How to Understand College Acceptance Rates

When students and families begin the college admissions process, one of the first numbers they look for is a school’s acceptance rate. 

At first glance, this percentage can seem like a reflection of your chances of getting into a particular college. For example, if a college has a 10% acceptance rate, does that mean you have a 10% chance of being admitted? Not exactly. 

The acceptance rate is a piece of the puzzle, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. Different factors can influence acceptance rates, which can create a misleading impression of your chances of admission. That’s why we want to help you understand the factors that impact college acceptance rates.

This guide will break down what goes into a college’s acceptance rate and how to understand what that number really means.

Deadlines: Early Decision vs. Early Action vs. Regular Decision

One major factor that can influence a college's acceptance rate is the type of deadline a student chooses. Many colleges offer multiple options: Early Decision (ED), Early Action (EA), and/or Regular Decision (RD). Each of these pathways can have different acceptance rates, often dramatically so.

Early Decision (ED): This is a binding application deadline, meaning that if you’re admitted, you must attend the school. ED applicants often see higher acceptance rates than those who apply Regular Decision because colleges know these students are committed to enroll. As a reminder, not all colleges offer an Early Decision deadline.

Early Action (EA): Unlike ED, Early Action is not binding. Students apply early and receive their admissions decision sooner, but they are not required to attend if admitted. The acceptance rate for EA is often slightly higher than RD but lower than ED, depending on the school. As a reminder not all colleges offer an Early Action deadline.

Regular Decision (RD): This is the most common application cycle (though fall deadlines are becoming more and more popular each year). RD applicants can end up facing more competition since this is often—but not always—the largest pool of applicants for a college. 

Some colleges are very transparent and report the acceptance rate breakdown across deadline types, but many colleges do not make this information publicly available. This can make it difficult for families to see how individual deadlines impact an overall acceptance rate. 

One of our favorite resources to understand how deadlines and acceptance rates comes from Big J Educational Consulting. They provide charts for many colleges that report this data, and they update them each year! 

Deadlines Part 2: Percentage of Class Filled Through Early Deadlines

Another important element to consider is how much of a college’s incoming class is filled through fall deadlines like Early Decision or Early Action. Many schools, especially highly selective ones, fill a large portion of their freshman class during the early rounds. 

Some schools may admit as much as 50-60% of their incoming class through Early Decision, leaving fewer spots available for Regular Decision applicants.

This impacts the overall acceptance rate because the more seats that are filled early, the fewer seats are left for later deadlines. This can make other deadlines, like Regular Decison, all the more competitive. For example, if a college admits 50% of its class through ED, the acceptance rate for RD applicants will be much lower, as more students are competing for far fewer spots. 

Understanding how a school uses its early rounds can help you better interpret what the acceptance rate really means for your chances.

Residency: In-State vs. Out-of-State at Public Universities

For public universities, residency plays a significant role in acceptance rates. Public institutions typically prioritize in-state students, offering them lower tuition and higher acceptance rates. Out-of-state students, on the other hand, often face more competition for fewer available spots.

For example, a public university might have an overall acceptance rate of 30%, but when broken down by residency, in-state students might have a 40% acceptance rate while out-of-state applicants see rates closer to 15%. 

Some states also have a requirement that a certain percentage of their incoming class consist of in-state students. For example, for North Carolina public institutions, state law requires that at least 82% of each year's admitted class are residents of North Carolina.

If you’re applying to a public university as an out-of-state student, it’s important to recognize that your actual chances may be different than the overall acceptance rate suggests.

Impacted Majors: Acceptance Rates by Major

It’s also important to recognize that not all majors have the same acceptance rate in the admissions process if a college admits by major. When colleges consider a student’s intended major as part of the admissions process, some majors are “impacted,” meaning they have more applicants than available spots. Impacted majors often have significantly lower acceptance rates than less popular programs.

For example, engineering, computer science, business, and nursing are commonly impacted majors at many universities. If you’re applying to one of these fields, you may face steeper competition than students applying to other programs, even at the same college. The overall acceptance rate might be 50%, but if you’re applying to an impacted major, your chances could be closer to 30%.

Researching how competitive your intended major is at a specific school can give you a more accurate picture of your chances of admission. It’s also worth considering other potential majors if you’re open to multiple academic interests.

Institutional Priorities

Colleges often have specific institutional priorities (IP), or unique goals for admissions, that can influence their admissions decisions in ways that aren’t immediately obvious from the acceptance rate. Admissions offices may prioritize certain groups of students, such as:

• Legacy applicants

• Recruited athletes

• Underrepresented groups (such as first-generation college students or students from underrepresented regions)

• Students applying to particular majors or programs that have been named institutional priorities

These students may have higher acceptance rates, which can affect the overall rate for other applicants. 

Most colleges, unfortunately, do not make all of their institutional priorities public knowledge. It’s one of the factors of admission students cannot control. However, referencing a college’s Common Data Set (Google College Name + Common Data Set) and reviewing the chart found in section C7 can help you understand what factors are considered in a college’s admissions decision.

Below, you can see some of the institutional priorities considered by Georgia Tech. While this is not a complete representation of the college’s IPs, you can see that the college does consider talent/ability, first-generation status, and residency in the admissions process but does not consider legacy status.

Chart C7 from Georgia Tech’s Common Data Set 2023-2024

Action Steps

Now that you know the factors influencing acceptance rates, how can you use this information to improve your college admissions strategy? Here’s what you can do:

Research Your Schools: Look beyond the overall acceptance rate. Check for information on Early Decision vs. Regular Decision rates, residency breakdowns, and how your intended major is impacted at each college. Understanding these details can help you apply strategically and make sure you have a balanced college list.

Understand The Numbers: Pay attention to how much of the class is admitted through ED or EA. If a school fills half of its class early, consider whether you’re a good candidate for early deadlines, especially if that’s your top choice.

Learn What You Can About Institutional Priorities: Try to understand a college’s specific priorities. If you’re a legacy student or an athlete, your chances might be higher, but if you’re applying as an out-of-state applicant to a state school, know that your chances might be lower.

Ask Questions: If you’re unsure about how certain factors may influence your application, don’t hesitate to reach out to admissions offices for clarification. Many colleges are transparent about their admissions process and are happy to provide information on how different variables impact acceptance rates.

What You Can & Can’t Control in College Admissions

As discussed in our previous blog post on Holistic Admissions, there are many complex pieces to consider in the college application process. Each college has its own unique review factors and priorities, making it challenging for students and families to predict exactly what colleges are looking for. The desire to control every aspect of the process can feel overwhelming.

In truth, having that level of control in the admissions process is impossible. While there are certain aspects of the process that students can control, others lie entirely out of their reach. By recognizing and understanding what students can and can’t control, we can reduce some of the stress of application season.

In this blog post, we will dive into the elements of the college application that students have the power to control. Additionally, we will shed light on the factors beyond a student's control. Our aim is to help students focus their energy on the areas where they can truly make a difference and let go of factors beyond their influence.

Factors Students Can Control in the College Admissions Process

The College List

No one tells you where you must apply to college (though parents may have some “strong suggestions”). Students have control over their college list. They can apply to a list of ultra-selective colleges that admit less than 10% of their applicants (please do not do this!), or they can apply to a well-balanced list of schools where they have high, medium, and low chances of admission. Students cannot control their admission decision at each school, but they can apply to a strategic and balanced list of colleges.

Academic Performance

Academic performance during high school is one of the most critical factors in the application review process. Students should challenge themselves by taking rigorous courses, explore subjects that reflect their interests, and work to maintain strong grades.

Standardized Test Scores

While many colleges now have test-optional policies, students can impact their college applications by preparing for the SAT or ACT. Students can test more than once to take advantage of a superscore across test dates. There are also a number of test prep resources (including free resources!) to help students learn content and testing strategies to improve their test scores.

Extracurricular Involvement

The college application highlights four years of extracurricular activity, and this is one area where students have almost complete control. While many students have work or family responsibilities, there is still the opportunity for students to pursue their interests in their free time. Colleges are looking for students who are genuinely interested and committed, regardless of whether it's a sports team, a debate club, volunteering at a local shelter, or participating in a cultural organization. Use your extracurricular involvement to tell a story about who you are and what matters to you.

Essays

The personal statement and supplemental essays are entirely in the student’s power. Crafting compelling and authentic application essays allows students to showcase their unique experiences. Students should take their time when writing their college application essays. This is a great opportunity to reflect on your journey and tell your story the way you want it to be told.

Letters of Recommendation

Recommendations are partly within a student’s control. It’s true that someone else is writing these letters, and students waive their rights to view them as part of the application. But students have control over who they ask to represent them in the admissions process. Building strong relationships with teachers and mentors can lead to impactful letters of recommendation. Request recommendations from individuals who can highlight your skills, character, and potential to contribute positively to a college community.

Factors Students Have No Control Over in the College Admissions Process

Institutional Priorities

Colleges have specific institutional needs and priorities. We like this blog post from Georgia Tech that explains institutional priority, or IP (Georgia Tech calls them the two most important letters in college admissions). Factors such as demographics, geographical distribution, and family connections to a college (just to name a few!) play a role in their admissions decisions. Academic departments may also have specific requirements. Institutional needs are constantly changing and are rarely public knowledge. Don’t spend your time trying to predict what you think a college’s institutional priorities will be.

Competition & Numbers

College admission seems to get more competitive each year, especially at highly-selective colleges. One thing no one can control—not students and not the colleges themselves—is how many students apply each application cycle and who those students are. Application numbers swell due to large things (like a college joining The Common App or enacting a test-optional policy) and small things (like not having any additional essays or even winning an athletic championship… yes, really!). No matter how many students apply, each college only has limited spots. Many colleges could admit a qualified class of incoming students several times over from their applicant pool. With so many strong applicants, colleges often lean on things a student cannot control, like institutional priorities.

Admissions Decisions

Students can put their best foot forward, but at the end of the day, they cannot control the admissions decisions they receive from each school. Trust that you’ve done your best work throughout the application process, and trust that things will work out for you in the end.

FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL

Be Authentic

Rather than fixating on trying to predict each aspect of the college admissions process, focus on personal growth and authenticity. Pursue your passions and interests, develop intellectual curiosity, and cultivate qualities that will serve you beyond college.

Build A Balanced College List

Decide what criteria make up a strong college fit for you, and build your college list from there. Thoroughly research schools that are a strong academic, social, and financial fit for you. As you build your college list, ensure that you are applying to a balanced list of schools where you have a good chance of admission.

Seek Guidance & Support

Use your resources! Whether it’s your college consultant, your school counselor, your teachers, or other resources you have available, you don’t have to go through this process alone! Seek guidance from those who can give expert advice and support you throughout the admissions process.

As you go through the college planning and application process, it's important to focus on the factors within your control and understand those that are not. Embrace authenticity, emphasize balance, and seek out support to confidently navigate the college admissions process.

Remember, your worth extends far beyond any college admissions decision. This journey is about finding the right fit for your future aspirations and goals.

We support students through the entire process & help them present their best selves in the admission process.