Southwest Colleges with low acceptance rates

Colleges with the Lowest Acceptance Rate in Southwest for 2024

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 9% of the 31,443 students who applied and rejected 91%.

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

13 results

Rice University
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R
Houston, TX

Rice University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

9% Acceptance Rate

#9 Best Colleges in America

  • 8,672enrollment
  • $19,902net price
  • 1490-1570SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 3.96Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus
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E
Portales, NM

Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

28% Acceptance Rate

#4 Best Public Universities in New Mexico

  • 5,106enrollment
  • $8,702net price
  • 840-1100SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • 3.23Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 24

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Ottawa University Surprise
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O
Surprise, Arizona
 

Ottawa University Surprise

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

29% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 1,736enrollment
  • $35,402net price
  • 980-1230SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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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

31% Acceptance Rate

#14 Best Public Universities in America

  • 52,384enrollment
  • $17,434net price
  • 1230-1500SAT range
  • 26-33ACT range
  • 3.8Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

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Trinity University
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T
San Antonio, TX

Trinity University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

31% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Colleges in Texas

  • 2,692enrollment
  • $30,038net price
  • 1310-1470SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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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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Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College
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H
Moore, OK
 

Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

43% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 281enrollment
  • $20,952net price
  • 846-1033SAT range
  • 16-24ACT range
  • 3.1Estimated Avg GPA

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Southwestern University
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S
Georgetown, TX

Southwestern University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

45% Acceptance Rate

#6 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 1,483enrollment
  • $31,014net price
  • 1120-1355SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Baylor University
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B
Waco, TX

Baylor University

Private 4 Year

14 reviews

46% Acceptance Rate

#5 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 20,709enrollment
  • $45,988net price
  • 1230-1410SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.74Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Oklahoma Baptist University
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O
Shawnee, OK

Oklahoma Baptist University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

47% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Private Colleges in Oklahoma

  • 1,399enrollment
  • $24,672net price
  • 960-1160SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.68Avg 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

48% Acceptance Rate

#14 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 8,505enrollment
  • $5,383net price
  • 910-1110SAT range
  • 16-21ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

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LeTourneau University
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L
Longview, TX

LeTourneau University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

49% Acceptance Rate

#9 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 3,536enrollment
  • $26,974net price
  • 1120-1380SAT range
  • 20-29ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

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Dallas Christian College
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D
Dallas, TX

Dallas Christian College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

50% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 247enrollment
  • $22,631net price
  • 793-1077SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.06Avg GPA

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