Last Updated on October 1, 2026
Quick answer: Admission rates at top universities remain in the single digits at the most selective schools. Harvard admitted about 4.2% of applicants to the Class of 2029 and MIT admitted 4.6%, while Notre Dame and UCLA each admitted 9% of recent applicants. Application volume, early rounds, yield, and testing policies all shape these numbers.
Admission rates at top universities change year over year. 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.
The Class of 2028 applied during an unusually eventful period. Several changes, such as the Supreme Court decision ending race-conscious admissions and the return of testing requirements at several top US schools, have altered how students and admissions officers across the nation handle the college application process. [1]
The table below shows admission rates at top universities for the Class of 2029, the students who entered in fall 2025, drawn from each school’s Common Data Set or official class profile. For more recent numbers, see our roundup of college acceptance rates for the Class of 2030.
Class of 2029 Admission Rates at Top Universities
| School | First-year applicants (fall 2025) | Admitted | Admission rate (Class of 2029) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 29,281 | 1,334 | 4.6% |
| Harvard University | 47,893 | 2,003 | 4.2% |
| Stanford University | 60,646 | 2,302 | 3.8% |
| Yale University | 50,264 | 2,387 | 4.7% |
| Johns Hopkins University | 50,259 | 3,072 | 6.1% |
| Northwestern University | 52,676 | 3,933 | 7.5% |
| Columbia University (Columbia College and Columbia Engineering) | 59,611 | 2,946 | 4.9% |
| Rice University | 36,791 | 2,948 | 8.0% |
| Vanderbilt University | 48,658 | 2,592 | 5.3% |
| University of Michigan, Ann Arbor | 109,112 | 17,915 | 16.4% |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 76,247 | 12,751 | 16.7% |
| Washington University in St. Louis | 33,283 | 3,968 | 11.9% |
| Carnegie Mellon University | 34,867 | 3,859 | 11.1% |
| University of Florida | 90,523 | 18,403 | 20.3% |
| University of Southern California | 83,488 | 9,345 | 11.2% |
What Drives Admission Rates at Top Universities
An admission rate is simple math: the number of students admitted divided by the number who applied. At the most selective schools, the number of seats stays fairly steady while the number of applicants stays very high, so rates remain in the single digits.
Recent official figures show how this plays out:
- Harvard admitted 2,003 of 47,893 applicants to the Class of 2029, a rate of about 4.2%. [2]
- MIT admitted 1,334 of 29,281 first-year applicants to the Class of 2029, or 4.6%. [3]
- Notre Dame received 36,104 applications for the Class of 2030 and admitted 9%. [4]
- UCLA admitted 13,659 of 145,085 first-year applicants for fall 2025, or 9%. [5]
Several forces shape these numbers from one year to the next:
- Application volume. When more students apply for a similar number of seats, the admission rate drops even if the admitted class looks much the same.
- Early rounds. Many top universities fill a meaningful share of their class through Early Decision, Early Action, or Restrictive Early Action. At MIT, 12,052 students applied Early Action for the Class of 2029, and 721 were admitted in that round. [3]
- Yield. Yield is the share of admitted students who enroll. Notre Dame reports a 65% yield for the Class of 2030. [4] When yield rises, a school can admit fewer students and still fill its class.
- Policy changes. Shifts in testing requirements and in how schools review applications can change who applies and how many.
Testing Policies at Top Universities
Testing policy is one of the biggest changes since the Class of 2028 applied. Several highly selective schools that went test-optional have returned to requiring the SAT or ACT, while others remain test-optional for now. Because policies continue to evolve, confirm the rules on each school’s official admissions site before you finalize your testing plan.
- MIT requires the SAT or ACT for first-year and transfer applicants. [6]
- Harvard requires the SAT or ACT, and in exceptional cases it accepts alternatives such as AP or IB results when a student cannot access the SAT or ACT. [7]
- Notre Dame is test-optional through 2026-27 and will reinstate a testing requirement for students entering in fall 2028. [8]
If your target schools require testing, build time for preparation and at least one retake into your junior year calendar. If a school is test-optional, decide whether your scores add to the picture your transcript already shows. Look at the middle 50% score range in each school’s class profile: MIT, for instance, reports a middle 50% ACT composite of 34 to 36 for its Class of 2029. [3] Scores near or above that range usually support your application, while scores well below it may be better left out where the policy allows.
Testing is only one part of a holistic review, though. Admissions readers at top universities weigh your scores alongside your transcript, recommendations, activities, and essays, so a balanced plan gives each part of your application the time it deserves.
How to Use Admission Rates at Top Universities to Build Your College List
Admission rates are useful, but they describe an entire applicant pool rather than your individual chances. Keep these points in mind as you research:
- Look beyond the overall rate. Some universities report separate rates for different colleges or campuses. For the Class of 2030, Emory College admitted 9% of its applicants, while Oxford College admitted 10%. [9]
- Compare early and regular rounds carefully. Early applicant pools often include recruited athletes and other students with specific profiles, so read early admission numbers in context. Our overview of early admission policies at the top 50 schools explains your options.
- Treat single-digit rates as reaches for everyone. Even applicants with top grades and scores should balance these schools with targets and likely options. Our guide on how to make a college list walks you through each step, and our tips on choosing safety schools help you round it out.
- Use the latest data. Rates change every year, so check each school’s official class profile when you research. Class profiles also list middle 50% test scores, the share of students from each region, and intended fields of study, which tell you far more about fit than a single percentage. Save these details in a spreadsheet so you can compare schools side by side as your list takes shape.
Most importantly, focus on what you control. A rigorous course load, meaningful activities, and essays that show who you are will matter far more to your outcome than any single statistic.
Admission Rates at Public and Private Universities
Several of the schools in the Class of 2029 table are public universities, and their admission rates reflect a different kind of applicant pool. Large public universities often receive far more applications than private universities of similar selectivity. UCLA, for example, drew 145,085 first-year applicants for fall 2025. [5] Across town, USC, a private university, admitted 11.2% of its 83,488 first-year applicants for the same term. [10]
The application itself can differ, too. The University of California campuses use their own application rather than the Common App, and it asks you to answer 4 of 8 personal insight questions, each up to 350 words. [11] If your list mixes public and private universities, map out every application’s writing requirements early so that no single deadline catches you by surprise.
Finally, remember that a university’s overall admission rate blends many different programs. Admission to a specific college, school, or major within a university can be more or less competitive than the headline number, so read each school’s official materials for the program you plan to pursue.
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 fall below 5%, and with policies and application requirements changing over these past years, having a perfect college application is more vital than ever. [2]
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 top-choice 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 get noticed 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 top-choice school.
At InGenius Prep, every student works with a Former Admissions Officer and a Graduate Coach. Together, they help you build a balanced college list, plan your testing, shape your activities, and write essays that reflect who you are. Our team of 160+ Former Admissions Officers is the world’s largest, so you receive perspective from people who have read applications at the schools on your list.
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