Top 25 Most Competitive Colleges in America | News

The Common App has revolutionized the college application process since its debut in 1998, making it easier for students to apply to multiple schools at once. However, this convenience has also led to increased competition, with some colleges becoming even harder to get into.

According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, Stacker has compiled a list of the 25 hardest colleges to get into across the U.S. Schools are ranked based on their 2022 acceptance rates, with supplementary test score data included where available. The rankings are limited to colleges with at least 500 undergraduate students, and online colleges are not included.

Before the Common App, high school students typically applied to a small selection of colleges and submitted individual forms by mail. Now, with the Common App used by over 1,000 colleges, students can save time by filling out a single application that includes standardized essay prompts, transcripts, and test scores.

During the 2021-2022 application season, students applied to an average of six colleges, up from around four in 2013-2014. Those with high SAT scores tend to apply to more selective schools, leading to an increase in qualified applicants at prestigious institutions like Harvard University, whose acceptance rate has dropped to single digits.

While traditionally a strong GPA and standardized test score were key factors in college admissions, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted many schools to adopt test-optional policies. However, some colleges, including Dartmouth, Yale, and Brown, are now reinstating the requirement for standardized test scores for the upcoming application season.

As the college admissions landscape continues to evolve, students are facing increased competition for spots at the most selective schools in the country.