Southwest Colleges with low acceptance rates

Colleges with the Lowest Acceptance Rate in Southwest for 2025

These are the most selective public and private four-year colleges in Southwest. 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 Rice University which sent acceptance letters to only 8% of the 31,059 students who applied and rejected 92%.

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

14 results

Rice University
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R
Houston, TX

Rice University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

8% Acceptance Rate

#9 Best Colleges in America

  • 8,556enrollment
  • $20,587net price
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 3.96Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary
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B
Jacksonville, TX
 

Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

23% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 95enrollment
  • -net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jul 25

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Trinity University
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T
San Antonio, TX

Trinity University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

28% Acceptance Rate

#2 Best Colleges in Texas

  • 2,694enrollment
  • $32,264net price
  • 1320-1465SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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The University of Texas at Austin
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T
Austin, TX

The University of Texas at Austin

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

29% Acceptance Rate

#16 Best Public Universities in America

  • 53,082enrollment
  • $18,036net price
  • 1230-1490SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 3.8Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

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Paul Quinn College
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P
HBCU
Dallas, TX

Paul Quinn College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

34% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 602enrollment
  • $18,118net price
  • 855-1015SAT range
  • 14-17ACT range
  • 2.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

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Southwestern University
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S
Georgetown, TX

Southwestern University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

39% Acceptance Rate

#7 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 1,457enrollment
  • $30,687net price
  • 1170-1340SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Ottawa University Surprise
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O
Surprise, Arizona
 

Ottawa University Surprise

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

40% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 836enrollment
  • $35,030net price
  • 910-1050SAT range
  • 15-21ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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LeTourneau University
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L
Longview, TX

LeTourneau University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

41% Acceptance Rate

#9 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 3,389enrollment
  • $27,007net price
  • 1140-1370SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

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Saint Gregorys University
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S
Shawnee, OK
 

Saint Gregorys University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

42% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 702enrollment
  • $18,055net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Texas Christian University
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T
Fort Worth, TX

Texas Christian University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

43% Acceptance Rate

#4 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 12,785enrollment
  • $39,005net price
  • 1150-1375SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.68Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College
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H
Moore, OK
 

Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

45% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 297enrollment
  • $17,827net price
  • 838-928SAT range
  • 17-22ACT range
  • 3.1Estimated Avg GPA

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Texas A&M International University
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T
Laredo, TX

Texas A&M International University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

46% Acceptance Rate

#15 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 8,536enrollment
  • $3,833net price
  • 920-1130SAT range
  • 16-20ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

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Austin College
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A
Sherman, TX

Austin College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

47% Acceptance Rate

#2 Best Value Colleges in Texas

  • 1,136enrollment
  • $24,777net price
  • 1170-1340SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 31

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St John's College
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S
Santa Fe, NM

St John's College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

49% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 447enrollment
  • $28,368net price
  • 1260-1450SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

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