The numbers

Admissions is both an art and a science.

This is the kind of research that shapes every list I build.

Last updated June 2026I track admissions data each year and use it to build smarter lists. The tables below pull from the most recent Common Data Set cycles and institutional releases for the Class of 2030, the most recent completed admissions cycle. They are a starting point, not a verdict, and a conversation I am happy to have in detail.

Early Decision vs Regular Decision

Acceptance rates · Class of 2030

Applying Early Decision can dramatically improve your odds, but only if the school is the right fit and binding terms make sense for your family.

Institution

Ratio

Amherst College

31%

Ratio4.4×

Barnard College

27%

Ratio3.9×

Boston University

28%

11%

Ratio2.5×

Brown University

14%

Ratio3.5×

Columbia University

12%

Ratio4.0×

Cornell University

17%

Ratio2.8×

Dartmouth College

17%

Ratio3.4×

Duke University

13%

Ratio3.3×

Emory University

31%

11%

Ratio2.8×

Johns Hopkins University

21%

Ratio4.2×

Middlebury College

36%

10%

Ratio3.6×

Northwestern University

20%

Ratio2.9×

NYU

22%

Ratio3.1×

Penn

15%

Ratio3.8×

Pomona College

17%

Ratio2.8×

Tufts University

31%

Ratio3.4×

Vanderbilt University

18%

Ratio3.0×

Washington U. in St. Louis

25%

10%

Ratio2.5×

Wesleyan University

38%

14%

Ratio2.7×

Williams College

27%

Ratio3.4×

Most Selective Acceptance Rates

Overall acceptance · Class of 2030

The headlines focus on a handful of names. The reality is that hundreds of remarkable schools admit thoughtful, well-prepared students at much friendlier rates.

Harvard University3.6%

3.6%

Stanford University3.7%

3.7%

Columbia University3.9%

3.9%

MIT4.5%

4.5%

Princeton University4.5%

4.5%

Yale University4.6%

4.6%

Duke University5.1%

5.1%

Brown University5.2%

5.2%

Penn5.4%

5.4%

UChicago5.4%

5.4%

Dartmouth College6%

Johns Hopkins University6.2%

6.2%

Vanderbilt University6.7%

6.7%

Cornell University7.5%

7.5%

Northwestern University7.5%

7.5%

Rice University7.7%

7.7%

Merit Aid Snapshot

Non-need-based awards at private universities

Affordability is one of the biggest decisions a family makes. These schools award meaningful merit money, and they belong on many smart lists for that reason.

Tulane University$32,500

Merit %

38%

University of Miami$28,000

Merit %

23%

Southern Methodist$30,100

Merit %

31%

Boston University$24,800

Merit %

Fordham University$22,000

Merit %

42%

Lehigh University$19,500

Merit %

12%

Case Western Reserve$27,600

Merit %

48%

University of Rochester$22,400

Merit %

51%

Wake Forest University$28,900

Merit %

Denison University$30,200

Merit %

56%

Bucknell University$21,800

Merit %

14%

Trinity College (CT)$25,400

Merit %

37%

Institution	% of non-need freshmen	USD
Tulane University	38%	$32,500
University of Miami	23%	$28,000
Southern Methodist	31%	$30,100
Boston University	8%	$24,800
Fordham University	42%	$22,000
Lehigh University	12%	$19,500
Case Western Reserve	48%	$27,600
University of Rochester	51%	$22,400
Wake Forest University	9%	$28,900
Denison University	56%	$30,200
Bucknell University	14%	$21,800
Trinity College (CT)	37%	$25,400

Cost of Attendance

In-state vs out-of-state · Public flagships

The gap between in-state and out-of-state tuition is large enough to reshape a list. Knowing the numbers up front prevents painful surprises in April.

In-state Out-of-state

University of Michigan

$35,200

$79,400

UNC Chapel Hill

$28,100

$60,200

UVA

$39,800

$76,200

UC Berkeley

$45,500

$78,100

UCLA

$41,200

$73,900

Georgia Tech

$32,600

$56,900

University of Florida

$22,800

$47,100

Indiana University

$30,900

$60,700

University of Wisconsin

$30,100

$60,800

Penn State

$36,400

$56,000

English-Taught Programs in Europe

Undergraduate degrees · Selected universities

A growing number of strong European universities offer full undergraduate degrees taught in English. Tuition is often a fraction of US private-college cost, with three- or four-year programs and global student communities.

University of Oxford17%

United Kingdom

Tuition$42,000–$62,000

Subject-specific admissions; admissions tests and interviews required.

University of Cambridge21%

United Kingdom

Tuition$38,000–$70,000

College system; written work and subject assessments common.

University of St Andrews8%

United Kingdom

Tuition$38,000

Strong fit for US applicants; flexible four-year degree.

Imperial College London14%

United Kingdom

Tuition$45,000–$60,000

STEM-focused; rigorous math and science requirements.

University College London (UCL)32%

United Kingdom

Tuition$36,000–$50,000

Broad subject range in central London.

King's College London13%

United Kingdom

Tuition$32,000–$45,000

Strong humanities, law, and health sciences.

University of Edinburgh40%

United Kingdom

Tuition$30,000–$42,000

Flexible Scottish four-year degree, popular with US students.

Trinity College Dublin33%

Ireland

Tuition$28,000–$40,000

Oldest university in Ireland; English-taught across most programs.

Bocconi University50%

Italy

Tuition$18,500

Business, economics, finance; English-taught BSc programs.

John Cabot University75%

Italy

Tuition$28,500

American liberal-arts university in Rome, fully English-taught.

IE University45%

Spain

Tuition$24,000–$29,000

Madrid and Segovia; English-taught business and design.

Universidad Carlos III de Madrid55%

Spain

Tuition$6,000–$15,000

Public university with English-taught BAs in social sciences.

Sciences Po20%

France

Tuition$15,000–$17,000

English-taught BA in social sciences across multiple campuses.

American University of Paris70%

France

Tuition$32,000

Fully English-taught liberal arts in central Paris.

University of Amsterdam60%

Netherlands

Tuition$13,000–$18,000

Wide range of English-taught BA and BSc programs.

Leiden University65%

Netherlands

Tuition$13,500

Oldest Dutch university; strong English-taught humanities and law.

Erasmus University Rotterdam55%

Netherlands

Tuition$11,500–$13,500

Business, economics, and international studies in English.

Maastricht University65%

Netherlands

Tuition$12,000–$17,000

Problem-based learning; most BAs taught in English.

Institution	Country	Acceptance	Annual Tuition	Notes
University of Oxford	United Kingdom	17%	$42,000–$62,000	Subject-specific admissions; admissions tests and interviews required.
University of Cambridge	United Kingdom	21%	$38,000–$70,000	College system; written work and subject assessments common.
University of St Andrews	United Kingdom	8%	$38,000	Strong fit for US applicants; flexible four-year degree.
Imperial College London	United Kingdom	14%	$45,000–$60,000	STEM-focused; rigorous math and science requirements.
University College London (UCL)	United Kingdom	32%	$36,000–$50,000	Broad subject range in central London.
King's College London	United Kingdom	13%	$32,000–$45,000	Strong humanities, law, and health sciences.
University of Edinburgh	United Kingdom	40%	$30,000–$42,000	Flexible Scottish four-year degree, popular with US students.
Trinity College Dublin	Ireland	33%	$28,000–$40,000	Oldest university in Ireland; English-taught across most programs.
Bocconi University	Italy	50%	$18,500	Business, economics, finance; English-taught BSc programs.
John Cabot University	Italy	75%	$28,500	American liberal-arts university in Rome, fully English-taught.
IE University	Spain	45%	$24,000–$29,000	Madrid and Segovia; English-taught business and design.
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid	Spain	55%	$6,000–$15,000	Public university with English-taught BAs in social sciences.
Sciences Po	France	20%	$15,000–$17,000	English-taught BA in social sciences across multiple campuses.
American University of Paris	France	70%	$32,000	Fully English-taught liberal arts in central Paris.
University of Amsterdam	Netherlands	60%	$13,000–$18,000	Wide range of English-taught BA and BSc programs.
Leiden University	Netherlands	65%	$13,500	Oldest Dutch university; strong English-taught humanities and law.
Erasmus University Rotterdam	Netherlands	55%	$11,500–$13,500	Business, economics, and international studies in English.
Maastricht University	Netherlands	65%	$12,000–$17,000	Problem-based learning; most BAs taught in English.

Tuition figures are for international (non-EU) students and converted to USD for readability. Acceptance rates vary by program and are most meaningful when read alongside subject-specific requirements.

Sources: institutional Common Data Set filings, university press releases, and U.S. Department of Education IPEDS data for the most recent admissions cycle. Figures are rounded for readability and intended as a planning reference. For the most current numbers on any specific school, please reach out.

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