From Caltech to Harvard: 10 toughest colleges to get into in the US
Gaining admission to top U.S. universities is incredibly tough, with Niche's 2026 list revealing the nation's most selective institutions. Caltech leads with a 3% acceptance rate, followed closely by Harvard, Minerva, Stanford, Columbia, Princeton, Yale, University of Chicago, MIT, and Brown. These elite schools demand exceptional academic prowess and extracurricular achievements from aspiring students.
Gaining admission to top U.S. universities is incredibly tough, with Niche's 2026 list revealing the nation's most selective institutions. Caltech leads with a 3% acceptance rate, followed closely by Harvard, Minerva, Stanford, Columbia, Princeton, Yale, University of Chicago, MIT, and Brown. These elite schools demand exceptional academic prowess and extracurricular achievements from aspiring students.
