The US's Top 20 Most Esteemed Universities with High Acceptance Rates
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| Top 20 Most Prestigious Colleges With High Acceptance Rates In The US |
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If money was no object, who wouldn't want to study at one of the best universities in the United States? Even if you can afford it, this will not suffice. When it comes to competition, every bit of information counts.
That is why we gathered acceptance rates for the top 20 colleges in the United States.
What is college's acceptance rate?
This is the percentage of students who were accepted after completing the university's application process. This is not to be confused with enrolment rates, which are the percentages of students who were accepted and then chose to attend that university.
The top 20 colleges in the United States with the highest acceptance rates for entering freshmen in recent years are listed below. While some colleges have a policy of only accepting a certain percentage of applicants, these institutions take pride in admitting as many students as possible each year. These colleges have a high acceptance rate, approximately 80-90%.
Top 20 Most Prestigious Colleges With High Acceptance Rates In The US
1. California State University, Fresno
Location: Fresno. CA
Acceptance rate: 97%
Annual Tuition: $23,400
Graduation rate: 67%
California State University, Fresno, also known as Fresno State, is one of 23 California State University campuses. It has about 24,000 students in its eight schools and colleges, including over 22,000 undergrads. The 388-acre campus and its 1,000-acre farm are located in central California's San Joaquin Valley, one of the world's most productive agricultural regions, at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Vintage Days is a long-standing Fresno State tradition in which students and guests gather for games, beer, concerts, pony rides, wing-eating contests, and other activities. Bulldog Bowl provides year-round entertainment with 12 bowling lanes that offer "the cleanest and best-value game in town."
2. Western Washington University
Location: Bellingham, WA
Acceptance rate: 96%
Annual Tuition: $27,900
Graduation rate: 72%
Academically, Western is well-known for producing Fulbright Scholars, Hollings Scholars from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and Peace Corps volunteers. It's also a diverse group: 32% of new first-year classmates are people of color. The Ethnic Student Center, which houses 19 different equality-driven clubs, helps to ensure that everyone feels safe and seen. It is also one of the most affordable universities on our list, with an estimated degree cost of $109,699v.
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3. California State University, Stanislaus
Location: Turlock, CA
Acceptance rate: 95%
Annual Tuition: $24,700
Graduation rate: 70%
The US Department of Education has designated it as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, and it receives grants to expand its ability to teach underrepresented populations. According to a money analysis, Stanislaus State's six-year graduation rate is 70%, which is higher than the national average for schools rated this year.
At the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds, the university began as a small college with fewer than 800 students. Students now describe the 228-acre Turlock campus as park-like, with ponds and streams scattered throughout. A road trip from campus will get you to the edge of Yosemite National Park or the San Francisco Bay area in under two hours, depending on whether you head east or west.
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4. University of Utah
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Acceptance rate: 95%
Annual Tuition: $25,400
Graduation rate: 63%
According to Money's calculations, Utah's oldest higher education institution provides its approximately 25,000 undergrads with a solid, research-based education for about $87,000 — well below the national average. It is also involved in the arts, with programs such as actor training, creative writing, and ballet, among others.
Overall, the Utes do not place a high value on having a stereotypical college experience. Many students commute and return home on weekends. Fraternities and sororities have a minor presence, and the administration is strict about keeping the campus dry.
5. California State University, Sacramento
Location: Sacramento, CA
Acceptance rate: 94%
Annual Tuition: $29,400
Graduation rate: 68%
Sacramento State University, also known as Sac State, is situated on a beautiful 300-acre campus just outside of California's capital.
Within its eight academic colleges, Sac State offers approximately 55 undergraduate majors. Business administration, criminal justice and corrections, and communication and media studies are among the most popular majors at Sac State. The criminal justice program at the college is one of the largest in the country, and it frequently receives more applications than it can accept, making it a competitive major. The university has a fairly high acceptance rate, accepting approximately 94% of applicants. The graduation rate of 68% is about 11% higher than expected based on colleges that enroll students from similar academic and economic backgrounds, and students can expect to earn around $61,000 in their first year of employment.
6. Sonoma State University
Location: Rohnert Park, CA
Acceptance rate: 94%
Annual Tuition : $28,000
Graduation rate: 69%
Sacramento State University, also known as Sac State, is located on a beautiful 300-acre campus just outside of the state capital of Sacramento.
Sac State offers approximately 55 undergraduate majors through its eight academic colleges. Among the most popular majors at Sac State are business administration, criminal justice and corrections, and communication and media studies. The college's criminal justice program is one of the largest in the country, with more applications than it can accept, making it a competitive major. The university has a fairly high acceptance rate, with approximately 94% of applicants being accepted. The graduation rate of 68% is approximately 11% higher than expected based on colleges that enroll students from comparable academic and economic backgrounds.
7. California State University, Channel Islands
Location: Camarillo, CA
Acceptance rate: 93%
Annual Tuition : $29,200
Graduation rate: 70%
Sacramento State University, also known as Sac State, is situated on a beautiful 300-acre campus just outside of Sacramento, the state capital.
Through its eight academic colleges, Sac State offers approximately 55 undergraduate majors. Business administration, criminal justice and corrections, and communication and media studies are among the most popular majors at Sac State. The criminal justice program at the college is one of the largest in the country, with more applications than space available, making it a competitive major. With approximately 94% of applicants accepted, the university has a fairly high acceptance rate. The graduation rate of 68% is approximately 11% higher than expected based on colleges that enroll students from comparable academic and economic backgrounds, and students can expect to earn approximately
8. California State University, Monterey Bay
Location: Seaside, CA
Acceptance rate: 93%
Annual Tuition : $22,500
Graduation rate: 72%
California State University, Monterey Bay, is two hours south of San Francisco and has plenty of oceanfront views. CSU Monterey Bay, like much of the Cal State system, receives high marks for affordability and accessibility: More than 90% of students are accepted, and more than half are first-generation college students. According to Money's calculations, the estimated net price of a degree before federal and state aid is around $93,000, which is on the lower end of all the schools we looked at.
9. California State University, San Marcos
Location: San Marcos, CA
Acceptance rate: 93%
Annual Tuition : $25,800
Graduation rate: 63%
California State University, San Marcos is a newcomer to the academic scene, having opened in North San Diego County in 1990. However, in recent years, the college has expanded to 304 acres in the idyllic San Marcos foothills. The university, which is located minutes from the beach and about an hour from the desert and mountains, is divided into four colleges, with the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences having the most students.
10. San Francisco State University
Location: San Francisco, CA
Acceptance rate: 93%
Annual Tuition : $28,800
Graduation rate: 67%
Bachelor's degrees are available from six different colleges, including the College of Ethnic Studies, which houses programs in Asian American Studies, Africana Studies, Latina/Latino studies, and other disciplines. Business is by far the most popular bachelor's degree program on campus, with biology, communications, education, and criminal justice rounding out the top five.
11. College of Saint Benedict
Location: Saint Joseph, MN
Acceptance rate: 92%
Annual Tuition: $67,700
Graduation rate: 79%
The College of Saint Benedict in central Minnesota is the country's only Benedictine college for women. It collaborates with Saint John's University, a nearby men's school, to share academic programs and provide access to resources on both campuses. (Its students are referred to as "Bennies," whereas Saint John's students are referred to as "Johnnies.")
The school accepts students of all faiths, with nearly half of them being Catholic. In comparison to many other Minnesota colleges, both public and private, the school has a high graduation rate. Among the 37 majors and 40 minors offered by Saint Benedict are elementary education, nursing, and psychology, as well as a renowned fine arts program.
12. Hope College
Location: Holland, MI
Acceptance rate: 92%
Annual Tuition: $53,300
Graduation rate: 81%
Hope students who want to study abroad can choose from more than 300 programs in over 60 countries, with no additional tuition or fees in many cases. Students interested in developing their leadership skills can participate in programs at Hope's Center for Faithful Leadership, which offers a minor in leadership that is applicable to students of all majors.
The college is at the forefront of the conversation about affordability and access. It implements the Anchored Tuition Pledge, which guarantees that tuition will remain at the same rate for a student's entire time at Hope, and its long-term goal is for every student to have tuition fully funded up front, then "pay it forward" through donations after graduation.
13. Illinois State University
Location: Normal, IL
Acceptance rate: 92%
Annual Tuition: $33,700
Graduation rate: 72%
With approximately 18,000 undergraduate students, Illinois State has an above-average graduation rate and an average cost that is lower than the national median. The campus is about two and a half hours southwest of Chicago in Normal, a town famous for being the birthplace of Steak 'n Shake (other local favorites, like Avanti's, D.P. Dough, and Pub II, are among the area's most popular student haunts). The Fell Arboretum, which can be found throughout The Quad and beyond, is home to over 200 different tree species.
14. California State University, Los Angeles
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Acceptance rate: 91%
Annual Tuition: $29,300
Graduation rate: 65%
Undergraduate class sizes are also reasonable, with approximately 65% of classes having fewer than 30 students. The Luckman Fine Arts Complex, which features one of the largest stages in the Los Angeles area, also provides a venue for theater, dance, music, and other performances. This year's performers have included filmmaker, director, and writer John Waters and the "godmother of soul" Patti LaBelle.
15. California State University, San Bernardino
Location: San Bernardino, CA
Acceptance rate: 91%
Annual Tuition : $26,000
Graduation rate: 67%
It has a graduation rate of 67%, which is 12% higher than the average for institutions with similar student populations, according to Money. The majority of students commute to school, but there are four student housing "villages" on campus and numerous ways to get involved. CSUSB has over 140 student-run organizations, ranging from the aquatics club to the chess club, in addition to Greek life.
16. George Mason University
Location: Fairfax, VA
Acceptance rate: 91%
Annual Tuition : $32,100
Graduation rate: 74%
George Mason University takes pride in its values, which include innovation, integrity, inclusivity, and freedom of thought and expression. "There's something for everyone" on campus, according to the university. Indeed, GMU fields 20 NCAA Division I men's and women's teams, and students who aren't into sports can check out the more than 500 clubs, which range from the Anime & Gaming Society to the Voice Acting Club. The Patriot, the school's mascot, is a nod to the university's namesake, one of the country's founding fathers.
17. Iowa State University
Location: Ames, IA
Acceptance rate: 91%
Annual Tuition: $23,200
Graduation rate: 72%
Iowa State is an even more attractive option when considering the low tuition costs, since the net price of a degree for in-state students, as calculated by Money, is about $72,000 before federal and state aid are included.
Iowa State is a leader in virtual reality, with a research center it says is "aimed broadly at enhancing the productivity and creativity of people." Students often mention the amazing friendships they've made at ISU. This could be attributed to the school's many clubs or events designed to promote school spirit. Or it could be the excellent academics. Or it could just be because Iowans are a friendly bunch. But whatever the reason, graduates seem to agree that their time spent at ISU was worthwhile.
18. Simpson College
Location: Indianola, IA
Acceptance rate: 91%
Annual Tuition: $61,000
Graduation rate: 72%
When considering tuition costs, Iowa State is an even more appealing option, as the net price of a degree for in-state students, as calculated by Money, is around $72,000 before federal and state aid.
Iowa State University is a virtual reality pioneer, with a research center "aimed broadly at enhancing people's productivity and creativity." Students frequently mention the wonderful friendships they've formed at ISU. This could be attributed to the school's numerous clubs and events aimed at fostering school spirit. It could also be the outstanding academics. Or it could simply be that Iowans are a friendly bunch. But, for whatever reason, graduates appear to agree that their time at ISU was worthwhile.
19. California State University, Dominguez Hills
Location: Carson, CA
Acceptance rate: 90%
Annual Tuition: $27,200
Graduation rate: 63%
Classes began at California State University, Dominguez Hills in 1965, but the Watts Uprising later that year prompted a campus relocation inland to serve a diverse student body representative of South Los Angeles. The school was successful in this endeavor, as students of color continue to make up the majority of the undergraduate population. Need-based federal Pell Grants are available to approximately 63% of students. The university is also a driver of economic mobility, earning one of the highest scores on the think tank Third Way's index of how well colleges help lower-income students advance.
20. Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Location: Buzzards Bay, MA
Acceptance rate: 90%
Annual Tuition: $31,300
Graduation rate: 79%
Classes at California State University, Dominguez Hills began in 1965, but the Watts Uprising later that year necessitated a campus relocation inland to serve a diverse student body representative of South Los Angeles. This endeavor was a success for the school, as students of color continue to constitute the majority of the undergraduate population. Approximately 63% of students are eligible for need-based federal Pell Grants. The university is also a proponent of economic mobility, having received one of the highest scores on the think tank Third Way's index of how well colleges help low-income students advance.
Conclusion
A college does not have to be exclusive in order to be a good investment. Top 20 Most Prestigious Colleges with High Acceptance Rates in the United States admit at least 80% of applicants. Given the effort, time, and financial investment, it stands to reason that students accepted into top-tier universities are more motivated to complete their studies.
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