In fall 2022, four-year, not-for-profit colleges accepted 73 percent of applications from first-year students, on average. The average acceptance rate was higher for public colleges (78 percent) compared to private colleges (70 percent).

What is selectivity?

The term “selectivity” is another way to refer to a college or university’s acceptance rate—the percentage of applicants that are offered admission to the institution. A more selective institution is one with a lower acceptance rate. Acceptance rates vary from the single digits to near 100 percent, and institutions with very low acceptance rates represent only a small fraction of higher education institutions.

How does fall 2022 compare to recent years?

The fall 2022 average acceptance rate is only slightly lower than fall 2021 (72.6 percent compared to 73.1 percent). In fall 2020, the average acceptance rate was 70 percent, and in fall 2019, it was 68 percent.

NACAC members can view the selectivity data resources, which include a downloadable fact sheet and PowerPoint slides, as well as interactive dashboards. These tools are provided to allow for additional insight into the data and to support your work with students, parents, and institutional leaders.

The fall 2022 average acceptance rate is only slightly lower than fall 2021 (72.6 percent compared to 73.1 percent). In fall 2020, the average acceptance rate was 70 percent, and in fall 2019, it was 68 percent.

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SOURCE: US Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2019 – 2022) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Data Center. Washington, DC: NCES.

Note: The group of colleges used for this analysis includes those that met the following criteria for the IPEDS data collection year—four-year public or four-year private not-for-profit; degree-granting; Title-IV participating and military academies; enrolled first-time freshman; not open admission.

If you could tell students one thing about selectivity, what would it be?

Who you are is much more important than where you go.  A hardworking person who strives for success will achieve that success at whichever college and university that they attend and will continue to attain success throughout the course of their lifetime.

Stephanie Brazinsky, NACAC Member and School Counselor, South High School, Denver, Colorado

Selectivity works both ways; while colleges select who they want to admit, you should also be selective about where you want to spend the next four years of your life. Colleges need you to curate a diverse student body and need your perspective to enhance the learning experience. Remember that you are also the prize!

Leticia Vasquez, NACAC Member and Director, College Access Programs, Double Discover Center at Columbia University, New York, New York

Selectivity is only one data point that should inform your goal setting for college — plan backwards from your college goal and find joy in the work of building towards your goal.

Barbara Gao Shapiro, NACAC Member and Director, High School and College Access and Preparedness, Success Academy Charter Schools, New York, New York

I would tell students something that most people don’t know—almost all colleges and universities in the United States admit a majority of their applicants. If you think you aren’t college material, you’re wrong. What’s important isn’t the college selecting you: it’s that you select a college where you belong. Go where you will grow.

Robert Gould, NACAC Member and Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management, Augsburg University, Minneapolis, Minnesota