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What is the easiest college to get into? Read this article to find out!
Author:
Dallas Hardwick
Mar 30, 2025
7 min
Table of contents
- Easy colleges to get into: Tips, hacks & college acceptance rates listed
- What exactly is an “easy college to get into?”
- What college has the highest acceptance rate?
- What university has the highest acceptance rate
- Why should you aim for the highest acceptance rate colleges?
- Reasons to choose community colleges
- Do standardized test scores still matter?
Easy colleges to get into: Tips, hacks & college acceptance rates listed
As the application season approaches, many high schoolers start thinking about choosing their future alma mater. You’ve been working hard to get your high school diploma, and now, it’s time to choose your path going forward.
Acceptance rates are a big factor for many students, and for good reason. Not everyone can afford to go to expensive selective colleges, and neither does everyone qualify for financial aid, so a list of the easiest colleges to get into is a good thing to have handy.
In this article, we’ve collected some of the easiest colleges to get into with minimum GPAs. Keep reading to learn more.
What exactly is an “easy college to get into?”
The easiest colleges to get into are the ones that accept students even if their standardized test scores are below average. In terms of specialization, it can be anything, from liberal arts to Central Christian College in Kansas.
In terms of average acceptance rate, your chances are not that bad even with standardized test scores that are below average. You just have to choose your battles right. According to data from 2022, the average acceptance rate in the US was 73%. Those who applied to community colleges had a 78% chance of getting in. At the same time, 70% of people who went for a private university were accepted. This statistic is not bad, but you have to remember that choosing the right college is crucial. You can’t expect to get accepted into Cornell with below-average standardized test scores. Unfortunately, that’s just not realistic.
On the other hand, schools like Kentucky State University or Haskell Indian Nations University both have pretty high acceptance rates of 93%. Arkansas Baptist College also has above-average acceptance rates of 76.6%. So, again, pick your battles depending on your GPA, and you’ll be all set. Moving on, let’s look at some of the easiest colleges to get into by acceptance rates.
What college has the highest acceptance rate?
There are lots of easy colleges to get into that you can add to your list of safety schools. If your GPA is above average, or if the school falls under the guaranteed admissions policies.
Guaranteed admissions policies vary depending on your location. For example, in Texas, some schools offer automatic admissions to high schoolers in the top 10% of their classes. You can also get accepted automatically if your GPA is high enough. The exact number depends on the school. Some colleges will accept you even with minimum standardized test scores. For example:
- Missouri State University – SAT 1030+ or ACT 20+ guarantees admission.
- University of Kansas – SAT 980+ or ACT 21+ with a 3.25 GPA.
- South Dakota State University – SAT 950+ or ACT 18+ with a 2.6 GPA.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), here’s the list of the easiest colleges to get into, i.e. colleges with the acceptance rates:
What university has the highest acceptance rate
According to data by NCES in the table above, the College of Staten Island CUNY has an acceptance rate of 100%.
Generally, when you’re choosing a college, we recommend assessing your strong suit and the college's minimum requirements. For example, Mississippi Valley State University has an acceptance rate of only 65%. However, it has a strong football team, and you might secure a place there by being a prominent athlete.
If you’re looking for an art university in the list of the easiest colleges, we would recommend the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Unfortunately, there’s no recent data on their acceptance rates, but two years ago, their acceptance rate was 100%.
Keep in mind, though, that when applying to an art university, or any other liberal arts school, you will be required to provide a portfolio and an admission college essay. If you have a solid portfolio but struggle with writing, WriterEssay can be your savior. Order an admission essay from them and forget the technicalities, while you focus on the art.
Why should you aim for the highest acceptance rate colleges?
On our list of colleges with 100 acceptance rate, there are schools with all sorts of programs. For us, easy college acceptance doesn’t necessarily mean settling for less. On the contrary, those easiest colleges to get into might be more enjoyable to study at.
But the first thing worth mentioning is, of course, tuition fees. The majority of applicants don’t qualify for financial aid, even if they apply to the easiest colleges to get into. In those schools with high college acceptance rates, tuition fees are often much lower than in selective colleges. The same argument applies in private university vs community colleges debate.
A lower-ranked college often means less stress, a more diverse student body and, hence, more opportunities for you to have a social life.
Starting with safety schools can also be a stepping stone for a transfer later. You can start by getting into a school with guaranteed admissions policies, improving your minimum GPA, and then later transferring to a private university of your choosing.
Reasons to choose community colleges
Community colleges are considered some of the easiest colleges to get accepted to. Whether you want to study liberal arts or engineering, there is definitely a community school with a high college admissions rate for you. But let’s talk about why you should choose a community college over a private university.
- Affordability
- Accessibility
- Flexibility
- Smaller class size
- Transfer opportunities
As we’ve already mentioned, a community college will be way less expensive to study at. Lots of community colleges also have strong financial aid programs, which makes education even more accessible.
Additionally, acceptance rates at community colleges are much higher than at private institutions. This means you can get in with only a high school diploma, without even taking the SATs.
Many community colleges offer flexible schedules, aiming to help people who have other commitments get an education. If you have to support your family and get a full-time job, you can still earn college acceptance at a community school.
Since community colleges have fewer resources, they cannot accept as many people as a private university would. For a student, that means smaller groups and more attention from the professor. Apart from the lack of funding for the school, it’s a win.
Do standardized test scores still matter?
The unanimous answer is yes, standardized test scores do matter. However, some community colleges may accept you even without you having to take the SATs. Additionally, you can get accepted even with a minimum GPA. The details depend on the school, of course, your performance, and the guaranteed admissions policies.
Final thoughts
Gaining a higher education doesn’t have to put you in a hundred thousand dollars worth of debt. Sure, that number is exaggerated, but it may seem that way to many recent graduates. Going to a public school is a great alternative for people who cannot afford the tuition at a private school. Making a list of safety schools that you’ll apply to in case the private unis fall through is also a great idea. This will help you feel more secure in your future and avoid unnecessary stress.
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