According to the 2026 new list of the most difficult colleges to get into in the United States by the well-known American education evaluation institution Niche, a college in California once again topped the list with an extremely low acceptance rate, surpassing Ivy League schools.
It is widely believed in the industry that the acceptance rates of top universities are often very low, with the world’s most exceptional students competing for spots at elite institutions. Many of the most selective colleges are Ivy League schools or renowned technical institutes around the world.
Every year, Niche analyzes and ranks schools and districts throughout the United States based on data from the U.S. Department of Education and opinions from millions of students, alumni, and parents. Here are the latest rankings of the 10 most difficult colleges to get into in the U.S., three of which are located in California.
#1: California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
Located in Pasadena, California, the California Institute of Technology is a world-renowned research institution focusing on science and engineering. Despite its smaller size, the college has incredibly high admission standards. The institute is also responsible for managing NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
Caltech Acceptance Rate: 3%
SAT Median Scores: 1,530-1,580
Total Undergraduates: 982
Annual In-State Tuition: $65,898
Annual Net Cost: $23,397
#2: Harvard University
Acceptance Rate: 3%
SAT Median Scores: 1,500-1,580
Total Undergraduates: 9,095
Annual In-State Tuition: $59,076
Annual Net Cost: $17,900
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
#3: Minerva University
Located in San Francisco, California, Minerva University is renowned as the “world’s most innovative university.” While many may not have heard of this university, its extremely rigorous acceptance rate surpasses many Ivy League schools.
Minerva University also offers a unique global learning model where students live and study in different cities worldwide, with courses conducted through small online seminars. Furthermore, its student-to-faculty ratio is very low.
Minerva University Acceptance Rate: 4%
Total Undergraduates: 603
Annual In-State Tuition: $24,500
Annual Net Cost: $16,556
#4: Stanford University
Acceptance Rate: 4%
SAT Median Scores: 1,510-1,580
Total Undergraduates: 8,054
Annual In-State Tuition: $62,484
Annual Net Cost: $17,998
Location: San Francisco Bay Area, California
#5: Columbia University
Acceptance Rate: 4%
SAT Median Scores: 1,490-1,570
Total Undergraduates: 9,111
Annual In-State Tuition: $71,170
Annual Net Cost: $20,869
Location: New York City
#6: Princeton University
Acceptance Rate: 4%
SAT Median Scores: 1,500-1,580
Total Undergraduates: 5,671
Annual In-State Tuition: $59,710
Annual Net Cost: $19,811
Location: Princeton, New Jersey
#7: Yale University
Acceptance Rate: 5%
SAT Median Scores: 1,500-1,580
Total Undergraduates: 6,818
Annual In-State Tuition: $64,700
Annual Net Cost: $26,044
Location: New Haven, Connecticut
#8: University of Chicago
Acceptance Rate: 5%
SAT Median Scores: 1,510-1,570
Total Undergraduates: 7,643
Annual In-State Tuition: $66,939
Annual Net Cost: $27,979
Location: Chicago, Illinois
#9: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Acceptance Rate: 5%
SAT Median Scores: 1,510-1,580
Total Undergraduates: 4,576
Annual In-State Tuition: $60,156
Annual Net Cost: $21,519
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
#10: Brown University
Acceptance Rate: 5%
SAT Median Scores: 1,500-1,570
Total Undergraduates: 7,741
Annual In-State Tuition: $68,230
Annual Net Cost: $26,608
Location: Providence, Rhode Island