National Universities Where the Most Accepted Students Enroll

For students with an acceptance letter from Harvard University, the opportunity to attend the Ivy League school is often too tempting to pass up.

Of the 2,047 students admitted to Harvard, 81 percent chose to enroll in fall 2013, according to data submitted in an annual U.S. News survey.

Colleges typically aim high for their yield, the percentage of accepted students who elect to attend. Students may choose to enroll based on prestige, affordability or academic and social fit.

The average yield among the 261 ranked National Universities reporting data to U.S. News was 34.1 percent in fall 2013. National Universities are schools that offer a full range of programs for undergraduates, as well as master’s and doctoral students, and are committed to research.

Find out which [National Liberal Arts Colleges enroll the most accepted students.]

While prestigious, highly ranked private universities certainly dominate the top of the list, state universities and religious schools reported high yields as well.

The University of Alaska–Fairbanks, whose rank is not published, yielded the highest percentage of admitted students among the public universities on the list, with a 73.1 percent yield rate.

Find the [highest and lowest in-state tuition in each state.]

Brigham Young University–Provo and Yeshiva University, with missions based in Mormonism and Judaism, respectively, had some of the greatest success attracting admitted students. BYU is tied at No. 62 in the rankings but came in second on the yield rate list, and Yeshiva is tied at No. 48 but came in at No. 7 in terms of yield.

Below are the fall 2013 yield rates for every National University that reported the statistic to U.S. News. The rate can be affected by a school’s early decision or early action options, as some of those programs bind students to attend if accepted. The data reflect first-time, first-year, degree-seeking students only.

School (state)	Students accepted	Students who enrolled in fall 2013	Yield
Harvard University (MA)	2,047	1,659	81%
Brigham Young University–Provo (UT)	5,645	4,427	78.4%
Stanford University (CA)	2,208	1,677	76%
University of Alaska–Fairbanks	1,221	892	73.1%
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	1,548	1,115	72%
Yale University (CT)	2,031	1,359	66.9%
Yeshiva University (NY)	1,299	855	65.8%
Princeton University (NJ)	1,963	1,285	65.5%
University of Nebraska–Lincoln	6,999	4,420	63.2%
University of Pennsylvania	3,830	2,421	63.2%
Georgia Southern University	5,759	3,583	62.2%
Columbia University (NY)	2,311	1,416	61.3%
University of Nevada–Las Vegas	6,250	3,773	60.4%
Brown University (RI)	2,654	1,543	58.1%
University of North Dakota	3,362	1,908	56.8%
University of Nebraska–Omaha	3,507	1,889	53.9%
University of Chicago	2,670	1,426	53.4%
University of Louisiana–Lafayette	5,044	2,693	53.4%
University of New Orleans	1,610	860	53.4%
University of Notre Dame (IN)	3,936	2,070	52.6%
North Dakota State University	4,888	2,553	52.2%
Cornell University (NY)	6,222	3,223	51.8%
South Dakota State University	4,458	2,306	51.7%
University of New Mexico	6,799	3,518	51.7%
Florida A&M University	2,263	1,145	50.6%
University of Florida	12,618	6,373	50.5%
North Carolina A&T State University	3,651	1,777	48.7%
University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill	8,243	3,946	47.9%
Dartmouth College (NH)	2,337	1,117	47.8%
University of Georgia	10,962	5,237	47.8%
University of Memphis	4,470	2,134	47.7%
Middle Tennessee State University	6,888	3,276	47.6%
Georgia State University	7,269	3,455	47.5%
University of Texas–Austin	15,335	7,249	47.3%
Texas A&M University–College Station	21,725	10,241	47.1%
Georgetown University (DC)	3,397	1,594	46.9%
Missouri University of Science & Technology	2,709	1,262	46.6%
Oklahoma State University	8,411	3,872	46%
University of Nevada–Reno	6,720	3,086	45.9%
Louisiana State University–Baton Rouge	12,002	5,501	45.8%
University of Oklahoma	8,841	4,052	45.8%
Duke University (NC)	3,801	1,729	45.5%
Louisiana Tech University	3,424	1,553	45.4%
University of South Alabama	4,142	1,878	45.3%
Indiana University-Purdue University–Indianapolis	8,510	3,796	44.6%
Northwestern University (IL)	4,598	2,041	44.4%
University of North Texas	10,037	4,444	44.3%
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee	7,347	3,256	44.3%
University of Louisville (KY)	6,496	2,855	44%
Trinity International University (IL)	412	180	43.7%
University of Texas–Dallas	5,125	2,233	43.6%
Wright State University (OH)	4,863	2,117	43.5%
University of Southern Mississippi	4,058	1,746	43%
California Institute of Technology	584	249	42.6%
New Mexico State University	4,505	1,918	42.6%
University of Texas–San Antonio	8,671	3,689	42.5%
University of Texas–Arlington	6,405	2,713	42.4%
University of Mississippi	8,464	3,582	42.3%
University of South Dakota	3,169	1,342	42.3%
Wichita State University (KS)	3,344	1,410	42.2%
Florida International University	7,122	2,990	42%
University of North Carolina–Greensboro	5,909	2,482	42%
University of Wisconsin–Madison	15,161	6,339	41.8%
Arizona State University–Tempe	17,465	7,171	41.1%
North Carolina State University–Raleigh	10,128	4,165	41.1%
University of Tennessee	10,435	4,276	41%
Ohio State University–Columbus	17,413	7,130	40.9%
Iowa State University	14,975	6,089	40.7%
Vanderbilt University (TN)	3,963	1,613	40.7%
Cleveland State University	4,255	1,727	40.6%
Kansas State University	9,437	3,821	40.5%
University of Virginia	8,728	3,517	40.3%
Lamar University (TX)	3,616	1,451	40.1%
Trevecca Nazarene University (TN)	618	248	40.1%
East Carolina University (NC)	11,238	4,495	40%
Sam Houston State University (TX)	6,126	2,452	40%
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor	15,570	6,225	40%
Tennessee State University	3,328	1,327	39.9%
Virginia Tech	13,432	5,364	39.9%
Mississippi State University	7,938	3,156	39.8%
University of California–Berkeley	11,828	4,706	39.8%
University of Alabama–Huntsville	1,656	651	39.3%
University of Arkansas	11,076	4,339	39.2%
University of Central Florida	15,572	6,068	39%
University of Montana	3,889	1,518	39%
University of Cincinnati	11,680	4,449	38.1%
University of Wyoming	4,154	1,582	38.1%
Rice University (TX)	2,581	978	37.9%
University of Colorado–Denver	3,029	1,149	37.9%
Tufts University (MA)	3,469	1,312	37.8%
Texas Tech University	12,709	4,785	37.7%
Old Dominion University (VA)	7,834	2,942	37.6%
University of Missouri	16,473	6,194	37.6%
University of Washington	16,679	6,253	37.5%
Johns Hopkins University (MD)	3,519	1,317	37.4%
University of Akron (OH)	10,204	3,812	37.4%
Michigan State University	21,610	8,061	37.3%
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry	777	288	37.1%
University of Missouri–St. Louis	1,300	482	37.1%
University of Missouri–Kansas City	2,919	1,078	36.9%
Utah State University	10,768	3,970	36.9%
Georgia Institute of Technology	7,265	2,673	36.8%
University of Alabama	17,515	6,454	36.8%
University of Northern Colorado	5,289	1,939	36.7%
Temple University (PA)	12,016	4,390	36.5%
Virginia Commonwealth University	9,860	3,588	36.4%
New Jersey Institute of Technology	2,844	1,029	36.2%
Florida State University	16,803	6,048	36%
University of Alabama–Birmingham	4,934	1,773	35.9%
West Virginia University	13,713	4,913	35.8%
University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign	20,716	7,321	35.3%
New York University	14,829	5,207	35.1%
Oregon State University	11,303	3,970	35.1%
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey–New Brunswick	18,230	6,402	35.1%
Ball State University (IN)	10,367	3,616	34.9%
University of California–Los Angeles	16,448	5,697	34.6%
University of Kentucky	13,592	4,702	34.6%
University of North Carolina–Charlotte	8,967	3,087	34.4%
Washington University in St. Louis	4,684	1,608	34.3%
University of Hawaii–Manoa	5,869	2,005	34.2%
Pennsylvania State University–University Park	23,603	8,043	34.1%
University of Kansas	11,715	4,000	34.1%
University of Toledo (OH)	10,040	3,428	34.1%
Washington State University	12,219	4,163	34.1%
University of South Carolina	14,844	5,046	34%
Andrews University (MI)	957	323	33.8%
University of Houston	10,167	3,434	33.8%
Maryville University of St. Louis	1,214	409	33.7%
University of Utah	9,281	3,124	33.7%
Purdue University–West Lafayette (IN)	18,684	6,272	33.6%
Biola University (CA)	2,699	903	33.5%
University of Arizona	20,546	6,881	33.5%
Michigan Technological University	3,815	1,253	32.8%
Stevens Institute of Technology (NJ)	1,899	622	32.8%
Texas A&M University–Commerce	2,888	943	32.7%
University of Maryland–College Park	12,293	4,020	32.7%
Kent State University (OH)	13,368	4,355	32.6%
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi	6,281	2,050	32.6%
Morgan State University (MD)	2,764	899	32.5%
Oakland University (MI)	7,933	2,569	32.4%
Indiana University of Pennsylvania	8,476	2,741	32.3%
Benedictine University (IL)	1,465	470	32.1%
Jackson State University (MS)	3,442	1,103	32%
Colorado State University	13,914	4,443	31.9%
College of William and Mary (VA)	4,665	1,479	31.7%
University of Idaho	5,173	1,630	31.5%
George Washington University (DC)	7,493	2,356	31.4%
Texas Woman’s University	3,812	1,198	31.4%
Wake Forest University (NC)	3,915	1,230	31.4%
New School (NY)	3,314	1,038	31.3%
University of Southern California	9,395	2,922	31.1%
Clemson University (SC)	10,645	3,289	30.9%
Lehigh University (PA)	3,882	1,198	30.9%
South Carolina State University	1,838	566	30.8%
Duquesne University (PA)	5,033	1,547	30.7%
Bowie State University (MD)	2,063	627	30.4%
Carnegie Mellon University (PA)	4,813	1,442	30%
Edgewood College (WI)	993	298	30%
University of Illinois–Chicago	10,427	3,104	29.8%
University of Colorado–Boulder	19,710	5,846	29.7%
Bowling Green State University (OH)	11,370	3,348	29.4%
Florida Atlantic University	11,880	3,479	29.3%
Ashland University (OH)	2,130	623	29.2%
Azusa Pacific University (CA)	4,201	1,225	29.2%
Indiana State University	9,150	2,661	29.1%
University of Minnesota–Twin Cities	19,121	5,544	29%
University of South Florida	12,900	3,736	29%
Emory University (GA)	4,685	1,354	28.9%
University of Tulsa (OK)	2,965	856	28.9%
Illinois Institute of Technology	1,618	464	28.7%
University of St. Thomas (MN)	4,774	1,368	28.7%
Auburn University (AL)	13,027	3,726	28.6%
Southern Illinois University–Carbondale	9,176	2,612	28.5%
University of Massachusetts–Lowell	5,824	1,650	28.3%
Illinois State University	10,582	2,981	28.2%
Boston College	7,905	2,215	28%
Ohio University	15,149	4,244	28%
Indiana University–Bloomington	27,300	7,604	27.9%
University at Buffalo–SUNY	13,134	3,653	27.8%
University of Maine	7,789	2,166	27.8%
Montana State University	10,630	2,921	27.5%
Nova Southeastern University (FL)	2,487	673	27.1%
University of Maryland–Baltimore County	6,160	1,657	26.9%
St. Mary’s University of Minnesota	1,161	307	26.4%
Western Michigan University	12,113	3,190	26.3%
Northern Illinois University	10,278	2,679	26.1%
University of Iowa	17,363	4,460	25.7%
University of Pittsburgh	15,047	3,854	25.6%
University of Connecticut	14,745	3,755	25.5%
Texas Southern University	4,389	1,109	25.3%
Syracuse University (NY)	13,990	3,487	24.9%
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (MA)	4,425	1,103	24.9%
University of Massachusetts–Boston	5,709	1,413	24.8%
Wayne State University (MI)	8,786	2,167	24.7%
University of Oregon	16,206	3,966	24.5%
Central Michigan University	12,142	2,963	24.4%
University of Delaware	15,621	3,806	24.4%
Miami University–Oxford (OH)	15,034	3,644	24.2%
Howard University (DC)	6,612	1,594	24.1%
University of Rochester (NY)	6,153	1,472	23.9%
Brandeis University (MA)	3,517	833	23.7%
San Diego State University	20,292	4,760	23.5%
Clark Atlanta University	3,336	781	23.4%
Southern Methodist University (TX)	6,125	1,431	23.4%
George Mason University (VA)	12,905	3,011	23.3%
Widener University (PA)	3,673	850	23.1%
Stony Brook University–SUNY	11,963	2,709	22.6%
University of West Florida	5,937	1,333	22.5%
University of California–Davis	23,049	5,113	22.2%
The Catholic University of America (DC)	3,783	837	22.1%
Texas Christian University	8,791	1,936	22%
Texas A&M University–Kingsville	5,720	1,251	21.9%
University of California–Irvine	24,931	5,460	21.9%
Lynn University (FL)	2,094	456	21.8%
Binghamton University–SUNY	12,134	2,633	21.7%
Pepperdine University (CA)	3,630	784	21.6%
American University (DC)	7,565	1,627	21.5%
Colorado School of Mines	4,434	954	21.5%
Regent University (VA)	1,062	228	21.5%
University at Albany–SUNY	12,028	2,562	21.3%
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (NY)	6,654	1,411	21.2%
University of California–San Diego	24,832	5,228	21.1%
St. John Fisher College (NY)	2,521	521	20.7%
University of Dayton (OH)	8,507	1,765	20.7%
University of Rhode Island	15,844	3,258	20.6%
Our Lady of the Lake University (TX)	1,649	338	20.5%
University of Massachusetts–Amherst	22,556	4,621	20.5%
University of New Hampshire	13,963	2,869	20.5%
DePaul University (IL)	11,948	2,425	20.3%
Tulane University (LA)	7,961	1,609	20.2%
University of California–Riverside	20,973	4,201	20%
University of La Verne (CA)	2,843	563	19.8%
Immaculata University (PA)	1,449	285	19.7%
Boston University	19,420	3,807	19.6%
Loyola University Chicago	13,121	2,512	19.1%
Baylor University (TX)	16,809	3,190	19%
St. Louis University	8,327	1,578	19%
Northeastern University (MA)	15,301	2,891	18.9%
University of California–Santa Barbara	24,813	4,624	18.6%
University of Miami (FL)	11,691	2,140	18.3%
Clark University (MA)	3,416	621	18.2%
Clarkson University (NY)	4,320	757	17.5%
University of San Diego	7,178	1,238	17.2%
Florida Institute of Technology	4,727	783	16.6%
University of California–Santa Cruz	20,039	3,302	16.5%
Case Western Reserve University (OH)	7,713	1,252	16.2%
Seton Hall University (NJ)	8,498	1,342	15.8%
Adelphi University (NY)	5,897	918	15.6%
Barry University (FL)	3,670	565	15.4%
Northern Arizona University	31,057	4,772	15.4%
Pace University (NY)	11,853	1,804	15.2%
Marquette University (WI)	13,462	1,990	14.8%
University of Vermont	17,357	2,495	14.4%
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey–Newark	7,173	988	13.8%
University of Denver	10,539	1,407	13.4%
University of San Francisco	9,076	1,148	12.6%
Fordham University (NY)	17,055	1,967	11.5%
St. John’s University (NY)	26,932	2,794	10.4%
Hofstra University (NY)	16,354	1,616	9.9%
University of the Pacific (CA)	10,332	958	9.3%
Drexel University (PA)	35,815	3,039	8.5%

The yield data above are correct as of Jan. 21, 2015. For additional admissions data, complete rankings and much more, access the U.S. News College Compass.

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National Universities Where the Most Accepted Students Enroll originally appeared on usnews.com