Is There a College for Everyone?

Let's check the numbers

Author

Mike Bergin
April 16, 2025

Have you ever heard the claim that more than 75% of colleges accept over 75% of their applicants? We’ll see if those numbers check out. But first the news…

NEWS

Not just about in-state tuition: Public universities, especially in the South and Southwest, are seeing significant growth. For example, the University of Texas at Austin experienced a 24% increase in applications for Fall 2025, with out-of-state applications surging by 48%.

Looking for New Ivies: Ivy League schools continue to withhold detailed admissions statistics to avoid criticism over extreme selectivity. Meanwhile, schools once considered "safety" or "match" options, such as Rice University and Notre Dame, are now highly competitive.

About that future doctorate: Universities are cutting PhD admissions due to funding uncertainties, raising concerns about the future of academic research and faculty pipelines.

Affirmative inaction: The U.S. Air Force Academy has ceased considering race in admissions, aligning with broader shifts following the Supreme Court's 2023 decision to end race-conscious admissions policies. ​

BIG IDEA
College for Everyone

The common assertion that more than 75% of U.S. colleges accept over 75% of their applicants certainly has a catchy ring to it. Is it true, though? Definitely maybe.

The Pew Research Center analyzed U.S. Department of Education data in 2019 and found that most U.S. colleges admitted two-thirds or more of their applicants, and nearly half admitted at least 75%. 

The most recent data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) for the 2022–23 academic year adds greater clarity, showing that only 35.7% of institutions accept less than 50% of undergraduate applicants. That means the majority of the 4,000+ colleges in the U.S., including public and private two- and four-year schools, are not highly selective — far from it. In fact, most colleges are looking to fill seats, not turn students away.

So don’t let the hype around ultra selective college admissions get you down: a majority of schools accept a majority of applicants. Anyone that wants to get into college can get into college. Paying for college, on the other hand, is a whole other story…

PRESENTED BY TESTS AND THE REST

If admissions, testing, learning, and education are either your current obsessions or professional calling, the Top 10 College Admissions Podcast Tests and the Rest is a mandatory listen. Learn the latest information and insights from experts in a fast and engaging interview format.

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NAME THAT SCHOOL

This week’s mystery institution of higher education has been in the news recently. Can you name it? (Find the answer at the very end.)

  1. Founded in 1881 as the Storrs Agricultural School, thanks to a land donation by brothers Charles and Augustus Storrs.

  2. Its iconic mascot is named after Jonathan Trumbull, a Revolutionary War-era governor.

  3. Boasts a popular Dairy Bar featuring house-made ice cream using milk from the school's very own cows.

  4. Ranked as an R1 research institution (the top tier) and considered especially strong in biomedical, materials, and environmental engineering.

  5. Researchers at this school were instrumental in the development of CAR-T cell therapy, a groundbreaking cancer treatment that helps the immune system attack cancer cells.

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ANSWER

If we told you our mystery school holds the record for the most NCAA women’s basketball championships with 12 titles, you’d surely have recognized UConn. Go Huskies!