20 Most Selective Colleges and Universities in the U.S.

Here you'll find the 20 most selective colleges and universities in the U.S. These schools accept a lower percentage of applicants than any others. As you read the list, consider these issues:

• I did not include colleges that are essentially free (although many have a service requirement). Nevertheless, College of the Ozarks, Berea, West Point, Cooper Union, Coast Guard Academy, USAFA, and Annapolis all have extremely low acceptance rates.
• I did not include extremely small places like Deep Springs College and Webb Institute
• I did not include schools with a performance- or portfolio-based admissions process such as Julliard and the Curtis Institute of Music
• Selectivity alone doesn't explain how hard it is to get into a school. Some schools not on this list have students with higher average GPAs and test scores than some schools on the list.