How to Read US University Acceptance Rates and SAT/ACT Scores: Latest Admissions Data for 155 Universities, Covering Applicant Numbers, the Spread of Acceptance Rates, What the 25th–75th Percentile Means and Typical Score Ranges, and How Domestic and International Applicants (Including Students in China) Can Use Them
Using the latest admissions data each university reports to the US Department of Education's IPEDS or in its Common Data Set, we compared 155 US universities: the median acceptance rate is 24.2%, with the middle half between 11.5% and 52.4%; among the 138 with SAT data, the median 25th percentile is 1370 and the median 75th percentile is 1510. This guide explains how to read acceptance rates and "25th–75th percentile" scores, and where people often misread them.
When comparing US universities, the two numbers people use most are the acceptance rate and the SAT/ACT score range. Both are reported by the universities themselves: most come from IPEDS, the US Department of Education's data system, and some from the university's own Common Data Set (CDS). The "Undergraduate admissions data" section on each university page on this site already shows these numbers; here we put the latest year for 155 US universities side by side and explain how to read them and where people often misread them.
1. Where the data comes from and which universities are included
- Sources: 127 universities use IPEDS data for fall 2024 entry (IPEDS), and 28 use the university's own CDS data for fall 2025 entry (linked from each university page on this site). For each university we use the latest year available on this site.
- Scope: of the 164 US universities in this site's database with admissions data, we excluded 9 with fewer than 1,000 applicants (mainly very small music schools, seminaries and similar), leaving 155.
- Acceptance rate: admitted students divided by applicants, across all first-year applicants, without separating in-state, out-of-state and international applicants or early and regular rounds.
2. How acceptance rates are spread
| Acceptance rate | Universities |
|---|---|
| Under 10% | 32 |
| 10%–19.9% | 37 |
| 20%–29.9% | 19 |
| 30%–49.9% | 27 |
| 50%–69.9% | 24 |
| 70% and above | 16 |
- The median acceptance rate across the 155 is 24.2%, and the middle half fall between 11.5% and 52.4%; 32 universities admit under 10%, and 10 of them under 5%.
- Applicant numbers vary widely: the median is 27,911 applicants; 47 universities receive over 50,000 applications a year, 7 of them over 100,000, while 27 receive fewer than 10,000.
- A low acceptance rate does not mean the same thing everywhere: the rate is simply admits divided by applicants, so more applicants or a smaller class means a lower rate. To see what each university weighs, look at the C7 table it completes; see What do US colleges really look for in admissions?.
3. How to read the SAT/ACT 25th–75th percentile
- Who is counted: the IPEDS admissions survey asks universities to report scores for enrolled first-year students who submitted test scores, not all applicants or all admitted students, and percentiles are not reported when fewer than 5 students submitted scores (IPEDS 2025-26 admissions survey form). CDS item C9 likewise covers first-year students enrolled that fall who submitted SAT/ACT scores (example CDS 2025-26). Enrolled students who did not submit scores are not in the range.
- What the 25th and 75th percentiles mean: IPEDS defines the 25th percentile as the score at or below which 25 percent of students submitting test scores scored. So the 25th–75th range covers the middle half of enrolled students who submitted scores; a quarter scored below the 25th percentile and a quarter above the 75th.
- This site adds the two SAT sections: universities report percentiles for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and for Math separately; this site adds the two 25th percentiles together and the two 75th percentiles together to show a range such as "SAT 1420–1530". This is an approximation, not a true percentile of total scores. ACT percentiles are reported for the composite score.
4. Score ranges across the 155 universities
Of the 155, 138 have an SAT range and 137 an ACT range. The median SAT 25th percentile is 1370 and the median 75th percentile is 1510, with a median range width of 140 points; for the ACT the medians are 31 and 34.
| SAT score band | 75th percentile in band | 25th percentile in band |
|---|---|---|
| 1500 and above | 82 | 16 |
| 1400–1499 | 37 | 43 |
| 1300–1399 | 13 | 32 |
| Below 1300 | 6 | 47 |
- Acceptance rates and scores together: among universities admitting under 10%, the 29 with SAT data have a median 25th percentile of 1490; among the 35 admitting 50% or more, the median 25th percentile is 1240.
- 17 universities have no SAT range: 8 of them are University of California campuses, and UC states that it will not consider SAT or ACT scores when making admissions decisions (UC: filling out the application); for the others, reasons vary by university and we do not speculate.
5. How domestic and international applicants (including students in China) can use these numbers
- All applicants: place your own score within each target university's range. Above the 75th percentile means your score is in the top quarter of enrolled students who submitted scores; below the 25th percentile does not mean you have no chance, since scores are only one factor universities consider.
- Domestic applicants: public universities' acceptance rates combine in-state, out-of-state and international applicants, and the picture may differ for in-state and out-of-state applicants; check each university's published breakdowns.
- International applicants and students in China: acceptance rates are not broken out for international applicants; check each university's international pages for English and document requirements. Whether to take or submit the SAT/ACT depends on each target university's current testing policy. You can open each university page in our university database to see its admissions data and history.
Frequently asked questions
What is a typical acceptance rate at US universities?
Using the latest admissions data for the 155 US universities we counted (127 from IPEDS for fall 2024 and 28 from university CDS reports for fall 2025), the median acceptance rate is 24.2%, with the middle half between 11.5% and 52.4%; 32 admit under 10%, and 10 of them under 5%.
What does the SAT 25th–75th percentile published by US universities mean?
IPEDS counts enrolled first-year students who submitted test scores; the 25th percentile is the score at or below which 25 percent of them scored, so the 25th–75th range covers the middle half. This site's SAT range adds the Reading and Writing and Math section percentiles, which is an approximation rather than a true percentile of total scores.
What SAT scores do enrolled students at US universities typically have?
Of the 155 US universities, 138 have an SAT range; the median 25th percentile is 1370 and the median 75th percentile is 1510, and 82 have a 75th percentile of 1500 or above. Among universities admitting under 10%, the 29 with SAT data have a median 25th percentile of 1490.
Why do some US universities not publish an SAT range?
Of the 155, 17 have no SAT range; 8 of them are University of California campuses, and UC states that it will not consider SAT or ACT scores when making admissions decisions. IPEDS also says percentiles are not reported when fewer than 5 students submitted scores. For other universities, check their websites.
References
IPEDS (US Department of Education); IPEDS 2025-26 admissions survey form; example Common Data Set 2025-26 (item C9); UC: filling out the application; admissions data and source links for each university are on its page on this site under "Undergraduate admissions data". Figures compiled in November 2026; follow each university's latest published data.