Johns Hopkins University is a top private research university in Baltimore, Maryland, placing it conveniently between New York City, DC, and Philadelphia. It’s not just geography that JHU has going for it, though. Over the past decade, Johns Hopkins has become one of the hardest universities to get into in the country — even more difficult than some members of the Ivy League. The school is not overwhelmingly large, with 5,600 undergraduates, but they . They rank first in the country for research investment, have a strong entrepreneurship culture, and heavily prioritize real-world experience. Nearly every student takes part in at least one research or internship experience before graduating, along with pursuing one of 55 majors and as many minors. The acceptance rate is .

Claremont McKenna is a highly-respected humanities-focused liberal arts college in Claremont, California. The are economics, government, psychology, and international relations, and students who want to pursue the sciences at CMC do so through the through the Integrated Sciences major. This program is unique to CMC, and is crafted around addressing currently urgent issues, preparing students for strong careers across the science fields, including medicine. CMC programs are innovative, exciting, and in high demand. The acceptance rate is .

Colorado College operates on a unique block system, in which students take one class at a time for three-and-a-half weeks of fully immersed study. This has made the college iconic across the United States as a place where people who are passionate and focused can throw themselves fully into the things that they love. It is also a highly self-selective school. People don’t apply to CC as a safety. It doesn’t just get added onto a college list as a back-up plan. If a student is applying, it’s because they really want to learn within the block system. The acceptance rate is .

Boston University is a large well-respected and selective private research university in — you guessed it — Boston, Massachusetts. BU a reputation as a formidable education institution, offering over 300 programs of study to over 38,000 students coming from over 140 countries. The acceptance rate has plummeted in recent years, falling from 48% for the Class of 2015 to . The important thing to see in this drop is that BU is still BU. It was a great school with a nearly 50% acceptance rate, and it is a great school with an acceptance rate approaching 10%. The school hasn’t really change that much through the last decade. The professors continue to be strong; the research opportunities continue to be strong, it’s just a lot harder to get in.

Carnegie Mellon is a private research university based in Pittsburgh, PA, but with campuses around the country and internationally. Their 16,000 students (7,700 undergraduates) come from well over 100 countries. CMU takes being an international institution very seriously, and continues to push for innovation and new opportunities. By positioning themselves at the “,” CMU has become as an innovative — and highly selective — top university in the US across disciplines ranging from music and art to technology and business. In recent years, Carnegie Mellon has been tightlipped about their acceptance rate for first-year students immediately after the admissions cycle ends. They have refrained from publicizing the admissions numbers, so the best place to find true numbers is the hard data. For first years enrolling in 2024, the acceptance rate reported on the was . Based on overall trends, we can estimate that the acceptance rate for 2025 was within 1.5% of this, in either direction.

Colgate is a liberal arts university in Hamilton, NY that offers 57 majors, a 9:1 student to faculty ratio, “ideal environment for curious minds.” Hamilton is fairly rural, a small town an hour from Syracuse, but the community is global. Students represent 87 countries, and even more cultures. The acceptance rate is about .  

Notre Dame is a large private research university in Notre Dame, Indiana with to the Catholic church. Notre Dame is strong in academics, in research, in faith, in purpose, and in identity. One in three undergraduates take part in research, 87%+ do a study abroad experience, and they have been a top producer of Fulbright scholars for . The overall acceptance rate is only , and the Restrictive Early Action acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 was 13%.

Based in Houston, Texas, Rice University has carved out an enviable niche as a prestigious mid-sized research university. The campus is 300 acres, yet urban, also known as the best of both worlds. Students flock to Rice for research opportunities, business, and a that sets it apart. The acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 was %. This was a higher acceptance rate than in recent years, but only by a few fractions of a percentage point. The small increase is attributable to the fact that the Class of 2029 marked the end of a multi-year plan to increase the student body by 20%, and should not be expected to be an ongoing trend. 

Emory is a private research university in Atlanta, Georgia and Oxford, Georgia. The school is particularly well-known for their work in the , and aspiring future doctors seek out Emory for an undergraduate degree that will catalyze their medical school ambitions. But Emory isn’t limited to those who want to work in health someday. They offer top-tier academic paths across dozens of majors. And those two locations we mentioned, Atlanta and Oxford, that is because they have two campuses. The Atlanta campus is a research setting, and ideal for those who want to be in the midst of everything from day one. The Oxford campus, which is only for first and second years (), offers a small college experience immersed in the liberal arts and focused on building leadership and community. There are about undergraduate students, and the acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 was . 

The University of Washington in St. Louis is a prestigious mid-sized research university in St. Louis, Missouri. They are particularly well-known for undergraduate research opportunities, and students who seek out WashU are driven, creative, and hungry for opportunities to stretch themselves through collaboration and teamwork. They have a strong tradition of study abroad, with students taking part, and an even stronger tradition of service to the St. Louis community. The acceptance rate is about , but the Early Decision acceptance rate is closer to 25%. This underlines the importance of applying to first-choice schools early — and picking an ED school strategically.

Davidson is a southern school in North Carolina with classic liberal arts vibes more often seen in the northeast or on the west coast. So, if you want a mild climate for much of the year and a community-focused and highly academic elite liberal arts experience, Davidson may be a perfect fit. Loads of other students agree, and admissions has become extremely competitive. The acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was only .

Amherst is an liberal arts school in Amherst, Massachusetts that raises the bar for what a small liberal arts school can offer to students intent on making a global impact. Students come from 70 countries, and Amherst has a completely open curriculum. You pick what you take to pursue your passions. How you spend your time outside of your major requirements is your decision. Some students flinch in response to this level of choice, but Amherst students thrive in it. They take control of their educational experience, and the results speak for themselves. The overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 was about .  

The University of Miami is a leading private research university (not, note, a public university) with over 12,000 degree-seeking undergraduates in Miami, Florida. They students into 9 undergraduate schools and colleges, maintaining a small student to faculty ratio of only 11:1. Despite having such a large undergraduate student body, half of all undergraduate classes have students. The acceptance rate is about

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is a highly-respected large public research university in Madison, Wisconsin. Students love Madison for mixing strong academics with broad opportunities and an iconic culture. Greek life and athletics are big at Wisconsin, and help to define the social experience whether or not you want to join a Greek organization or cheer on the Badgers in basketball. There are nearly 37,000 undergraduate students, and they receive over 65,000 applications for first-year admission annually. The overall acceptance rate, including in-state and out-of-state applicants, is 45%. Remember though, if you are applying from outside of Wisconsin your chances of admission are undoubtedly far lower than that 45%. Way back in 2018, the university that they aimed to admit 2/3rd of Wisconsin applicants. Using some back-of-the-envelope math, that means that about 25% of out-of-state applicants were accepted to reach a 45% overall acceptance rate. 

Williams is an iconic liberal arts college in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Home to about 2,000 undergraduate students, the college is with students pursuing majors in biology, psychology, history, mathematics, political science, computer science, English, art, and most of all economics. This highlights the intellectual diversity of the Williams community, with students pursuing the hard sciences and the humanities hand-in-hand. At the core of this is the Williams liberal arts foundation. This has made Williams a coveted school for top-performing students, driving down the acceptance rate to only .