New York Private Colleges with the Lowest Acceptance Rate

The average acceptance rate of the 61 private New York colleges that have competitive admission is 65.45% for the academic year 2023-2024. Compared to last year, the acceptance rate is lower by 1.13%. The acceptance rate at 26 private New York colleges increased and the rate of 35 colleges decreased.

Columbia University in the City of New York has the lowest (i.e. hard to admit) acceptance rate of 4.00%. Barnard College (8.00%) and Cornell University (8.00%) are following it in the list of Tightest New York Private Colleges to get in.

This ranking is only based on acceptance rates and more admission stats such as SAT and ACT scores are helpful to measure the chances to get in more accurately.

Columbia University in the City of New York stays at first place of the lowest acceptance rate ranking since last year. Barnard College ranked 2nd, up 1 place from 3rd last year.

The average undergraduate tuition & fees of the schools is $65,230 and graduate tuition & fees is $49,643 for the academic year 2023-2024.

We note that the actual tightness of admission lies in considering other admission requirements such as SAT score.
Table. Tightest New York Private Colleges To Get In Comparison
School NameAcceptance RateYieldSAT ScoreUndergraduate Tuition & FeesTotal PopulationGraduation RateStudents to Faculty Ratio
1
-
Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NYPrivate, 4-year 4.00%
0.05%
62.99%1,540$68,17134,78295.00%6 to 1
2
1
Barnard College New York, NYPrivate, 4-year 8.00%
0.79%
75.95%1,510$66,2463,44291.00%10 to 1
2
-
Cornell University Ithaca, NYPrivate, 4-year 8.00%
0.53%
66.01%1,520$66,01425,89895.00%9 to 1
4
2
New York University New York, NYPrivate, 4-year 9.00%
3.46%
54.00%1,530$60,43859,14487.00%8 to 1
5
-
Colgate University Hamilton, NYPrivate, 4-year 12.00%
0.43%
32.02%1,480$67,0243,14191.00%9 to 1
5
1
Hamilton College Clinton, NYPrivate, 4-year 12.00%
0.22%
40.97%1,490$62,7402,07292.00%9 to 1
7
-
Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NYPrivate, 4-year 18.00%
0.66%
32.02%1,510$67,8052,45991.00%7 to 1
8
-
University of Rochester Rochester, NYPrivate, 4-year 36.00%
2.91%
20.00%1,480$64,34812,19789.00%9 to 1
9
4
Syracuse University Syracuse, NYPrivate, 4-year 42.00%
9.75%
21.00%1,340$63,06122,69883.00%15 to 1
10
-
Union College Schenectady, NYPrivate, 4-year 44.00%
2.51%
14.01%1,400$66,4562,10784.00%9 to 1
Average19.30%41.90%1,480$65,23016,79489.80%9 to 1