Year over year, admission rates change all across the education landscape. As admissions policies and acceptance criteria change, so do the rates at which applicants are admitted into certain schools. Over the past several years, the college admissions landscape and the admissions rates of many top universities have fluctuated as national and global events have affected growing industries—including higher education.
Some have deemed this previous admissions cycle as one of the most chaotic in recent memory. Multiple unforeseen circumstances, such as the changes to the FAFSA application, the removal of affirmative action, and the reversion of test-optional policies for many of the top US schools, have altered how students and admissions officers across the nation handle the college application process.
With these changes, InGenius Prep brings the latest college admission trends for 2024. The table below shows the average admission rates for the top 30 US schools. We will update these figures with the latest acceptance rates as schools announce their metrics for the class of 2028.
2024 Admission Rates at the Top US Universities
| School | Average Admission Rate |
|---|---|
| Princeton University | 4.5% |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 4.5% |
| Harvard University | 3.6% |
| Stanford | 3.6% |
| Yale University | 3.7% |
| University of Pennsylvania | 5.8% |
| California Institute of Technology | 6.4% |
| Duke University | 5.1% |
| Johns Hopkins University | 6.2% |
| Northwestern University | 9% |
| Brown University | 6.9% |
| University of Chicago | 4.8% |
| Cornell University | 10.9% |
| Columbia University | 3.85% |
| UCB | 16.8% |
| UCLA | 14% |
| Rice University | 10% |
| Dartmouth College | 8.8% |
| Vanderbilt University | 3.7% |
| University of Notre Dame | 11.9% |
| University of Michigan, Ann Arbor | 18% |
| Georgetown University | 15.5% |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 16.8% |
| Washington University in St. Louis | 11% |
| Carnegie Mellon University | 11% |
| Emory University | 16% |
| University of Virginia | 16% |
| UCD | 39.1 % |
| University of Florida | 23% |
| UCSD | 24.7% |
| University of Southern California | 9.9% |
How to Perfect Your Application to a Top US School
Admission officers at the top schools are highly selective in which applicants they accept. Acceptance rates at these schools can be as low as 3%, and with policies and application requirements changing over these past years, having a perfect college application is more vital than ever.
While excelling in academics is necessary, many top US schools employ holistic review and consider every part of a student’s application, not just their scores. So, to have the best chance at acceptance into their dream schools, students must create a robust school list, maintain high grades, score well on their standardized tests, highlight their achievements throughout their extracurricular activities, and craft a compelling application persona to stand out among the thousands of other applicants being reviewed at the top schools.
To learn more about the application process and create the perfect college application, InGenius Prep is here to help! Our programs, designed by experts in education, pair your student with Former Admissions Officers from the top US universities and Ivy League schools. Gain expert insight all throughout the application process and give your student the best chance at acceptance to their dream school. Schedule a free consultation call with an advisor today to learn more about our programs and join the 97% of students who’ve been accepted!
