31-33ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Franklin and Marshall College
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F
Lancaster, PA

Franklin and Marshall College

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

32% Acceptance Rate

#6 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,911enrollment
  • $37,475net price
  • 1298-1460SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Davis College
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D
Johnson City, NY
 

Davis College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

33% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 137enrollment
  • $14,320net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.18Avg GPA

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Yeshiva Shaarei Torah of Rockland
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Y
Suffern, NY
 

Yeshiva Shaarei Torah of Rockland

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

35% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 141enrollment
  • $18,501net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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University of Rochester
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R
Rochester, NY

University of Rochester

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

36% Acceptance Rate

#9 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 12,160enrollment
  • $40,900net price
  • 1400-1540SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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SUNY at Binghamton
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B
Vestal, NY

SUNY at Binghamton

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

38% Acceptance Rate

#23 Best Public Universities in America

  • 18,456enrollment
  • $18,860net price
  • 1320-1490SAT range
  • 29-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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CUNY Graduate School and University Center
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G
New York, NY

CUNY Graduate School and University Center

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

39% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 9,116enrollment
  • -net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Manhattan School of Music
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M
New York, NY

Manhattan School of Music

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

40% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 1,097enrollment
  • $51,879net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

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Talmudical Academy New Jersey
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T
Adelphia, NJ
 

Talmudical Academy New Jersey

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

42% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 78enrollment
  • $8,295net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Syracuse University
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S
Syracuse, NY

Syracuse University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

42% Acceptance Rate

#19 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 22,948enrollment
  • $51,520net price
  • 1260-1430SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Yeshiva D'monsey Rabbinical College
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Y
Monsey, NY
 

Yeshiva D'monsey Rabbinical College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

42% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 86enrollment
  • $6,266net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Stevens Institute of Technology
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S
Hoboken, NJ

Stevens Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

43% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Colleges in New Jersey

  • 8,842enrollment
  • $43,665net price
  • 1370-1500SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.88Avg GPA

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