Hardest College to Get Into in Every State
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Being accepted into college is no small feat. And your degree can have a tremendous influence on job prospects and earnings potential. With the premium put on a higher education degree, it's as competitive as ever for aspiring high school graduates.
So what institutions have the most competition? These colleges are the hardest to get into in all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia.
Note: We used resources from Niche, which compiles information about colleges and universities. Niche bases its rankings on U.S. Department of Education data on acceptance rates and SAT/ACT scores.
Alabama: University of West Alabama
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Location: Livingston
Acceptance rate: 28 percent
Graduation rate: 33 percent
SAT range: 860-1020
ACT range: 18-23
Graduates’ starting salary: $26,400
Bottom Line: University of West Alabama
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The University of West Alabama is a public university founded in 1835. It has an enrollment of 1,843, and popular majors include liberal arts and humanities, nursing, and kinesiology and exercise science.
Alaska: University of Alaska Southeast
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Location: Juneau
Acceptance rate: 71 percent
Graduation rate: 24 percent
SAT range: N/A
ACT range: N/A
Graduates’ starting salary: $31,500
Bottom Line: University of Alaska Southeast
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The University of Alaska Southeast is a public university founded in 1987. It has an enrollment of just 629, and popular majors include business, nursing assistant, and liberal arts and humanities.
Arizona: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott
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Location: Prescott
Acceptance rate: 77 percent
Graduation rate: 60 percent
SAT range: 1130-1350
ACT range: 23-29
Graduates’ starting salary: $47,900
Bottom Line: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott
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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is a private university dedicated solely to aviation, aerospace, security and intelligence. It was founded in 1978 and has an enrollment of 2,471. Popular majors include aerospace engineering, aeronautics and aviation technology, and international relations.
Arizona Christian University has a lower acceptance rate (64 percent), but the SAT (range: 850-1080) and ACT (range: 15-21) scores of its students are lower than those at Embry-Riddle.
Arkansas: University of Arkansas
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Location: Fayetteville
Acceptance rate: 66 percent
Graduation rate: 62 percent
SAT range: 1110-1280
ACT range: 23-29
Graduates’ starting salary: $37,100
Bottom Line: University of Arkansas
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The University of Arkansas is a public university founded in 1871. It has an enrollment of 20,464, and popular majors include finance, nursing and marketing.
The University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff has a lower acceptance rate (47 percent), but the SAT (range: 880-1060) and ACT (range: 16-20) scores of its students are lower than those at the University of Arkansas.
California: Stanford University
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Location: Palo Alto
Acceptance rate: 5 percent
Graduation rate: 94 percent
SAT range: 1390-1540
ACT range: 32-35
Graduates’ starting salary: $70,400
Bottom Line: Stanford University
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Stanford University is considered one of the top five schools in the country and the second-most difficult to get into. It’s a private university that was founded in 1885.
Stanford has an enrollment of 7,064, and popular majors include computer science, biology and engineering.
Colorado: U.S. Air Force Academy
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Location: USAFA, near Colorado Springs
Acceptance rate: 12 percent
Graduation rate: 78 percent
SAT range: 1210-1390
ACT range: 28-32
Graduates’ starting salary: N/A
Bottom Line: U.S. Air Force Academy
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The Air Force Academy is a public university founded in 1954. It has an enrollment of 4,276, and popular majors include business, economics and systems engineering.
Connecticut: Yale University
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Location: New Haven
Acceptance rate: 7 percent
Graduation rate: 97 percent
SAT range: 1460-1580
ACT range: 32-35
Graduates’ starting salary: $56,600
Bottom Line: Yale University
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Yale University is an elite private school founded in 1701. It has an enrollment of 5,743, and popular majors include economics, history, and political science and government.
Delaware: University of Delaware
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Location: Newark
Acceptance rate: 63 percent
Graduation rate: 82 percent
SAT range: 1130-1330
ACT range: 25-29
Graduates’ starting salary: $46,700
Bottom Line: University of Delaware
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The University of Delaware was founded in 1743. The public school has an enrollment of 18,195, and popular majors include liberal arts and humanities, finance and marketing.
The public, historically black Delaware State University has a lower acceptance rate (45 percent), but the SAT (range: 820-990) and ACT (range: 17-21) scores of its students are lower than those at the University of Delaware.
Florida: University of Miami
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Location: Coral Gables
Acceptance rate: 36 percent
Graduation rate: 84 percent
SAT range: 1230-1420
ACT range: 28-32
Graduates’ starting salary: $47,500
Bottom Line: University of Miami
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The University of Miami is a private university founded in 1925. It has an enrollment of 10,216, and popular majors include finance, nursing and economics.
Florida Memorial University has a lower acceptance rate (27 percent). Its SAT and ACT scores aren’t available, but they’re presumably lower than those of students at the University of Miami.
Georgia: Emory University
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Location: Druid Hills
Acceptance rate: 22 percent
Graduation rate: 91 percent
SAT range: 1350-1520
ACT range: 30-33
Graduates’ starting salary: $57,500
Bottom Line: Emory University
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Emory University is one of the top private, Christian schools in the U.S. It was founded in 1836 and has an enrollment of 6,794. Popular majors include business, biology and nursing.
Hawaii: Brigham Young University, Hawaii
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Location: Laie
Acceptance rate: 37 percent
Graduation rate: 56 percent
SAT range: 1090-1250
ACT range: 22-26
Graduates’ starting salary: $29,000
Bottom Line: Brigham Young University, Hawaii
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BYU Hawaii is a private, Christian university founded in 1955. It has an enrollment of 2,702, and popular majors include liberal arts and humanities, biology and accounting.
Idaho: Northwest Nazarene University
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Location: Nampa
Acceptance rate: 73 percent
Graduation rate: 56 percent
SAT range: 1030-1230
ACT range: 20-27
Graduates’ starting salary: $30,800
Bottom Line: Northwest Nazarene University
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Northwest Nazarene University is a private, Christian university founded in 1913. It has an enrollment of 1,125. Popular majors include business, nursing and accounting.
Illinois: University of Chicago
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Location: Chicago
Acceptance rate: 8 percent
Graduation rate: 93 percent
SAT range: 1480-1580
ACT range: 32-35
Graduates’ starting salary: $54,300
Bottom Line: University of Chicago
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Founded in 1890, the University of Chicago is a private university. It has an enrollment of 5,978, and popular majors include economics, mathematics and biology.
Indiana: University of Notre Dame
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Location: South Bend
Acceptance rate: 19 percent
Graduation rate: 95 percent
SAT range: 1370-1520
ACT range: 32-34
Graduates’ starting salary: $61,800
Bottom Line: University of Notre Dame
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The University of Notre Dame is the top private, Catholic university in the U.S., and was founded in 1842. It has an enrollment of 8,557, and popular majors include finance, accounting and economics.
Iowa: Grinnell College
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Location: Grinnell
Acceptance rate: 29 percent
Graduation rate: 87 percent
SAT range: 1310-1510
ACT range: 30-34
Graduates’ starting salary: $32,800
Bottom Line: Grinnell College
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Grinnell College is a private college founded in 1846. It has an enrollment of 1,662, and popular majors include economics, political science and government, and computer science.
St. Luke’s College has a lower acceptance rate (27 percent), but the ACT scores (21-23) of its students are lower than those at Grinnell College. St. Luke’s SAT scores are unavailable.
Kansas: Central Christian College of Kansas
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Location: McPherson
Acceptance rate: 39 percent
Graduation rate: 22 percent
SAT range: 890-1120
ACT range: 17-22
Graduates’ starting salary: $27,000
Bottom Line: Central Christian College of Kansas
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Central Christian College is a private, Christian school founded in 1884. It has an enrollment of just 730, and popular majors include business, criminal justice and law enforcement administration, and liberal arts and humanities.
Kentucky: Berea College
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Location: Berea
Acceptance rate: 35 percent
Graduation rate: 66 percent
SAT range: 970-1200
ACT range: 22-27
Graduates’ starting salary: $24,600
Bottom Line: Berea College
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Berea College is a private college founded in 1855. It has an enrollment of 1,615, and popular majors include biology, information science and psychology.
Alice Lloyd College has a lower acceptance rate (26 percent), but the SAT (range: 940-1030) and ACT (18-23) scores of its students are lower than those at Berea.
Louisiana: Tulane University
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Location: New Orleans
Acceptance rate: 21 percent
Graduation rate: 83 percent
SAT range: 1330-1490
ACT range: 30-33
Graduates’ starting salary: $42,800
Bottom Line: Tulane University
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Tulane University is a private university founded in 1834. It has an enrollment of 6,716, and popular majors include finance, health professions and business.
Maine: Bowdoin College
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Location: Brunswick
Acceptance rate: 14 percent
Graduation rate: 95 percent
SAT range: 1360-1510
ACT range: 31-33
Graduates’ starting salary: $44,600
Bottom Line: Bowdoin College
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Bowdoin College is a private college founded in 1794. It has an enrollment of 1,813, and popular majors include political science and government, economics and mathematics.
Maryland: Johns Hopkins University
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Location: Baltimore
Acceptance rate: 13 percent
Graduation rate: 93 percent
SAT range: 1450-1570
ACT range: 33-35
Graduates’ starting salary: $62,700
Bottom Line: Johns Hopkins University
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Johns Hopkins University is a top private university founded in 1876. It has an enrollment of 5,668, and popular majors include public health, nursing and international relations.
The United States Naval Academy in Annapolis has a lower acceptance rate (8 percent), but the SAT scores (range: 1150-1370) of its students are lower than those at Johns Hopkins. The U.S. Naval Academy’s ACT scores are unavailable.
Massachusetts: Harvard University
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Location: Cambridge
Acceptance rate: 5 percent
Graduation rate: 96 percent
SAT range: 1460-1590
ACT range: 32-35
Graduates’ starting salary: $70,300
Bottom Line: Harvard University
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Harvard University is a private university and one of the top five schools in the U.S. It’s also the most exclusive.
It was founded in 1636, making it the oldest college in America, and it has an enrollment of 7,147. Popular majors include economics, computer science and history.
Michigan: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
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Location: Ann Arbor
Acceptance rate: 27 percent
Graduation rate: 92 percent
SAT range: 1330-1500
ACT range: 30-33
Graduates’ starting salary: $49,800
Bottom Line: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
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The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor is one of the top five public schools in the U.S. It was founded in 1817 and has an enrollment of 28,702.
Popular majors include Information science, business, and research and experimental psychology.
Minnesota: Carleton College
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Location: Northfield
Acceptance rate: 21 percent
Graduation rate: 94 percent
SAT range: 1360-1530
ACT range: 31-34
Graduates’ starting salary: $39,500
Bottom Line: Carleton College
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Founded in 1866, Carleton College is a private college. It has an enrollment of 2,055, and popular majors include computer science, biology and economics.
Mississippi: Mississippi College
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Location: Clinton
Acceptance rate: 39 percent
Graduation rate: 59 percent
SAT range: 1070-1290
ACT range: 22-29
Graduates’ starting salary: $31,700
Bottom Line: Mississippi College
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Mississippi College is a private, Christian college founded in 1826. It has an enrollment of 2,793, and popular majors include kinesiology and exercise science, nursing and business.
Missouri: Washington University in St. Louis
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Location: St. Louis
Acceptance rate: 16 percent
Graduation rate: 94 percent
SAT range: 1470-1570
ACT range: 32-34
Graduates’ starting salary: $56,500
Bottom Line: Washington University in St. Louis
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Washington University, St. Louis is a private university founded in 1853. It has an enrollment of 7,074, and popular majors include finance, psychology and computer science.
The College of the Ozarks has a lower acceptance rate (13 percent), but the SAT (range: 1090-1240) and ACT (range: 21-26) scores of its students are lower than those at WashU.
Montana: Rocky Mountain College
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Location: Billings
Acceptance rate: 64 percent
Graduation rate: 52 percent
SAT range: 910-1150
ACT range: 20-25
Graduates’ starting salary: $30,100
Bottom Line: Rocky Mountain College
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Rocky Mountain College is a private, Christian college founded in 1878. It has an enrollment of just 868, and popular majors include business, kinesiology and exercise science, and biology.
The University of Montana, Western has a lower acceptance rate (61 percent), but the SAT (range: 970-1140) and ACT (range: 16-22) scores of its students are lower than those at Rocky Mountain College.
Nebraska: University of Nebraska, Lincoln
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Location: Lincoln
Acceptance rate: 64 percent
Graduation rate: 68 percent
SAT range: 1100-1380
ACT range: 22-29
Graduates’ starting salary: $37,200
Bottom Line: University of Nebraska, Lincoln
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The University of Nebraska, Lincoln is a public university founded in 1869. It has an enrollment of 19,534, and popular majors include business, psychology and public relations.
York College, Nebraska has a lower acceptance rate (48 percent), but the SAT (range: 890-1090) and ACT (range: 18-24) scores of its students are lower than those at the University of Nebraska.
Nevada: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
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Location: Paradise
Acceptance rate: 81 percent
Graduation rate: 42 percent
SAT range: 1030-1240
ACT range: 19-24
Graduates’ starting salary: $36,500
Bottom Line: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
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The University of Nevada, Las Vegas is a public university founded in 1957. It has an enrollment of 18,958, and popular majors include hospitality and tourism management, psychology, and criminal justice and safety studies.
Sierra Nevada College has a lower acceptance rate (69 percent), but the SAT (range: 910-1140) and ACT (range: 19-24) scores of its students are lower than those at UNLV.
New Hampshire: Dartmouth College
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Location: Hanover
Acceptance rate: 10 percent
Graduation rate: 96 percent
SAT range: 1430-1560
ACT range: 30-34
Graduates’ starting salary: $58,900
Bottom Line: Dartmouth College
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Dartmouth College is a private college founded in 1769. It has an enrollment of 4,360, and popular majors include economics, political science and government, and computer science.
New Jersey: Princeton University
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Location: Princeton
Acceptance rate: 6 percent
Graduation rate: 97 percent
SAT range: 1430-1570
ACT range: 31-35
Graduates’ starting salary: $60,800
Bottom Line: Princeton University
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Founded in 1746, Princeton University is one of the top private schools in the U.S. It has an enrollment of 5,260.
Popular majors include computer hardware engineering, economics and public policy analysis.
New Mexico: New Mexico Tech
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Location: Socorro
Acceptance rate: 22 percent
Graduation rate: 47 percent
SAT range: 1190-1390
ACT range: 23-29
Graduates’ starting salary: $43,500
Bottom Line: New Mexico Tech
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New Mexico Tech is a public university founded in 1889. It has an enrollment of 1,294, and popular majors include mechanical engineering, mining and petroleum engineering, and electrical engineering.
New York: Columbia University
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Location: New York City
Acceptance rate: 7 percent
Graduation rate: 95 percent
SAT range: 1410-1570
ACT range: 31-34
Graduates’ starting salary: $66,500
Bottom Line: Columbia University
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Columbia University is one of the top private schools in the U.S. Founded in 1754, it has an enrollment of 7,592, and popular majors include economics, computer science, and political science and government.
North Carolina: Duke University
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Location: Durham
Acceptance rate: 10 percent
Graduation rate: 95 percent
SAT range: 1380-1540
ACT range: 31-35
Graduates’ starting salary: $76,300
Bottom Line: Duke University
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Duke University is one of the top private schools in the U.S. Founded in 1838, it has an enrollment of 6,669, and popular majors include economics, computer science and public policy analysis.
North Dakota: Mayville State University
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Location: Mayville
Acceptance rate: 48 percent
Graduation rate: 35 percent
SAT range: 693-915
ACT range: 18-23
Graduates’ starting salary: $34,000
Bottom Line: Mayville State University
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Mayville State University is a public university founded in 1889. It has an enrollment of just 600, and popular majors include business, nursing and elementary education.
Ohio: Case Western Reserve University
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Location: Cleveland
Acceptance rate: 33 percent
Graduation rate: 83 percent
SAT range: 1340-1520
ACT range: 30-33
Graduates’ starting salary: $59,600
Bottom Line: Case Western Reserve University
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Case Western Reserve University is a private school founded in 1826. It has an enrollment of 4,978, and popular majors include bioengineering and biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering and computer science.
Kettering College has a lower acceptance rate (28 percent), but the SAT (range: 700-1430) and ACT (range: 21-25) scores of its students are lower than those at Case Western Reserve.
Oklahoma: University of Tulsa
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Location: Tulsa
Acceptance rate: 39 percent
Graduation rate: 69 percent
SAT range: 1150-1440
ACT range: 25-32
Graduates’ starting salary: $39,800
Bottom Line: University of Tulsa
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The University of Tulsa is a private, Christian university founded in 1894. It has an enrollment of 3,203, and popular majors include mechanical engineering, finance, and mining and petroleum engineering.
Oregon: Reed College
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Location: Portland
Acceptance rate: 36 percent
Graduation rate: 80 percent
SAT range: 1310-1500
ACT range: 30-33
Graduates’ starting salary: $30,400
Bottom Line: Reed College
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Reed College is a private college founded in 1908. It has an enrollment of 1,408, and popular majors include English, liberal arts and humanities, and biology.
Corban University has a lower acceptance rate (33 percent), but the SAT (range: 1040-1230) and ACT (range: 21-26) scores of its students are lower than those at Reed.
Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania
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Location: Philadelphia
Acceptance rate: 9 percent
Graduation rate: 96 percent
SAT range: 1420-1560
ACT range: 32-35
Graduates’ starting salary: $71,600
Bottom Line: University of Pennsylvania
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The University of Pennsylvania is one of the top private schools in the U.S. Founded in 1740, it has an enrollment of 10,496. Popular majors include finance, nursing and economics.
Rhode Island: Brown University
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Location: Providence
Acceptance rate: 8 percent
Graduation rate: 95 percent
SAT range: 1400-1570
ACT range: 31-35
Graduates’ starting salary: $52,500
Bottom Line: Brown University
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Brown University is a private school that was founded in 1764. It has an enrollment of 6,666, and popular majors include biology, economics and computer science.
South Carolina: Clemson University
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Location: Clemson
Acceptance rate: 47 percent
Graduation rate: 82 percent
SAT range: 1220-1390
ACT range: 27-31
Graduates’ starting salary: $43,600
Bottom Line: Clemson University
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Clemson University is a public university founded in 1889. It has an enrollment of 18,642, and popular majors include business, biology and marketing.
Columbia International University has a lower acceptance rate (28 percent), but the SAT (range: 840-1070) and ACT (range: 17-25) scores of its students are lower than those at Clemson.
South Dakota: Augustana University
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Location: Sioux Falls
Acceptance rate: 68 percent
Graduation rate: 71 percent
SAT range: 1070-1290
ACT range: 23-29
Graduates’ starting salary: $37,700
Bottom Line: Augustana University
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Augustana University is a private university founded in 1860. It has an enrollment of 1,679, and popular majors include business, nursing and biology.
Mount Marty College has a lower acceptance rate (67 percent), but the ACT scores (range: 19-24) of its students are lower than those at Augustana. Its SAT scores are unavailable.
Tennessee: Vanderbilt University
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Location: Nashville
Acceptance rate: 11 percent
Graduation rate: 92 percent
SAT range: 1440-1570
ACT range: 32-35
Graduates’ starting salary: $53,400
Bottom Line: Vanderbilt University
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Vanderbilt University is one of the top private universities in the U.S. Founded in 1873, it has an enrollment of 6,805. Popular majors include economics, social science research methods, and liberal arts and humanities.
Texas: Rice University
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Location: Houston
Acceptance rate: 16 percent
Graduation rate: 91 percent
SAT range: 1490-1580
ACT range: 33-35
Graduates’ starting salary: $56,600
Bottom Line: Rice University
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Founded in 1912, Rice University is a private school. It has an enrollment of 3,916, and popular majors include economics, information science and chemical engineering.
Utah: Brigham Young University
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Location: Provo
Acceptance rate: 52 percent
Graduation rate: 83 percent
SAT range: 1210-1410
ACT range: 27-32
Graduates’ starting salary: $41,100
Bottom Line: Brigham Young University
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Brigham Young University is a private, Christian university that was founded in 1875. It has an enrollment of 28,156, and popular majors include exercise physiology, accounting and psychology.
Vermont: Middlebury College
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Location: Middlebury
Acceptance rate: 17 percent
Graduation rate: 95 percent
SAT range: 1320-1510
ACT range: 30-34
Graduates’ starting salary: $41,900
Bottom Line: Middlebury College
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Middlebury College is a private school founded in 1800. It has an enrollment of 2,528, and popular majors include economics, political science and government, and environmental science.
Virginia: Washington and Lee University
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Location: Lexington
Acceptance rate: 22 percent
Graduation rate: 92 percent
SAT range: 1350-1490
ACT range: 31-33
Graduates’ starting salary: $49,900
Bottom Line: Washington and Lee University
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Washington and Lee University is a private university founded in 1749. It has an enrollment of 1,823, and popular majors include business, accounting and economics.
Washington: University of Washington
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Location: Seattle
Acceptance rate: 46 percent
Graduation rate: 84 percent
SAT range: 1190-1420
ACT range: 27-32
Graduates’ starting salary: $44,900
Bottom Line: University of Washington
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The University of Washington is a public university founded in 1861. It has an enrollment of 28,759, and popular majors include psychology, communications, and biochemistry and molecular biology.
Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University
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Location: Washington, D.C.
Acceptance rate: 16 percent
Graduation rate: 95 percent
SAT range: 1350-1520
ACT range: 30-34
Graduates’ starting salary: $65,200
Bottom Line: Georgetown University
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Georgetown University is one of the top private, Catholic schools in the country. Founded in 1789, it has an enrollment of 6,987, and popular majors include political science and government, international relations and finance.
West Virginia: Alderson Broaddus University
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Location: Philippi
Acceptance rate: 41 percent
Graduation rate: 47 percent
SAT range: 930-1080
ACT range: 18-23
Graduates’ starting salary: $34,500
Bottom Line: Alderson Broaddus University
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Alderson Broaddus University is a private, Christian university founded in 1871. It has an enrollment of just 903, and popular majors include nursing, business and biology.
Ohio Valley University has a lower acceptance rate (29 percent), and its SAT (range: 910-1110) and ACT (range: 18-23) scores are roughly equivalent to those of Alderson Broaddus. Still, Niche ranks Alderson Broaddus ahead of Ohio Valley.
Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin
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Location: Madison
Acceptance rate: 54 percent
Graduation rate: 87 percent
SAT range: 1280-1450
ACT range: 27-31
Graduates’ starting salary: $45,000
Bottom Line: University of Wisconsin
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The University of Wisconsin is one of the top public schools in the U.S. Founded in 1848, it has an enrollment of 28,977, and popular majors include biology, economics and information science.
Herzing University has a lower acceptance rate (37 percent). Its SAT and ACT scores are unavailable. Presumably, they’re lower than those at UW.
Wyoming: University of Wyoming
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Location: Laramie
Acceptance rate: 97 percent
Graduation rate: 58 percent
SAT range: 1040-1290
ACT range: 22-27
Graduates’ starting salary: $38,700
Bottom Line: University of Wyoming
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The University of Wyoming is a public university founded in 1886. It has an enrollment of 8,281, and popular majors include nursing, psychology and elementary education.
Related:Most Expensive Colleges by Tuition