Top 30 Non-Ivy Colleges for Smart People

According to a 2021 report by The Guardian, only about 57% of all students admitted to Harvard University, which, as everyone knows, is an Ivy League school, were accepted based on merit.

The rest of the prestigious school’s white admits, meanwhile, are the faculty and staff kids, legacy students and recruited athletes.

Want to ensure you will get to a top college on account of nothing but your intelligence? Read on.

In this post, I will talk about 30 non-Ivy League institutions for smart college-bound teens like you. The vast majority of them are just as elite and competitive as Harvard, Columbia, Princeton, UPenn and the rest of the Ivies. So, in other words, you should be brighter than everyone else in your graduating class to get an acceptance letter.

Amherst College

• Location: Amherst, Massachusetts
• Tuition and fees: $64,100
• Acceptance rate: 9%
• Graduation rate: 87%
• Total enrollment: 1,971
• GPA of most freshmen admits: 4.0
• Middle 50% SAT scores: 1440 to 1540
• Middle 50% ACT scores: 32 to 35
• US News Ranking: #2 in National Liberal Arts Colleges

A private liberal arts college founded in 1821, Amherst College offers more than 40 majors in the arts, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences. It’s a member of the Five College Consortium, which consists of 4 liberal arts colleges and 1 major university. At Amherst College, up to 10% of the total population are international students.

Barnard College

• Location: Manhattan, New York
• Tuition and fees: $62,525
• Acceptance rate: 11%
• Graduation rate: 85%
• Total enrollment: 3,043
• GPA of most freshmen admits: 4.0
• Middle 50% SAT scores: 1370 to 1500
• Middle 50% ACT scores: 31 to 34
• US News Ranking: #18 in National Liberal Arts Colleges

Founded in 1889, Barnard College is a private women’s liberal arts college. It’s a member of the Seven Sisters, which is a consortium of highly selective liberal arts schools. Up to 90% of all freshmen students admitted to the Ivy League-like institution graduated in the top tenth of their high school class.

Bowdoin College

• Location: Brunswick, Maine
• Tuition and fees: $61,528
• Acceptance rate: 9%
• Graduation rate: 89%
• Total enrollment: 1,951
• GPA of most freshmen admits: 4.0
• Middle 50% SAT scores: 1340 to 1510
• Middle 50% ACT scores: 30 to 34
• US News Ranking: #6 in National Liberal Arts Colleges

A private liberal arts college founded in 1794, Bowdoin College has shared engineering programs with the California Institute of Technology, Columbia University, Dartmouth College and the University of Maine. Other popular majors the school offers include computer science, mathematics and political science and government.

California Institute of Technology (CalTech)

• Location: Pasadena, California
• Tuition and fees: $60,864
• Acceptance rate: 4%
• Graduation rate: 86%
• Total enrollment: 2,397
• GPA of most freshmen admits: 4.0
• Middle 50% SAT scores: N/A
• Middle 50% ACT scores: N/A
• US News Ranking: #9 in National Universities

Caltech is known for its science- and engineering-related programs. Students can choose from 28 majors spread across 6 academic divisions. Up to 91% of the private research university’s freshman admits graduated in the top tenth of their high school class. Caltech is #6 in QS World University Rankings 2023.

Carleton College

• Location: Northfield, Minnesota
• Tuition and fees: $62,634
• Acceptance rate: 18%
• Graduation rate: 87%
• Total enrollment: 2,044
• GPA of most freshmen admits: 4.0
• Middle 50% SAT scores: 1440 to 1530
• Middle 50% ACT scores: 31 to 35
• US News Ranking: #6 in National Liberal Arts Colleges

A small, private liberal arts college, Carleton College offers a total of 33 majors and 38 minors in the arts, humanities, natural sciences, social science and mathematics. Up to 69% of admitted freshmen students graduated in the top tenth of their high school. Of all its attendees, only around 4% live off-campus.

Carnegie Mellon University

• Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Tuition and fees: $61,344
• Acceptance rate: 14%
• Graduation rate: 79%
• Total enrollment: 15,818
• GPA of most freshmen admits: 4.0
• Middle 50% SAT scores: 1480 to 1560
• Middle 50% ACT scores: 33 to 35
• US News Ranking: #22 in National Universities

The private research university is a global institution, with a dozen degree-granting locations and over 20 research partnerships worldwide. There are 80 majors and more than 90 minors available across Carnegie Mellon University’s 6 undergraduate schools and colleges. It is #52 in QS World University Rankings 2023.

Claremont McKenna College

• Location: Claremont, California
• Tuition and fees: $60,715
• Acceptance rate: 11%
• Graduation rate: 80%
• Total enrollment: 1,422
• GPA of most freshmen admits: 4.0
• Middle 50% SAT scores: 1440 to 1500
• Middle 50% ACT scores: 32 to 35
• US News Ranking: #9 in National Liberal Arts Colleges

A member of the Claremont Colleges consortium, which consists of 5 undergraduate liberal arts colleges and 2 graduate institutions, Claremont McKenna College is popular for its business, economics and social science majors. Up to 96% of its admitted freshmen students graduated in the top quarter of their high school class.

Emory University

• Location: Atlanta, Georgia
• Tuition and fees: $57,948
• Acceptance rate: 13%
• Graduation rate: 83%
• Total enrollment: 14,781
• GPA of most freshmen admits: Between 3.75 and 3.99
• Middle 50% SAT scores: 1430 to 1530
• Middle 50% ACT scores: 32 to 34
• US News Ranking: #22 in National Universities

Considered the second-oldest private institution of higher education in Georgia and formerly called Emory College, the school is popular for having diverse academics, although it’s particularly known for its health sciences programs. Considered one of the greenest universities in the US, it has a city campus measuring 631 acres.

Georgetown University

• Location: Washington, DC
• Tuition and fees: $62,052
• Acceptance rate: 12%
• Graduation rate: 90%
• Total enrollment: 20,935
• GPA of most freshmen admits: 4.0
• Middle 50% SAT scores: 1380 to 1530
• Middle 50% ACT scores: 32 to 35
• US News Ranking: #22 in National Universities

Located in the epicenter of global politics, it isn’t surprising why arguably the most popular school at Georgetown University is the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, where students are prepared to become leaders in global affairs. Some of the most sought-after majors at the private research university include business and health-related ones.

Georgia Institute of Technology

• Location: Atlanta, Georgia
• Tuition and fees: $11,764 (in-state) and $32,876 (out-of-state)
• Acceptance rate: 18%
• Graduation rate: 51%
• Total enrollment: 43,844
• GPA of most freshmen admits: 4.0
• Middle 50% SAT scores: 1370 to 1520
• Middle 50% ACT scores: 31 to 35
• US News Ranking: #44 in National Universities

Commonly referred to as Georgia Tech (or Tech or the Institute among students and locals), the public research university and institute of technology offers an array of technologically focused degrees, with more than 130 majors and minors available for undergraduate students to choose from.

Harvey Mudd College

• Location: Claremont, California
• Tuition and fees: $62,817
• Acceptance rate: 10%
• Graduation rate: 88%
• Total enrollment: 905
• GPA of most freshmen admits: 4.0
• Middle 50% SAT scores: 1470 to 1540
• Middle 50% ACT scores: 34 to 36
• US News Ranking: #29 in National Liberal Arts Colleges

Many top-performing high school students who are interested in engineering, mathematics and science will find Harvey Mudd College, which is a private liberal arts college, a good fit. The school is popular for offering STEM-based majors grounded in a curriculum that includes humanities and social science courses.

John Hopkins University

• Location: Baltimore, Maryland
• Tuition and fees: $60,480
• Acceptance rate: 8%
• Graduation rate: 87%
• Total enrollment: 32,049
• GPA of most freshmen admits: 4.0
• Middle 50% SAT scores: 1510 to 1560
• Middle 50% ACT scores: 34 to 35
• US News Ranking: #7 in National Universities

Considered the oldest private research university in the US, Johns Hopkins University was founded in 1876. The school takes pride in the fact that it consists of 9 world-class academic divisions working together as a single learning institution. Public health, nursing and international affairs are some of its most popular undergraduate majors.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
• Tuition and fees: $57,986
• Acceptance rate: 4%
• Graduation rate: 88%
• Total enrollment: 11,934
• GPA of most freshmen admits: 4.0
• Middle 50% SAT scores: 1510 to 1570
• Middle 50% ACT scores: 34 to 36
• US News Ranking: #2 in National Universities

Just like what its name suggests, MIT is known to offer some of the best technology-related programs in the US. 100% of its admitted first-time, first-year students graduated in the top tenth of their high school class. The private research university is #1 in QS World University Rankings 2023.

New York University

• Location: New York City, New York
• Tuition and fees: $58,168
• Acceptance rate: 13%
• Graduation rate: 78%
• Total enrollment: 58,226
• GPA of most freshmen admits: Between 3.50 and 3.74
• Middle 50% SAT scores: 1390 to 1510
• Middle 50% ACT scores: 31 to 34
• US News Ranking: #25 in National Universities

Founded by a group of New Yorkers in 1831, New York University is considered the largest private university in the US. It has degree-granting campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai as well as global academic centers and research programs in over 25 countries. NYU is #39 in QS World University Rankings 2023.

Northwestern University

• Location: Evanston, Illinois
• Tuition and fees: $63,468
• Acceptance rate: 7%
• Graduation rate: 86%
• Total enrollment: 22,933
• GPA of most freshmen admits: 4.0
• Middle 50% SAT scores: 1460 to 1560
• Middle 50% ACT scores: 33 to 35
• US News Ranking: #10 in National Universities

Considered the oldest chartered university in Illinois, Northwestern University has a suburban 231-acre campus. Some of its most popular majors include communication, computer science and journalism — at least 40 Pulitzer Prize winners have completed their journalism program from the private research university.

Pomona College

• Location: Claremont, California
• Tuition and fees: $59,238
• Acceptance rate: 7%
• Graduation rate: 86%
• Total enrollment: 1,764
• GPA of most freshmen admits: 4.0
• Middle 50% SAT scores: 1480 to 1520
• Middle 50% ACT scores: 32 to 33
• US News Ranking: #3 in National Liberal Arts Colleges

There are 48 majors in the arts, humanities, natural sciences, social sciences and interdisciplinary fields available at Pomona College, which was founded in 1887 by a group of Congregationalists. Up to 91% of all admitted first-time, first-year students to the private liberal arts college graduated in the top tenth of their high school class.

Rice University

• Location: Houston, Texas
• Tuition and fees: $54,960
• Acceptance rate: 9%
• Graduation rate: 87%
• Total enrollment: 8,285
• GPA of most freshmen admits: 4.0
• Middle 50% SAT scores: 1490 to 1570
• Middle 50% ACT scores: 34 to 35
• US News Ranking: #15 in National Universities

Rice University, whose full name is William Marsh Rice University, takes pride in the fact that it produces Houston’s next generation of leaders. A private research university founded in 1912, the institution offers more than 50 majors spread across 7 divisions of study, from architecture, engineering to humanities.

Stanford University

• Location: Stanford, California
• Tuition and fees: $56,169
• Acceptance rate: 4%
• Graduation rate: 81%
• Total enrollment: 17,680
• GPA of most freshmen admits: 4.0
• Middle 50% SAT scores: 1470 to 1560
• Middle 50% ACT scores: 34 to 35
• US News Ranking: #3 in National Universities

Officially known as Leland Stanford Junior University, the private research university has a massive suburban campus measuring 8,180 acres. 100% of admitted freshmen students graduated in the top quarter of their high school class. Due to its very low acceptance rate, Stanford University is often mistaken for an Ivy League.

Swarthmore College

• Location: Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
• Tuition and fees: $59,328
• Acceptance rate: 8%
• Graduation rate: 87%
• Total enrollment: 1,651
• GPA of most freshmen admits: 4.0
• Middle 50% SAT scores: 1440 to 1540
• Middle 50% ACT scores: 33 to 35
• US News Ranking: #4 in National Liberal Arts Colleges

Most of the students who go to Swarthmore College dream of becoming future leaders. Founded in 1864 and one of the earliest co-educational institutions in the US, the school provides about 51% of its students with financial aid. And speaking of which, up to 90% of its freshman admits graduated in the top tenth of their high school class.

Tufts University

• Location: Medford, Massachusetts
• Tuition and fees: $65,222
• Acceptance rate: 11%
• Graduation rate: 89%
• Total enrollment: 13,293
• GPA of most freshmen admits: 4.0
• Middle 50% SAT scores: 1450 to 1530
• Middle 50% ACT scores: 33 to 35
• US News Ranking: #32 in National Universities

Founded in 1852 as Tufts College, Tufts University is a private research university with a Carnegie R1 designation for its high research activity. Undergraduate students, with around 35% of first-year ones receiving financial aid, can choose from more than 70 majors spread across its 10 schools and colleges.

Tulane University

• Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
• Tuition and fees: $62,844
• Acceptance rate: 10%
• Graduation rate: 77%
• Total enrollment: 13,127
• GPA of most freshmen admits: Between 3.50 and 3.74.
• Middle 50% SAT scores: 1380 to 1490
• Middle 50% ACT scores: 30 to 33
• US News Ranking: #44 in National Universities

Tulane University has a Carnegie R1 designation due to its very high research activity. As a matter of fact, it’s in the top 2% of universities in the US in terms of research. Up to 80% of all admitted freshmen students at the private research university graduated in the top quarter of their high school class.

University of California, Berkeley

• Location: Berkeley, California
• Tuition and fees: $14,226 (in-state) and $43,980 (out-of-state)
• Acceptance rate: 15%
• Graduation rate: 79%
• Total enrollment: 45,435
• GPA of most freshmen admits: Between 3.75 and 3.99
• Middle 50% SAT scores: N/A
• Middle 50% ACT scores: N/A
• US News Ranking: #20 in National Universities

UC Berkeley, which was established in 1868 as the University of California, was the state’s first land-grant university. Needless to say, it’s the founding campus of the UC system. Some of the most popular majors at UC Berkeley are business, computer science, engineering, journalism and mathematics.

University of California, Los Angeles

• Location: Los Angeles, California
• Tuition and fees: $13,804 (in-state) and $44,830 (out-of-state)
• Acceptance rate: 11%
• Graduation rate: 83%
• Total enrollment: 47,516
• GPA of most freshmen admits: 4.0
• Middle 50% SAT scores: N/A
• Middle 50% ACT scores: N/A
• US News Ranking: #20 in National Universities

Founded in 1881 as a teachers college, UCLA attracts a lot of bright students with its strong STEM-related majors, including in the engineering field. Here are the starting yearly salaries of some of UCLA’s engineering alumni: computer engineering ($87,600), electrical engineering ($74,700), mechanical engineering ($64,400) and civil engineering ($63,600).

University of Chicago

• Location: Chicago, Illinois
• Tuition and fees: $62,940
• Acceptance rate: 6%
• Graduation rate: 91%
• Total enrollment: 16,274
• GPA of most freshmen admits: 4.0
• Middle 50% SAT scores: 1510 to 1560
• Middle 50% ACT scores: 33 to 35
• US News Ranking: #6 in National Universities

There are 53 majors available at the University of Chicago, the most popular of which include computer science, foreign languages, mathematics, public service and statistics. Nearly 60% of its students receive financial support. Ranked #10 in QS World University Rankings 2023, the school has a Carnegie R1 designation.

University of Michigan – Ann Arbor

• Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
• Tuition and fees: $17,786 (in-state) and $57,273 (out-of-state)
• Acceptance rate: 20%
• Graduation rate: 81%
• Total enrollment: 50,278
• GPA of most freshmen admits: Between 3.75 and 3.99
• Middle 50% SAT scores: 1340 to 1520
• Middle 50% ACT scores: 31 to 34
• US News Ranking: #25 in National Universities

Founded 20 years before Michigan became a state, the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor is a public research university that offers more than 85 majors and sub-majors spanning more than 40 departments. At UMich, 2 out of every 3 first-time, first-year students receive financial support.

University of Notre Dame

• Location: Notre Dame, Indiana
• Tuition and fees: $60,301
• Acceptance rate: 15%
• Graduation rate: 90%
• Total enrollment: 13,139
• GPA of most freshmen admits: 4.0
• Middle 50% SAT scores: 1410 to 1550
• Middle 50% ACT scores: 32 to 35
• US News Ranking: #18 in National Universities

The University of Notre Dame, whose full name is the University of Notre Dame du Lac, is a private Catholic research university. As a matter of fact, 80% of its attendees identify as Catholic. Meanwhile, 42% of them graduated from Catholic high schools, almost all of whom were in the top quarter of their class.

University of Virginia

• Location: Charlottesville, Virginia
• Tuition and fees: $21,381 (in-state) and $56,837 (out-of-state)
• Acceptance rate: 21%
• Graduation rate: 89%
• Total enrollment: 26,026
• GPA of most freshmen admits: 4.0
• Middle 50% SAT scores: 1400 to 1510
• Middle 50% ACT scores: 32 to 35
• US News Ranking: #25 in National Universities

It was in 1819 when the University of Virginia was founded by none other than Thomas Jefferson. The public research university tends to attract undergraduate students who wish to major in biomedical sciences, business, computer and information sciences, engineering and general studies and humanities.

Washington University in St. Louis

• Location: Saint Louis, Missouri
• Tuition and fees: $60,590
• Acceptance rate: 13%
• Graduation rate: 87%
• Total enrollment: 16,973
• GPA of most freshmen admits: 4.0
• Middle 50% SAT scores: 1480 to 1560
• Middle 50% ACT scores: 33 to 35
• US News Ranking: #15 in National Universities

When applying to Washington University in St. Louis or WashU, students apply to the specific school of their preference. Founded in 1853 and named after George Washington, the institution offers more than 100 fields of study, with an assortment of special academic programs. Students may also pick classes across various disciplines.

Williams College

• Location: Williamstown, Massachusetts
• Tuition and fees: $61,770
• Acceptance rate: 9%
• Graduation rate: 85%
• Total enrollment: 2,216
• GPA of most freshmen admits: 4.0
• Middle 50% SAT scores: 1470 to 1550
• Middle 50% ACT scores: 33 to 35
• US News Ranking: #1 in National Liberal Arts Colleges

Established in 1793 as a men’s college, Williams College became co-educational in 1971. The private liberal arts institution, whose rural campus is 450 acres big, consists of 25 departments and offers 36 majors. 100% of first-time, first-year students admitted to the school graduated in the top quarter of their high school.

Vanderbilt University

• Location: Nashville, Tennessee
• Tuition and fees: $60,348
• Acceptance rate: 7%
• Graduation rate: 89%
• Total enrollment: 13,796
• GPA of most freshmen admits: Between 3.75 and 3.99
• Middle 50% SAT scores: 1480 to 1570
• Middle 50% ACT scores: 34 to 35
• US News Ranking: #13 in National Universities

Vanderbilt University is a private research university founded in 1873. It’s especially known for the Blair School of Music and the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Of the school’s 70 majors, some of the most popular include computer science, economics, mathematics and liberal arts and humanities.

Refrain from assuming that you should limit yourself to the Ivy Leagues because your high school GPA, AP exam grades and standardized test scores are incredibly high. There are many other schools out there that are just as prestigious and selective, thus ensuring you will get admitted based on your smartness.

Take your time when choosing from among the various non-Ivy schools mentioned above so that you can work on the best possible undergraduate degree program on the best possible campus for your intellectual caliber.