We’ve seen way, way too many students build dangerously top-heavy college lists—like Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, MIT, and … hm, guess I’ll add UC Irvine (28ish% acceptance rate) as a safety? (Note: 28% is not a “safety school.”) These students are likely falling prey to optimism bias. And if this sounds like you, then we’d highly recommend building a more balanced list, and adding one or two actual “safety schools” to give yourself some peace of mind.
To help you out, we've compiled this blog post on the easiest colleges to get into in the US. Here, you'll find information on:
Community colleges
Colleges with guaranteed admission policies
Colleges with 100% acceptance rates
Colleges with close to 100% acceptance rates
Colleges in the top 100 rankings with acceptance rates of 50% or above
One thing to note—we don’t usually recommend using college acceptance rates and rankings to decide where you should apply to college, as those metrics don’t actually tell you if the college will be a good fit for you (more on that here).
Still, if you're looking for a school with a guaranteed admission policy or a good safety school so you can also apply to some of the hardest colleges to get into with less anxiety, you'll find what you need in this blog post.
Let's get started!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(click to skip ahead)- What exactly is an “easy college to get into?”
- Community colleges
- Colleges with guaranteed admission policies
- Colleges with 100% acceptance rates
- Colleges with close to 100% acceptance rates
- Good colleges with high acceptance rates
What exactly is an “easy college to get into?”
Typically, an "easy college to get into" is any college or university with a high acceptance rate or guaranteed admission for students who meet a set of minimum requirements.
Of course, the word "easy" is subjective, so an "easy college to get into" could also mean any college that has an average acceptance rate and for which you have above-average test scores and grades.
It’s also important to note that the easiest colleges to get into may not be the best fit for everyone. These colleges don’t always offer the same level of academic rigor as more selective colleges and universities.
Still, you can always start your college career at one college for one or two years and then transfer to a more selective school. For example, many students start at a community college and then transfer to a four-year college.
Community colleges
For a variety of reasons, a community college can be a great place to start your college education!
Community colleges typically have open admission policies—as in, they accept almost everyone. And even better, they generally offer significantly lower tuition rates than four-year universities.
Some other pros to attending a community college include:
Smaller class sizes, which can be a great way to ease into college while getting more personalized focus from professors
Flexible schedules with lots of night and weekend classes for convenience
Access to career counseling and job opportunities
If you decide that a four-year college or university is more your speed, don't worry! After one or two years at a community college, it’s usually not too difficult to transfer to a four-year college or university if you’ve maintained a good academic record. If you’re curious to see how that works, here’s a guide on how to transfer colleges. (Note: some community colleges have partnership agreements with four-year universities, guaranteeing the ability to transfer.)
There are also still plenty of colleges with high acceptance rates and even a handful of colleges with guaranteed admission policies.
Colleges with guaranteed admission policies
Guaranteed admission (also known as assured admission, full admission, or automatic admission) doesn't mean you can just apply to a college and automatically get accepted. You must still meet the college's minimum requirements, such as a certain grade point average, class ranking, or standardized test scores.
Here are some examples of colleges with guaranteed admissions policies:
Arizona State University: ASU offers guaranteed admission to Arizona residents who graduate in the top 25% of their high school class, or have a minimum GPA of 3.0 (unweighted) in core courses, or an SAT of 1120 (1180 nonresidents), or an ACT score of 22 (24 nonresidents).
University of Wyoming: UW offers assured admission to any applicant who has at least a 3.0 cumulative, unweighted GPA (on a 4.0 scale) and has completed the recommended high school curriculum requirements
Central Washington University: CWU offers guaranteed admission to high school seniors who earn a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and complete the recommended high school curriculum requirements
Here are a few more colleges with guaranteed admissions policies. Click the link to read the official requirements to see if you qualify:
As you can see from the examples, a "guaranteed admission" policy doesn't exactly guarantee you'll be accepted—it just makes it easier. So, don't forget to double-check the college's specific criteria and keep your grades up!
And if you really want a guarantee, then your best bet would be to apply to one of the colleges with 100% acceptance rates below.
Colleges with 100% acceptance rates
According to the U.S. News & World Report’s list of colleges with the highest acceptance rates, the following colleges have a 100% acceptance rate. This makes these colleges your safest bet if you truly want a guarantee of admission regardless of your grades, class rank, and standardized test scores.
Academy of Art University
Adams State University
Alliance University
Baptist College of Florida
Bethune-Cookman University
Broward College
Cameron University
Delta State University
Design Institute of San Diego
Dharma Realm Buddhist University
Divine Word College
Donnelly College
Florida SouthWestern State College
Grace Christian University
Greenville University
Lewis-Clark State College
Maharishi International University
Montana State University--Billings
Naropa University
New England College
Pensacola State College
Sacred Heart Major Seminary
South Florida State College
St. Petersburg College
Sul Ross State University
Unity CollegeUnity, ME
Universidad Adventista de las Antillas
University of Guam
University of Maine--Fort Kent
University of Maine--Presque Isle
University of Pikeville
The University of Texas at El Paso
Utah Valley University
Wayne State College
Weber State University
Western Nevada College
Colleges with close to 100% acceptance rates
The same list from the U.S. News & World Report also shows that the following colleges and universities have acceptance rates that are at least 97%.
Baker University - 99%
Barton College - 99%
Belmont Abbey College - 99%
Benedictine College - 99%
Blue Mountain College - 99%
Central Christian College of Kansas - 99%
Central Methodist University -- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences - 99%
Clarion University of Pennsylvania - 99%
Colorado State University-Pueblo - 99%
Columbia College (SC) - 99%
Dickinson State University - 99%
Emmaus Bible College - 99%
The Evergreen State College - 99%
Fairmont State University - 99%
Florida National University - 99%
Middle Georgia State University - 99%
Mississippi University for Women - 99%
Northeastern State University - 99%
Prescott College - 99%
Southern Virginia University - 99%
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor - 99%
University of Saint Francis - 99%
Wilmington University - 99%
Alabama State University - 98%
Asbury University - 98%
Bethel University (IN) - 98%
Chestnut Hill College - 98%
Davenport University - 98%
Eastern Kentucky University - 98%
Eastern Oregon University - 98%
Goldey-Beacom College - 98%
Holy Apostles College and Seminary - 98%
Jamestown Business College - 98%
La Roche University - 98%
Marshall University - 98%
Missouri Southern State University - 98%
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico--Arecibo - 98%
Portland State University - 98%
Rochester University - 98%
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota - 98%
Southeastern Louisiana University - 98%
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville - 98%
University of St. Thomas (TX) - 98%
University of the Virgin Islands - 98%
University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee - 98%
Washburn University - 98%
Western Kentucky University - 98%
Wisconsin Lutheran College - 98%
Brigham Young University--Idaho - 97%
California State University, Fresno - 97%
California University of Pennsylvania - 97%
College of Coastal Georgia - 97%
Criswell College - 97%
Grand View University - 97%
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania - 97%
National Louis University - 97%
New Mexico Tech - 97%
Nicholls State University - 97%
Oklahoma Christian University - 97%
Post University - 97%
Southwest Baptist University - 97%
University of Maine at Farmington - 97%
University of Maine--Machias - 97%
University of Toledo - 97%
Good colleges with high acceptance rates
Every year, the U.S. News and World Report also rank the top national colleges and universities. At the top of these rankings, you'll find popular colleges like Harvard with acceptance rates below 4%.
But as you go further down the list, quite a few schools are ranked in the top 100 with acceptance rates of at least 50%. Even though these colleges are nowhere near as easy to get into as the ones listed above, those odds are still pretty good!
So, suppose you've got the academic profile to aim for highly selective colleges. In that case, you may be able to consider one or more of the following colleges as "easy to get into" or at least good options for safety schools.
College | Fall 2021 Acceptance Rate | 2022-23 National Ranking |
---|---|---|
George Washington University | 50% | 62 (tie) |
Univeristy of Maryland, College Park | 52% | 55 (tie) |
Pepperdine University | 53% | 55 (tie) |
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | 53% | 51 (tie) |
Southern Methodist University | 53% | 72 (tie) |
Stevens Institute of Technology | 53% | 83 (tie) |
University of San Diego | 53% | 97 (tie) |
University of Washington Seattle | 53% | 55 (tie) |
Santa Clara University | 54% | 55 (tie) |
Texas Christian University | 54% | 89 (tie) |
University of Connecticut | 56% | 67 (tie) |
Virginia Tech | 56% | 62 (tie) |
Baylor University | 57% | 77 (tie) |
Colorado School of Mines | 57% | 89 (tie) |
The Ohio State University | 57% | 49 (tie) |
Fordham University | 58% | 72 (tie) |
The Pennsylvania State University | 58% | 77 (tie) |
Brigham Young University - Provo | 59% | 89 (tie) |
Syracuse University | 59% | 62 (tie) |
UC Santa Cruz | 59% | 83 (tie) |
University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign | 60% | 41 (tie) |
University of Wisconsin - Madison | 60% | 38 (tie) |
Worcester Polytechnic Institute | 60% | 67 (tie) |
Yeshiva University | 62% | 67 (tie) |
American University | 64% | 72 (tie) |
Texas A&M University | 64% | 67 (tie) |
UC Riverside | 66% | 89 (tie) |
University of Masschusetts - Amherst | 66% | 67 (tie) |
University of Pittsburgh | 67% | 62 (tie) |
Rutgers University - New Brunswick | 68% | 55 (tie) |
New Jersey Institute of Technology | 69% | 97 (tie) |
Purdue University - West Lafayette | 69% | 51 (tie) |
University at Buffalo - SUNY | 70% | 89 (tie) |
University of Delaware | 70% | 89 (tie) |
Auburn University | 71% | 97 (tie) |
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities | 73% | 62 (tie) |
Gonzaga University | 76% | 83 (tie) |
Elon University | 78% | 89 (tie) |
University of Illinois - Chicago | 79% | 97 (tie) |
University of Colorado Boulder | 80% | 97 (tie) |
Michigan State University | 83% | 77 (tie) |
Indiana University - Bloomington | 85% | 72 (tie) |
Marquette University | 86% | 83 (tie) |
University of Iowa | 86% | 83 (tie) |
UC Merced | 87% | 97 (tie) |
Final thoughts
While college admissions can be nerve-wracking, colleges and universities like the ones we've shared in this blog post can provide a safety net to ensure that anyone who wants to go to college can.
And if you need support with any part of the application process, check out our college application hub with in-depth resources on everything from building a college list to applying for financial aid.
Special thanks to Ameer for writing this blog post.
Ameer is a freelance writer who specializes in writing about college admissions and career development. Prior to freelancing, Ameer worked for three years as a college admissions consultant at a Hong Kong-based education center, helping local high school students prepare and apply for top colleges and universities in the US. He has a B.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Chicago and an M.A. in Spanish Linguistics from UCLA. When he’s not working, Ameer loves traveling, weight lifting, writing, reading, and learning foreign languages. He currently lives in Bangkok, Thailand.
Top values: Growth / Diversity / Empathy
FAQs
Easiest Colleges to Get Into 2023? ›
Numerous degree-seeking students may find getting into college in 2023 harder than the previous years. Trends such as going test-optional, increasing diversity and emphasis on demonstrated interest can make the admissions process competitive, especially at institutions known for their high selectivity level.
Is it easier to get into college in 2023? ›Numerous degree-seeking students may find getting into college in 2023 harder than the previous years. Trends such as going test-optional, increasing diversity and emphasis on demonstrated interest can make the admissions process competitive, especially at institutions known for their high selectivity level.
Will college acceptance rates go down in 2023? ›Admission rates for 2022-2023 have not been announced but are expected to remain just as low. Given this competitive environment, admission experts say students shouldn't assume they'll be a 'shoe-in' at any school.
What is the college acceptance rate for 2023? ›For US colleges, the average acceptance rate noted for the academic year 2022-2023 is 57.85%. The average acceptance rate for public colleges was 63.09%, and the average rate for private schools was 51.07%.
Will 2023 be a tough year? ›For much of the global economy, 2023 is going to be a tough year as the main engines of global growth - the United States, Europe and China - all experienced weakening activity, the head of the International Monetary Fund said Sunday.
What if no college accepts me? ›While asking for an admissions decision to be reconsidered is only appropriate in rare cases, a second chance may be possible, either through attending community college and then applying to your preferred school(s) as a transfer student, or by taking a gap year and reapplying to your preferred school(s) in the next ...
What is the lowest accepting colleges? ›Among the institutions with the lowest acceptance rate, colleges included, UCLA is the only public university with the lowest acceptance rate while the college with the lowest acceptance rate is Dartmouth College.
What is the hardest college to be accepted? ›- Acceptance Rate: 3.19%
- Class of 2026 applicants: 61,221.
- Average SAT: 1510.
- Albany State University. ...
- American InterContinental University. ...
- Arkansas State University. ...
- Arkansas Tech University. ...
- Capella University. ...
- Colorado Technical University. ...
- East Coast Polytechnic Institute University.
The short answer is that the vast majority of schools are NOT requiring SAT test scores for the class of 2023 but that can absolutely change for those students entering fall 2024 and later.
When should I start applying for college 2023? ›
You should start the application process the summer before your senior year.
How many colleges should I apply to 2023? ›Every year, prospective college students wonder, "How many colleges should I apply to?" As a general rule of thumb, some admissions experts recommend submitting applications to 4-12 schools.
What is the average GPA 2023? ›What is the Average GPA in High School in 2023? The average GPA in US High Schools is 3.0. This number varies by gender – the average female GPA is 3.1 and the average male GPA is 2.9.
What is the best time to apply for fall 2023? ›...
College Application Deadlines for Fall 2023.
Application Deadline | Admission Decision | |
---|---|---|
Early Decision | November 2022 | December 2022 |
Regular Decision | January/February 2023 | March/April 2023 |
SAT and ACT scores are important in the 2022-2023 college admissions cycle when applying to test-required schools.
Will us have a depression 2023? ›The threat of a U.S. recession remains alive in 2023. The consensus estimate on the probability of a meaningful downturn in the American economy in the next 12 months is at 65%, according to Goldman Sachs Research. But our own economic analysis rates that probability much lower, at 35%.
How to prepare for 2023 mentally? ›- Set realistic expectations. Many resolutions fail early because people expect changes overnight. ...
- Make exercise part of your routine. ...
- Use meditation to reduce stress. ...
- Take social media breaks. ...
- Ask for help.
Students are likely to succeed through competitive exams. This year brings a lot of travel opportunities, as well as professional fulfilment. 2023 would be a year to look forward to. There's a good chance that you'll reach new heights this year.
Will colleges reject you for being too good? ›While there is some anecdotal evidence that overqualified students get rejected, these students aren't usually turned down because of their better-than-average grades or test scores. Most likely, the overqualified student isn't the right fit for a school or they haven't shown enough interest to admission officers.
Can you convince a college to accept you? ›Applying to colleges can be a challenging but rewarding process, and sometimes you won't initially get admitted into a university you want to attend. Many colleges have an appeals process for admissions, where students can appeal decisions and provide additional information for consideration by the school.
How long does it take for a college to reject you? ›
Every college has its own timeline for evaluating student applications. It's not unusual for a college's application process to take four to six weeks.
What GPA do most colleges accept? ›The short answer is yes, a 3.0 average will get you into most colleges — as long as your application is up to par or better. More exclusive institutions will likely require a higher GPA, while some schools may accept you based on a 3.0 high school GPA alone.
What is the easiest college major? ›Business Administration
On average, bachelor of business administration majors spend 42 hours studying for both the core courses and electives. Based on the average GPA, this could be the easiest bachelor degree to get.
- Claremont Mckenna College. Claremont, CA. ...
- Harvard University. Cambridge, MA. ...
- Stanford University. Stanford, CA. ...
- California Institute of Technology. Pasadena, CA. ...
- Yale University. New Haven, CT. ...
- Bowdoin College. Brunswick, ME. ...
- Occidental College. Los Angeles, CA. ...
- Haverford College. Haverford, PA.
School | Students Accepted | First Year Enrollment |
---|---|---|
Seton Hall University | 8602 | 1139 |
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey–Newark | 7430 | 914 |
Drexel University | 21729 | 2346 |
University of Bridgeport | 4510 | 440 |
1. Harvard University. Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
What is the 2nd hardest college to get into? ›Letter Grade | Percent Grade | 4.0 Scale |
---|---|---|
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 |
What colleges can I get into with a 2.0 GPA? With a 2.0 GPA, you can get into Voorhees College, Metropolitan College of New York, and Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico-Miami. You may also want to consider attending a 2-year institution to raise your GPA before applying to a 4-year institutions.
What is the lowest GPA Harvard? ›You should also have a 4.18 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score. For a school as selective as Harvard, you'll also need to impress them with the rest of your application. We'll cover those details next.
Do colleges prefer ACT or SAT? ›
In reality, all colleges and universities that require standardized testing accept both the ACT and SAT. And college admissions counselors have openly stated they do not prefer one test over the other.
What colleges do not require SAT or ACT? ›Nestled just outside the gorgeous Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, Hampshire College is currently the only school in the US that has adopted a test-blind policy. This means that the school doesn't require students to send test scores and it also rejects any scores that are sent in.
Will the SAT be removed 2023? ›College Board has stated that digital testing will replace the paper materials and pencils currently required. A paper PSAT test will not be available starting in the fall of 2023, and a paper SAT test will not be available starting in the spring of 2024.
Do colleges look at senior year grades? ›The important thing to know is that colleges do look at your senior year grades. So, a weaker performance in senior year than in previous grades can impact your application and college admissions decisions.
Should I apply to a college even if I don t meet the requirements? ›Sometimes colleges will make exceptions for otherwise strong candidates who are missing requirements, especially when these requirements are not prerequisites for a future field of study (e.g., an arts credit for a prospective accounting major; foreign language for a budding biologist) or when the applicant has receive ...
How many months before college should I apply? ›Generally speaking, most schools will require you to submit applications for early action or early decision by November of 12th grade (senior year). To meet a regular decision deadline, you'd apply a few months later in January or February.
Is it OK to only apply to 3 colleges? ›While there is no “magic number” of schools students should apply to, the results from Pallais' paper shows that moving from three to four applications led to impressive gains. The College Board suggests that five to eight might be enough. U.S. News and World Reports offers a range of four to eight.
Is it OK to apply to 4 colleges? ›There is no magic number, but five to eight applications are usually enough to ensure that a student is accepted into a suitable institution (depending, of course, on the individual student's record and circumstances). This number should be made up of a combination of “safety,” “match,” and “reach” colleges.
How long should a college essay be 2023? ›Along with a prompt, some schools may choose to give specific instructions for college admissions essays, such as a word count. However, your essay should be 500 to 650 words unless otherwise stated.
Is a 3.2 GPA freshman year OK? ›A 3.2 GPA is a grade point average that falls between a B and a B- on the 4.0 grading scale commonly used in the United States. It represents a moderately good academic performance, indicating that the student has maintained above-average grades but may have some room for improvement.
Is a 3.7 freshman GPA good? ›
Overall, it's an impressive GPA and a 92% percentile grade. On a 4.0 scale, a 3.7 GPA is impressive! A 3.7 GPA on an unweighted scale will place you in good standing at many colleges.
What is an impressive college GPA? ›Most commonly, students graduate cum laude (Latin for "with praise") when they earn a 3.5-3.7 GPA, magna cum laude ("with great praise") when they earn a 3.7-3.9 GPA, and summa cum laude ("with highest praise") when they earn a 3.9 GPA or higher.
Which fafsa do i need for fall 2023? ›If you're applying for financial aid for the 2023–24 school year (typically July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024), you should file a 2023–24 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form.
What are college deadlines for fall 2023? ›Deadline: January 1, 2023 for Regular Admission*
The Common Application (Common App) is a single college application you can use for multiple schools. About 900 colleges and universities accept the Common App, so it will save you time during the application process.
The next deadline to apply for Fall 2023 is May 1, 2023. *Note: The application for our BA-MPA, BA-MUP, BS-MUP Master's Dual Degrees, PhD, and fellowship programs closed on November 28, 2022. The final deadline to apply for Fall 2023 was November 28, 2022. The application for Fall 2024 will open in Fall 2023.
Can I get into Harvard without SAT 2023? ›Due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, Harvard College is extending our standardized testing policy through the 2021-2022 application cycle. We will allow students to apply for admission without requiring ACT or SAT test results.
What SAT score do colleges look for 2023? ›The average score for the Evidence-Based Writing (ERW) section is 529, and the average score for the Math section is 521. A good SAT Score for 2023 will likely be close to 1050 as well.
Are most colleges test optional for 2023? ›At least 1,835 four-year colleges across the U.S. aren't requiring first-year applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores for admissions for fall 2023, a signal of the staying power of test-optional policies.
Are college applications down for 2023? ›The result: California first-year applications have steadily grown to 74,902 for fall 2023 from 73,575 and 71,209 during the previous two years. Applications declined slightly for out-of-state and international students and transfer students.
Should you go to college in 2023? ›Going to college in 2023 is worth it for individuals who want access to more higher-paying jobs after graduating between 2027 and 2029. It's ideal for those who want higher lifetime earnings, too. Although costly, scholarships and grants can help make earning a bachelor's degree in 2023 affordable.
Will 2023 SAT be easier? ›
The digital SAT will be shorter, reading passages will be more concise, questions will be more direct, and students will have access to a wider range of digital tools. The goal of these changes is to streamline the test-taking process and give students a smoother exam experience.
How long does it take for a college to accept or reject you? ›Every college has its own timeline for evaluating student applications. It's not unusual for a college's application process to take four to six weeks. Colleges that have an application portal allow students to go online to check the status of their applications at any time.
What college has the most applications for 2023? ›UCLA has received more than 169,800 applications for fall 2023 admission, with approximately 145,900 coming from freshman applicants and nearly 24,000 from transfer applicants — making UCLA once again the most applied-to four-year university in the nation.
Which college got the most applications? ›UCLA has led the nation in applications every year for at least the past 17 years. In 2017, it became the first college in the country to receive more than 100,000 freshmen applications.
Is 23 too old for college life? ›It is never too late to go to college. As a matter of fact, there is no age limit when applying, although older applicants may have to go through a different admissions process. Many of today's higher education institutions provide mature and returning students the opportunity to educate themselves.
What is the best thing to study in 2023? ›- Video Games & Multimedia degrees – game tester, web designer.
- Business Information Systems degrees – network engineer.
- IT Security degrees – software developer.
- Data Science degrees – database manager.
- Data Science. ...
- Accounting. ...
- Cybersecurity. ...
- Game Design. ...
- Hospitality Management. ...
- Pre-Law (with a focus on Elder Law) ...
- Aerospace Engineering. ...
- Financial Technology (Fintech) Financial technology (Fintech) majors are starting to pop up at universities worldwide.
Your total SAT score will be between 400 and 1,600 points. There are two primary sections, Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW), and each one is worth 200 to 800 points.
Is SAT easier now than 30 years ago? ›In many ways, the new SAT is much easier than the older version. However, this doesn't mean you shouldn't study and be prepared! While the format may be better for some students, the questions are still designed to test your ability and skills in each particular subject.
Are SAT scores waived for 2023? ›The short answer is that the vast majority of schools are NOT requiring SAT test scores for the class of 2023 but that can absolutely change for those students entering fall 2024 and later.