Admissions competition is compressing the odds from application to enrollment, with Harvard’s Class of 2028 acceptance rate at 3.59% on 54,008 applications and MIT’s Class of 2028 at 4.8% on 20,075. Even within the same tier, outcomes vary sharply, with Yale’s 4.46% and UCLA’s in-state rate at 7% for 2023 freshmen. The academic and admissions numbers in this article are presented by school and metric so selectivity shifts show up without guesswork.
Key Takeaways
- Average GPA of admitted students to MIT Class of 2028 was 4.19 (weighted);
- Harvard University's acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was 3.59%, down from 3.41% the previous year, with 54,008 applications received;
- Legacy admissions accounted for 43% of white admits at Harvard from 1995-2013;
- In 2023, 1.1 million students applied via the Common App, a 5% increase from 2022;
- Yield rate at Harvard for Class of 2028: 82.4%;
- Common App fee waivers granted to 32% of applicants in 2023;
Most applicants are admitted at higher rates when they meet core academic thresholds and strong extracurricular profiles.
Related reading
01 · Category
Academic Qualifications20 stats
01
Average GPA of admitted students to MIT Class of 2028 was 4.19 (weighted);
02
Middle 50% SAT score for Harvard Class of 2028: 1490-1580;
03
97% of Stanford Class of 2027 admits were in top 10% of high school class;
04
Yale Class of 2028 average ACT: 33-35 (middle 50%);
05
Princeton admits had average SAT Math score of 790 for Class of 2028;
06
National average high school GPA for college admits: 3.38 unweighted in 2022;
07
75% of top college admits scored above 1400 on SAT in 2023;
08
ACT national average for college-bound seniors: 19.5 in 2023;
09
43% of Columbia Class of 2028 admits submitted SAT scores averaging 1510-1570;
10
Average unweighted GPA at UChicago admits: 4.0 for Class of 2028;
11
Average SAT for Duke Class of 2028: 1510-1570 middle 50%;
12
96% of Caltech admits top 10% of class;
13
UPenn average GPA: 3.9 unweighted for Class of 2028;
14
Columbia ACT middle 50%: 34-35;
15
UChicago SAT: 1510-1580 for admits;
16
Average SAT at Johns Hopkins: 1520-1570;
17
Rice University GPA average 4.1 weighted;
18
Northwestern ACT 33-35 middle 50%;
19
Notre Dame SAT 1440-1550;
20
Emory 96% top 10% class;
Interpretation
Academic Qualifications Interpretation
While ostensibly admitting only a "well-rounded" class, top colleges have essentially created an academic arms race where the new "normal" is a superhuman 4.0 GPA paired with near-perfect test scores, leaving the actual national averages in the dust.
02 · Category
Acceptance Rates16 stats
01
Harvard University's acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was 3.59%, down from 3.41% the previous year, with 54,008 applications received;
02
Stanford University's acceptance rate for the Class of 2027 was 3.68%, receiving 56,378 applications;
03
Yale University's acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 stood at 4.46%, with 57,465 applicants;
04
Princeton University's acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was 4.5%, based on 39,644 applications;
05
MIT's acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was 4.8%, with 20,075 applications submitted;
06
Columbia University's acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was 3.85%, receiving 60,248 applications;
07
University of Chicago's acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was 5.4%, with 37,500 applicants;
08
Duke University's acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was 5.9%, from 47,951 applications;
09
Caltech's acceptance rate for the Class of 2027 was 3.92%, with 15,526 applications;
10
University of Pennsylvania's acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was 6.5%, receiving 65,230 applications;
11
7% acceptance rate at UCLA for in-state freshmen 2023;
12
NYU acceptance rate 8% for Class of 2028, 118,754 apps;
13
USC rate 9.8%, 71,000+ applications;
14
Georgetown 12% rate, 27,000 apps;
15
Vanderbilt 6.3% rate, 47,152 apps;
16
Berkeley acceptance 11.6% in-state;
Interpretation
Acceptance Rates Interpretation
The academic equivalent of a high-stakes lottery, these acceptance rates reveal a brutal and finely-tuned competition where even the most elite universities are, statistically speaking, overwhelmingly in the business of sending rejection letters.
03 · Category
Applicant Demographics19 stats
01
Legacy admissions accounted for 43% of white admits at Harvard from 1995-2013;
02
58% of Harvard's Class of 2027 identified as white, 17% Asian American;
03
At Stanford, 26% of admitted Class of 2027 were first-generation college students;
04
Women comprised 52% of Yale's Class of 2028 admits;
05
15% of Princeton's Class of 2028 admits are international students;
06
12% of U.S. college applicants in 2023 were first-generation students;
07
Black students made up 14% of admits at University of Chicago Class of 2028;
08
Hispanic/Latino students: 18% of Duke's Class of 2028;
09
11% of Caltech Class of 2027 were Pell Grant eligible;
10
UPenn Class of 2028: 23% Asian American admits;
11
46% of Black high school graduates enroll in college immediately vs 57% white;
12
Asian American applicants to selective colleges: 25% of pool at Ivies;
13
First-gen college students: 24% of public university enrollees;
14
Rural applicants underrepresented: only 15% at top schools despite 20% population;
15
48% of admits at Amherst are students of color;
16
22% first-gen at Williams College Class of 2027;
17
Dartmouth: 15% Black/Hispanic admits;
18
Brown: 52% women in Class of 2028;
19
Cornell: 12.6% international;
Interpretation
Applicant Demographics Interpretation
If we're playing a serious numbers game, the deck appears to be stacked with a familiar hand, shuffled far too slowly for comfort.
More related reading
04 · Category
Application Trends17 stats
01
In 2023, 1.1 million students applied via the Common App, a 5% increase from 2022;
02
Early Decision applications to selective colleges rose 10% in 2023 compared to 2022;
03
The number of international applications to U.S. colleges increased by 7% in fall 2023;
04
Test-optional policies led to a 15% surge in applications to top-50 schools in 2023;
05
Common App reported 7.7 million teacher recommendations submitted for 2023 cycle;
06
Applications to public universities increased 8% post-pandemic in 2023;
07
Early Action apps to UCs rose 4.5% for fall 2024;
08
25% increase in apps from low-income students since 2020;
09
Holistic review adopted by 80% of top 100 colleges;
10
Record 2.3 million students applied ED/EA in 2023, up 12%;
11
Test-blind admissions at UCs led to 6% app increase;
12
Essays reviewed in 90% of admissions processes, per NACAC;
13
Superscoring SAT used by 85% of four-year colleges;
14
1.25 million ED apps in 2023 cycle;
15
35% of top admits via ED;
16
Virtual tours boosted apps by 11%;
17
92% of colleges superscore ACT;
Interpretation
Application Trends Interpretation
The admissions battlefield is now saturated with a record-breaking, strategically maneuvering army of applicants, where every percentage point increase in early plans and virtual tours tells the story of a high-stakes game that's simultaneously expanding access and intensifying the competition for every single seat.
05 · Category
Enrollment and Yield18 stats
01
Yield rate at Harvard for Class of 2028: 82.4%;
02
Stanford yield rate Class of 2027: 78.9%;
03
Yale yield: 65.2% for Class of 2028;
04
Princeton yield rate: 69% for Class of 2028;
05
MIT yield: 81% for Class of 2028;
06
National college enrollment rate for 18-24 year olds: 41% in 2022;
07
60% yield rate average for top 30 national universities;
08
Harvard enrolled 1,657 for Class of 2028;
09
Stanford matriculated 1,603 students for Class of 2027;
10
Female enrollment at Yale: 51% of Class of 2028;
11
International enrollment at Princeton: 12% of freshmen;
12
18% of U.S. adults hold bachelor's degrees, per Census 2023;
13
Average yield top publics: 45%;
14
UCLA enrolled 9,760 freshmen 2023;
15
UMich yield 50% for OOS;
16
UNC Chapel Hill 44% yield;
17
UVA 37% yield rate;
18
69% HS grads enroll college, down from 70%;
Interpretation
Enrollment and Yield Interpretation
When Harvard and MIT boast an 81-82% yield, they're not just admitting students—they're curating a reality where "yes" is the only polite answer to an invitation from academic royalty, while the rest of the country grapples with the more relatable arithmetic of acceptance and choice.
06 · Category
Financial Aid18 stats
01
Common App fee waivers granted to 32% of applicants in 2023;
02
Average financial aid package at Ivy League schools: $65,000for 2023-24;
03
55% of Harvard students receive need-based aid averaging $67,700;
04
Stanford meets 100% of demonstrated need without loans for all admits;
05
Yale's average grant for aided students: $63,000in 2023;
06
Princeton's financial aid covers 100% need for 83% of students;
07
MIT offers average aid package of $57,478for 2023-24;
08
Average merit aid at private colleges: $15,000per student in 2023;
09
70% of aided students at public flagships get grants averaging $10,500;
10
No-loan policies at 30+ selective colleges cover full need;
11
Average debt for bachelor's grads: $28,400in 2023;
12
43% of families use 529 plans for college savings;
13
45% of students at selective privates receive aid;
14
Average net price after aid at publics: $14,270;
15
Harvard no parental contribution if income <65k;
16
Average loan burden reduced 20% with FAFSA simplification;
17
50% increase in app fee waivers 2020-2023;
18
Average cost tuition privates $41,5402023-24;
Interpretation
Financial Aid Interpretation
While the headline tuition prices for elite colleges are breathtakingly high, the robust financial aid and fee waiver statistics reveal a serious, if complex, effort to keep the ivory tower's doors from being purely pay-to-play.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Megan Gallagher. (2026, February 13). College Admission Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/college-admission-statistics
MLA
Megan Gallagher. "College Admission Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/college-admission-statistics.
Chicago
Megan Gallagher. 2026. "College Admission Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/college-admission-statistics.
Sources & references
56 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level