5 American Colleges with the Most Grueling Standardized Testing Requirements for First-Year Applicants
The 2025-2026 college admissions process is almost upon us.
Navigating Elite Admissions, Simplified.
Real-time aggregated admissions news, policy changes, and testing updates for all Top 20 US universities. Built for ambitious students and families.
A new analysis of more than 300 selective colleges ranks the top undergraduate feeder institutions to elite MBA programs, by raw volume, by enrollment size, and among schools that...
A new analysis of more than 300 selective colleges ranks the top undergraduate feeder institutions to elite MBA programs, by raw volume, by enrollment size, and among schools that.
An analysis of 300-plus selective colleges identifies the top feeder institutions to elite medical programs three ways: by raw numbers, by enrollment size, and among schools that outperform their...
An analysis of 300-plus selective colleges identifies the top feeder institutions to elite medical programs three ways: by raw numbers, by enrollment size, and among schools that outperform their.
As we continue along in the 2025-26 cycle, the American college admissions process continues to be insanely competitive at the very top. Schools that are considered “elite” and “prestigious”...
As we continue along in the 2025-26 cycle, the American college admissions process continues to be insanely competitive at the very top.
Brown Admission by the Numbers
Brown Admission by the Numbers
California Institute of Technology (Caltech) – 3.78%
California Institute of Technology (Caltech) – 3.78%
Class of 2030 Admission Results Class of 2030 admission rates now available for multiple colleges including MIT, Johns Hopkins, and Notre Dame. Read more Editorial team · Apr 13 · 1 min read
Class of 2030 Admission Results Class of 2030 admission rates now available for multiple colleges including MIT, Johns Hopkins, and Notre Dame.
Class of 2030 Early Decision and Early Action Results Early decision and early action admission rates for the Class of 2030 show highly selective acceptance rates across top… Read more Editorial team · Mar 3 · 1 min read
Class of 2030 Early Decision and Early Action Results Early decision and early action admission rates for the Class of 2030 show highly selective acceptance rates across top… Read more Editorial team · Mar 3 · 1 min read
CMU Acceptance Rate Drops to 11%; CS and Engineering Most Selective
Carnegie Mellon's overall acceptance rate is 11%. ED rate slightly higher at ~14%. School of Computer Science and engineering colleges have dramatically lower admit rates than the university average.
Colleges Are Changing How They Read Essays Because of AI. Here’s What That Means
In the 2025-2026 application cycle, colleges made some of the most significant changes to essay evaluation in a generation.
Columbia reinstates SAT, ACT requirements for 2027-28
The New York City institution is the last Ivy League college to announce an end to its test-optional admissions policy.
Columbia Reinstates Standardized Testing for Fall 2028 Entry Columbia College and Engineering will require test scores starting with the 2027-28 cycle Read more Editorial team · Jun 12
Columbia Reinstates Standardized Testing for Fall 2028 Entry Columbia College and Engineering will require test scores starting with the 2027-28 cycle Read more Editorial team · Jun 12
Columbia University – 4.94%
Columbia University – 4.94%
Cornell University spent the last five admissions cycles doing something none of its Ivy peers has matched. Three different testing regimes ran at once across its undergraduate divisions, and...
Cornell University spent the last five admissions cycles doing something none of its Ivy peers has matched.
Did you know that college enrollment numbers have followed a complicated path over the past 15 years? Total undergraduate enrollment peaked in 2010 at about 18.1 million, declined steadily...
Did you know that college enrollment numbers have followed a complicated path over the past 15 years?
Duke Acceptance Rate: Class of 2030
Duke University, located in Durham, North Carolina, is consistently ranked among the top 10 national universities and is widely regarded as one of the Southern Ivies.
Duke University – 5.20%
Duke University – 5.20%
Florida State University (FSU) Acceptance Rate: Class of 2030 Admissions Statistics
FSU's acceptance rate came in at 23.83% for the Class of 2029, down from 24.22% for the Class of 2028, as application volume continues to rise steadily.
Georgia Tech Acceptance Rate: Class of 2030
Georgia Tech, a public research university in Atlanta long considered both a “New Ivy” and a “Public Ivy,” admitted 8,715 students to the Class of 2030 from a record 67,985 first-year applications—an overall acceptance rate of 12.8%, according to the university’s Office of Undergraduate Admission.
Harvard Admits Record-Low 3.65% for 2026 Cycle
Harvard admitted approximately 3.65% of applicants, the lowest acceptance rate in Harvard's history and one of the lowest among all U.S. colleges. Uses Common Application; most admitted students rank in top 5% of class with SAT 1480-1580.
Harvard University – 4.18%
Harvard University – 4.18%
‘Help defend Yale’s teaching, research, and scholarship’
‘Help defend Yale’s teaching, research, and scholarship’
How Penn’s test-optional policy has impacted students’ test scores
Nearly one-third of Penn sophomores did not submit any test scores in their applications, according to a Daily Pennsylvanian analysis. Using data from the Common Data Set, the analysis examined trends in test scores for incoming first years from 2017 to 2022, comparing Penn to six other Ivy League schools.
Is a Gap Year For Your Student? A Strategic Guide
I still remember the well-loved leather chair where I sat drinking black coffee in a coffee shop on Nassau Street while reading Delaying the Real World: A Twenty-Something’s Guide to Seeking Adventure.
Johns Hopkins University – 5.14%
Johns Hopkins University – 5.14%
Johns Hopkins University – 5.14%
Johns Hopkins University – 5.14%
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – 4.56%
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – 4.56%
Meet Melissa Meltzer Warehall
Melissa Meltzer Warehall Director of College Counseling Daystar Academy (Beijing, China) What drew you to the world of college admission counseling? I discovered the admissions profession through my prior career in arts administration, which I did immediately following college.
Meet Penn Admissions
Meet Penn Admissions
Michigan is the public flagship that has watched its admissions operation change under unusually heavy weather over the past five years. Application volume has climbed from under 80,000 to...
Michigan is the public flagship that has watched its admissions operation change under unusually heavy weather over the past five years.
MIT Acceptance Rate: Class of 2030
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, ranks No.
Penn announces 5.8% acceptance rate for Class of 2030 University of Pennsylvania admitted 5.8 percent of applicants to the Class of 2030 Read more Editorial team · Jun 12
Penn announces 5.8% acceptance rate for Class of 2030 University of Pennsylvania admitted 5.8 percent of applicants to the Class of 2030 Read more Editorial team · Jun 12
Princeton University – 4.42%
Princeton University – 4.42%
Princeton Waitlist 2026: Acceptance Rate, Timeline & Tips
Princeton's Class of 2026 waitlist data shows 148 waitlist admits with a 13.95% waitlist acceptance rate. Data sourced from Common Data Sets and IPEDS filings.
Stanford Acceptance Rate Hits New Low at 3.6% for 2026
Stanford's acceptance rate hit a new low of 3.6% for 2026. SAT range 1420-1570, ACT 32-35. Full breakdown of stats and what admitted students look like.
Stanford President’s Resignation and Northwestern Hazing Scandal
Stanford President’s Resignation and Northwestern Hazing Scandal
Syracuse University Extends Test Optional Policy for Fall 2027 Admission Syracuse University confirms SAT and ACT scores remain optional for Fall 2027 and Spring 2028 applicants. Read more Editorial team · May 29
Syracuse University Extends Test Optional Policy for Fall 2027 Admission Syracuse University confirms SAT and ACT scores remain optional for Fall 2027 and Spring 2028 applicants.
Three changes Penn made to its application this year — and what they mean for applicants
Penn has made several changes to its undergraduate application that will be in effect for the upcoming 2023-2024 admissions season.
Tips for applying to graduate school with a low undergraduate GPA
Academics obviously play an important role in graduate admissions, but a low undergraduate GPA doesn’t have to sink your admissions chances.
UC Berkeley to host 2026 College Horizons summer program
The program will bring more than 120 students from federally recognized tribes together for an immersive college access experience focused on admissions, financial aid and academic opportunity. The post UC Berkeley to host 2026 College Horizons summer program appeared first on Berkeley News.
UChicago Acceptance Rate 5.4% — One of Most Selective in Country
UChicago received 37,522 applications and accepted 2,041 students for a 5.4% acceptance rate. Known for its unique essay prompts and holistic review process.
UCLA Financial Aid Guidance Released for 2026 Newly Admitted Bruins
UCLA's financial aid info for newly-admitted Fall 2026 students available when decisions released end of March (first-year) and end of April (transfer). Applications fell from record 149,815 for Class of 2026 to 145,910 for Class of 2027.
University of Florida Adds Early Decision UF adds a binding Early Decision option for Fall 2027 admits, with an Oct. 15 deadline and decisions by Dec. 11. Read more Editorial team · May 29
University of Florida Adds Early Decision UF adds a binding Early Decision option for Fall 2027 admits, with an Oct.
University of Michigan: Inside the Numbers
University of Michigan: Inside the Numbers
University of Washington Acceptance Rate: Class of 2030 Admissions Statistics
The University of Washington's acceptance rate rose to 41.75% for the Class of 2029, up from 39.15% for the Class of 2028, as application volume continued to climb steadily.
US College Enrollment Decline – 2026 Facts & Figures
US College Enrollment Decline – 2026 Facts & Figures
Vanderbilt University – 4.60%
Vanderbilt University – 4.60%
Vanderbilt University – 4.60%
Vanderbilt University – 4.60%
WashU Acceptance Rate Around 10-11% for 2026
WashU's acceptance rate around 10-11%. Incoming class profile available on admissions site. Strong early decision advantage for applicants.
What It Actually Takes to Get Into a Top College in 2026
Every spring, families watch acceptance rates drop a little further — and ask the same question: what does it actually take? The 2025–26 cycle offered some answers.
Which Colleges Are Called the “Harvard of the South”?
Every admissions cycle, families search for shorthand ways to understand prestige.
Why Won’t Elite Colleges Deploy the One Race-Neutral Way to Achieve Diversity?
In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s dismantling of affirmative action programs, many wondered just what colleges would do to try to achieve racial diversity in their student bodies.
William & Mary Acceptance Rate: Class of 2030 Admissions Statistics
William & Mary's acceptance rate declined to 34.43% for the Class of 2030, down from 36.96% for the Class of 2029, driven by a larger applicant pool and a smaller admitted class.
Yale University – 4.75%
Yale University – 4.75%
Yale University Acceptance Rate Drops to 3.9% for Class of 2026
Yale's acceptance rate is 3.9% for 2026 with SAT 1460-1570 and ACT 33-35. Ultra-competitive admissions season with early results already out and regular decisions to come.
NACAC hiring Center for Innovation in College Admission director
By Rachel Williams Sincore, NACAC Communications ARLINGTON, VA (June 18, 2026) — NACAC is seeking a visionary and entrepreneurial leader to serve as director of the Center for Innovation in College Admission.
NACAC begins pilot phase of college fair redesign initiative
By Rachel Williams Sincore, NACAC Communications ARLINGTON, VA (June 17, 2026) — At a time when the U.S.
The Equation for Success
The Elizabeth Olson and Robert Lee Brown Scholarship gives future generations of Vanderbilt engineering students an opportunity to pursue their dreams.
Application periods open for two new Johns Hopkins research funding opportunities
JHU's Research Resilience Fund and Life Sciences Research Initiative are designed to help support discovery and innovation amid shifts in federal funding climate
MIT Acceptance Rate: Class of 2030 — Top Tier Admissions Analysis
MIT ranked #2 among national universities and #1 for undergraduate engineering per U.S. News 2026 rankings. Admissions remain extremely competitive with near-guarantees for PRIMES/MOP participants historically, though the game has changed recently.
Advocacy and Policy Update – June 9, 2026
NACAC Advocacy and Policy Updates for June 9, 2026By: Sean RobinsWelcome to this issue of the Advocacy Update.
House FY 2027 Spending Bill Preserves Some College Access Investments While Reshaping Student Aid and Institutional Support – June 8, 2026
NACAC Advocacy and Policy UpdateBy: Sean RobinsThe House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies has released its fiscal year (FY) 2027 spending bill, proposing significant changes to federal education funding and student aid programs.
After Princeton graduation, ROTC students are commissioned as U.S. Army and Air Force officers
Nine members of Princeton’s Class of 2026 became commissioned officers May 26 during a ceremony led by Brig. Gen. Grant S. Fawcett, a Class of 1996 alumnus.
As Princeton celebrates its largest graduating class, Eisgruber calls for 'civic and personal courage'
On Tuesday, May 26, the University awarded degrees to 1,469 undergraduates and 668 graduate students during its Commencement ceremony at Princeton Stadium.
Graduate Hooding 2026: 'Your bold scholarship and leadership will help the world flourish'
The University celebrated its newest Ph.D. and master’s degree recipients at the Princeton Graduate School Hooding and Recognition Ceremony on Monday, May 25.
Watch the recorded Graduate Hooding Ceremony livestream
Princeton University is livestreaming end-of-year ceremonies beginning with the Class of 2026 Baccalaureate service on Sunday, May 24, and continuing through Commencement on Tuesday, May 26.
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Top Colleges Directory
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#1
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ Acceptance 5.6%
SAT Range 1500-1580
ACT Range 34-35
#2
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA Acceptance 4.5%
SAT Range 1530-1580
ACT Range 35-36
#3
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA Acceptance 3.4%
SAT Range 1500-1580
ACT Range 34-36
#4
Stanford University
Stanford, CA Acceptance 3.7%
SAT Range 1500-1570
ACT Range 34-35
#4
Yale University
New Haven, CT Acceptance 4.3%
SAT Range 1500-1580
ACT Range 34-36
#6
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL Acceptance 4.8%
SAT Range 1510-1580
ACT Range 34-35
#7
Duke University
Durham, NC Acceptance 5.9%
SAT Range 1500-1570
ACT Range 34-35
#7
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD Acceptance 6.2%
SAT Range 1520-1570
ACT Range 34-35
#7
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL Acceptance 7.0%
SAT Range 1490-1560
ACT Range 34-35
#7
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA Acceptance 5.8%
SAT Range 1500-1570
ACT Range 34-35
#11
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA Acceptance 2.7%
SAT Range Test-Blind
ACT Range Test-Blind
#12
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY Acceptance 7.3%
SAT Range 1480-1560
ACT Range 33-35
#13
Brown University
Providence, RI Acceptance 5.1%
SAT Range 1500-1570
ACT Range 34-36
#13
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH Acceptance 6.0%
SAT Range 1500-1570
ACT Range 34-35
#15
Columbia University
New York, NY Acceptance 3.9%
SAT Range 1500-1570
ACT Range 34-35
#15
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA Acceptance 11.2%
SAT Range Test-Free
ACT Range Test-Free
#17
Rice University
Houston, TX Acceptance 7.7%
SAT Range 1490-1570
ACT Range 34-35
#17
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA Acceptance 8.8%
SAT Range Test-Free
ACT Range Test-Free
#17
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN Acceptance 5.6%
SAT Range 1490-1570
ACT Range 34-35
#20
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA Acceptance 11.0%
SAT Range 1490-1560
ACT Range 34-35
#20
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN Acceptance 11.1%
SAT Range 1470-1550
ACT Range 33-35
#20
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI Acceptance 17.7%
SAT Range 1460-1540
ACT Range 33-35
#20
Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, MO Acceptance 11.3%
SAT Range 1500-1570
ACT Range 33-35