While the dream of attending a top university captivates millions, with acceptance rates plummeting to as low as 3.4%, understanding the modern admissions landscape requires a deep dive into the numbers that define this historic level of competition.
Key Takeaways
- For the fall 2023 incoming class, Stanford University received 56,378 applications and admitted 2,075 students, resulting in an acceptance rate of 3.68%.
- Harvard University's Class of 2027 had an acceptance rate of 3.41%, with 61,220 applications and 2,088 admits out of those.
- In 2023, MIT admitted 1,315 students from 20,075 applicants for its Class of 2027, yielding a 6.55% acceptance rate.
- In fall 2022, the number of undergraduate applications to U.S. four-year colleges reached 19.9 million, up 25% from 2019.
- Common Application reported 6.8 million applications submitted for 2023-2024 cycle, a 5% increase from prior year.
- Harvard received 61,220 applications for Class of 2027, a record high, up from 57,435 the previous year.
- In 2022, 56% of U.S. undergraduates were women, per NCES data on admissions demographics.
- Black students comprised 15% of fall 2022 enrollees at four-year nonprofits.
- Hispanic/Latino students made up 20% of the fall 2022 undergraduate population.
- In fall 2022, average SAT score for admitted freshmen at top 50 national universities was 1480.
- Harvard's middle 50% SAT for Class of 2027 was 1490-1580.
- Stanford middle 50% SAT: 1500-1570 for admitted students.
- Fall 2022 total undergraduate enrollment at degree-granting institutions was 15.4 million.
- Harvard enrolled 1,657 for Class of 2027.
- Stanford matriculated 1,706 for Class of 2027.
Top colleges receive record high applications yet accept fewer than ten percent.
Acceptance Rates
- For the fall 2023 incoming class, Stanford University received 56,378 applications and admitted 2,075 students, resulting in an acceptance rate of 3.68%.
- Harvard University's Class of 2027 had an acceptance rate of 3.41%, with 61,220 applications and 2,088 admits out of those.
- In 2023, MIT admitted 1,315 students from 20,075 applicants for its Class of 2027, yielding a 6.55% acceptance rate.
- Yale University's acceptance rate for the Class of 2027 was 4.57%, admitting 2,146 from 46,953 applications.
- Princeton University saw a 5.70% acceptance rate for the Class of 2027, with 39,644 applications and 2,260 admits.
- Columbia University's Class of 2028 had a 3.85% acceptance rate, receiving 60,248 applications and admitting 2,319 students.
- University of Chicago's acceptance rate dropped to 5.4% for the Class of 2027, with 37,522 applications and 2,046 admits.
- Duke University's Class of 2027 acceptance rate was 5.9%, admitting 3,174 from 53,782 applications.
- Caltech admitted 529 students from 15,526 applicants for its Class of 2027, for a 3.4% acceptance rate.
- University of Pennsylvania's Class of 2027 had a 5.8% acceptance rate, with 65,234 applications and 3,779 admits.
- For fall 2022, UCLA received 145,196 applications for freshman admission and admitted 12,934, for a 8.9% rate.
- UC Berkeley's freshman acceptance rate was 11.6% for fall 2023, admitting 14,462 from 124,343 applications.
- NYU's Class of 2027 acceptance rate was 8%, with 118,754 applications and 9,500 admits approximately.
- University of Michigan admitted 17,902 freshmen from 84,289 applicants for fall 2023, rate 21.2%.
- USC's acceptance rate for Class of 2027 was 9.8%, admitting 8,084 from 82,478 applications.
- Georgetown University had a 12% acceptance rate for Class of 2027, with 26,000+ applications and ~3,120 admits.
- Vanderbilt University's Class of 2027 acceptance rate was 6.3%, admitting 2,472 from 39,311 applications.
- Notre Dame's acceptance rate for Class of 2027 was 12.9%, with 23,642 applications and 3,050 admits.
- Brown University's Early Decision acceptance rate for Class of 2028 was 14.4%, compared to overall 5.2%.
- Dartmouth College admitted 1,685 from 28,841 for Class of 2027, rate 5.8%.
- Cornell University's Class of 2027 acceptance rate was 7.47% overall, varying by college from 4.7% to 10.9%.
- Johns Hopkins University had 6.2% acceptance rate for Class of 2027, 38,155 apps, 2,366 admits.
- Northwestern University's rate was 7% for Class of 2027, 52,000 apps approx., 3,700 admits.
- University of Virginia admitted 24.8% of 48,011 applicants for Class of 2028.
- William & Mary had 33% acceptance rate for Class of 2027, 17,000 apps, ~5,500 admits.
- Amherst College's rate was 7.3% for Class of 2027, 15,000 apps, 1,070 admits.
- Swarthmore College admitted 1,000 from 14,688 apps for Class of 2027, rate 6.8%.
- Pomona College had 6.9% rate, 11,000 apps, 770 admits for recent class.
- Bowdoin College's acceptance rate was 8.1% for Class of 2027, 10,806 apps, 872 admits.
Acceptance Rates Interpretation
These statistics reveal a brutally exclusive game of chance where even the most brilliant applicants are often left feeling like their dream school is a statistical twilight zone, turning the admissions process into a high-stakes lottery of dreams.
Application Numbers
- In fall 2022, the number of undergraduate applications to U.S. four-year colleges reached 19.9 million, up 25% from 2019.
- Common Application reported 6.8 million applications submitted for 2023-2024 cycle, a 5% increase from prior year.
- Harvard received 61,220 applications for Class of 2027, a record high, up from 57,435 the previous year.
- Stanford saw 56,378 applications for Class of 2027, increase of 4% from Class of 2026.
- MIT applications dropped to 20,075 for Class of 2027 from 33,767 in 2020 due to test-optional changes.
- Yale received 46,953 apps for Class of 2027, up 10% from prior year.
- Princeton's apps were 39,644 for Class of 2027, highest ever.
- Columbia got 60,248 applications for Class of 2028, record number.
- UChicago applications rose to 37,522 for Class of 2027.
- Duke received 53,782 apps for Class of 2027, up slightly.
- Caltech apps were 15,526 for Class of 2027, down from pandemic highs.
- UPenn saw 65,234 applications for Class of 2027, record.
- UCLA freshman apps hit 145,196 for fall 2023.
- UC Berkeley received 124,343 freshman apps for fall 2023.
- NYU applications reached 118,754 for Class of 2027.
- UMich got 84,289 apps for fall 2023 freshmen.
- USC received 82,478 apps for Class of 2027.
- Georgetown apps exceeded 26,000 for Class of 2027.
- Vanderbilt had 39,311 apps for Class of 2027.
- Notre Dame received 23,642 apps for Class of 2027.
- Brown got 48,881 apps for Class of 2028.
- Dartmouth apps were 28,841 for Class of 2027.
- Cornell received 67,846 apps for Class of 2027.
- Johns Hopkins had 38,155 apps for Class of 2027.
- Northwestern apps totaled 52,225 for Class of 2027.
- UVA received 48,011 apps for Class of 2028.
- William & Mary had ~17,000 apps for Class of 2027.
- Amherst received ~15,000 apps for Class of 2027.
- Swarthmore got 14,688 apps for Class of 2027.
- Pomona had ~11,000 apps for recent class.
Application Numbers Interpretation
The arms race for a college seat has never been more crowded, as students in record numbers are firing applications like confetti cannons at a dwindling supply of acceptances.
Demographic Breakdowns
- In 2022, 56% of U.S. undergraduates were women, per NCES data on admissions demographics.
- Black students comprised 15% of fall 2022 enrollees at four-year nonprofits.
- Hispanic/Latino students made up 20% of the fall 2022 undergraduate population.
- Asian students were 7% of undergraduates in fall 2022.
- First-generation college students accounted for 56% of the 2021 incoming class at public four-year institutions.
- In 2023 Harvard class, 20.8% identified as Asian American, 14.3% African American, 14% Hispanic/Latino.
- Stanford Class of 2027: 25% Asian American, 11% Black/African American, 18% Hispanic/Latino.
- MIT Class of 2027: 46% students of color, including 16% Asian American, 5% Black.
- Yale Class of 2027: 57% students of color, 21% Asian American, 11% Black.
- Princeton Class of 2027: 12% Black, 21% Hispanic, 29% Asian American.
- Columbia Class of 2028: 19% Black/African American, 22% Latinx, 28% Asian.
- UChicago Class of 2027: 51% students of color.
- Duke Class of 2027: 22% Asian, 13% Black, 15% Hispanic.
- Caltech Class of 2027: 45% underrepresented minorities or international.
- UPenn Class of 2027: 25% Asian, 11% Black, 16% Hispanic.
- UCLA fall 2023 freshmen: 30% Asian, 19% Chicano/Latino, 4% Black.
- UC Berkeley fall 2023: 5% Black, 29% Latino, 37% Asian.
- NYU Class of 2027: Record diversity with 25% Asian, 12% Black.
- UMich fall 2023: 7% Black, 17% Hispanic, 22% Asian.
- USC Class of 2027: 25% Asian American/Pacific Islander, 6% Black.
- Georgetown Class of 2027: 13% Black, 18% Hispanic, 21% Asian.
- Vanderbilt Class of 2027: 14% Black, 13% Hispanic.
- Notre Dame Class of 2027: 14% underrepresented minority.
- Brown Class of 2028: 41% students of color.
- Dartmouth Class of 2027: 61% students of color.
- Cornell Class of 2027: Diverse across colleges, avg 40% students of color.
- Johns Hopkins Class of 2027: 52% domestic students of color.
- Northwestern Class of 2027: 53% students of color.
- UVA Class of 2028: 27% underrepresented minority.
Demographic Breakdowns Interpretation
These statistics reveal that the 'melting pot' of elite higher education has finally begun to simmer, yet the broth remains unevenly seasoned, with some groups consistently over or underrepresented across the board.
Enrollment Statistics
- Fall 2022 total undergraduate enrollment at degree-granting institutions was 15.4 million.
- Harvard enrolled 1,657 for Class of 2027.
- Stanford matriculated 1,706 for Class of 2027.
- MIT enrolled 1,099 for Class of 2027.
- Yale matriculated 1,546 for Class of 2027.
- Princeton enrolled 1,498 for Class of 2027.
- Columbia enrolled ~1,550 for Class of 2028.
- UChicago matriculated 1,786 for Class of 2027.
- Duke enrolled 1,743 for Class of 2027.
- Caltech enrolled 501 for Class of 2027.
- UPenn matriculated 2,464 for Class of 2027.
- UCLA enrolled 9,612 freshmen for fall 2023.
- UC Berkeley matriculated 6,959 freshmen fall 2023.
- NYU enrolled ~6,500 for Class of 2027.
- UMich enrolled 7,000+ freshmen fall 2023.
- USC matriculated 3,672 for Class of 2027.
- Georgetown enrolled 1,600 for Class of 2027.
- Vanderbilt matriculated 1,652 for Class of 2027.
- Notre Dame enrolled 2,050 for Class of 2027.
- Brown matriculated 1,600+ for Class of 2028.
- Dartmouth enrolled 1,308 for Class of 2027.
- Cornell matriculated 3,700+ for Class of 2027.
- Johns Hopkins enrolled 1,400+ for Class of 2027.
- Northwestern matriculated 2,100 for Class of 2027.
- UVA enrolled 3,935 for Class of 2028.
- William & Mary matriculated 1,460 for Class of 2027.
- Amherst enrolled 470 for Class of 2027.
- Swarthmore matriculated 450 for Class of 2027.
- Pomona enrolled 415 for Class of 2027.
- Bowdoin matriculated 535 for Class of 2027.
Enrollment Statistics Interpretation
While 15.4 million students pursue higher education, the nation's most selective universities perform a remarkably intricate ballet, annually admitting a combined student body that would barely fill a large football stadium.
Test Scores
- In fall 2022, average SAT score for admitted freshmen at top 50 national universities was 1480.
- Harvard's middle 50% SAT for Class of 2027 was 1490-1580.
- Stanford middle 50% SAT: 1500-1570 for admitted students.
- MIT requires tests, middle 50% SAT 1520-1570 for Class of 2027.
- Yale middle 50% SAT 1500-1570.
- Princeton SAT middle 50% 1500-1570.
- Columbia middle 50% SAT 1510-1570.
- UChicago SAT 1510-1580 middle 50%.
- Duke SAT 1510-1570.
- Caltech SAT 1530-1580.
- UPenn SAT 1510-1570.
- UCLA average SAT 1400 for admitted freshmen fall 2023.
- UC Berkeley average SAT 1420.
- NYU average SAT 1530 for enrolled Class of 2027.
- UMich average SAT 1430 for in-state admits.
- USC middle 50% SAT 1440-1550.
- Georgetown average SAT 1520.
- Vanderbilt SAT 1480-1570 middle 50%.
- Notre Dame SAT 1440-1550.
- Brown SAT 1500-1570.
- Dartmouth SAT 1480-1560.
- Cornell SAT varies by college, avg 1480-1550.
- Johns Hopkins SAT 1520-1570.
- Northwestern SAT 1490-1560.
- UVA SAT 1400-1540 middle 50%.
- William & Mary SAT 1360-1520.
- Amherst SAT 1450-1560.
- Swarthmore SAT 1460-1550.
- Pomona SAT 1480-1550.
- Bowdoin SAT 1430-1540.
Test Scores Interpretation
In this modern academic hunger games, where a perfect SAT score has become the standard-issue tribute and a 1500 is merely the district you come from, getting into a top school seems to require not just acing the test, but somehow weaponizing your scantron.
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