# Colleges With the Highest Acceptance Rates

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 50 | Category: National
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/highest-acceptance-rate

## Methodology

Ranked by acceptance rate, highest first — open-access institutions

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

Forty-seven percent. That's the average graduation rate for colleges with the highest acceptance rates. For families, this means a greater chance of starting college but a significant risk of not finishing.

Students often seek schools with high acceptance rates for a simple reason: accessibility. Many aim to balance their dreams with financial realities. Chetty's research highlights how college choice impacts earnings and mobility, revealing the importance of not just getting in, but graduating with manageable debt.

Delta State University in Mississippi shows an average earning of $41,991, but only 47% of students graduate. In contrast, Eastern Mennonite University graduates 57% of its students and offers earnings of $54,869. These figures illustrate the diverse outcomes across schools in this category.

## Key Findings

- Delta State University has a graduation rate of 47% and an average earning of $41,991.
- Union Adventist University graduates 49% of its students, with average earnings reaching $55,045.
- The average net price among these colleges is $20,374, making them more accessible.
- King University has a higher earning potential at $59,831, despite a 47% graduation rate.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [University of Southern Mississippi](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-southern-mississippi) | Hattiesburg, MS | 50% | $44,140 | $21,708 | $22,500 | 0.51x |
| 2 | [Delta State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/delta-state-university) | Cleveland, MS | 47% | $41,991 | $13,540 | $20,390 | 0.49x |
| 3 | [The University of Texas at El Paso](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-at-el-paso) | El Paso, TX | 48% | $50,923 | $9,403 | $18,000 | 0.35x |
| 4 | [Northeastern State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northeastern-state-university) | Tahlequah, OK | 36% | $45,379 | $12,710 | $17,367 | 0.38x |
| 5 | [University of South Dakota](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-south-dakota) | Vermillion, SD | 61% | $51,926 | $19,858 | $23,592 | 0.45x |
| 6 | [Eastern Mennonite University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/eastern-mennonite-university) | Harrisonburg, VA | 57% | $54,869 | $24,588 | $24,813 | 0.45x |
| 7 | [Southeastern Louisiana University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southeastern-louisiana-university) | Hammond, LA | 45% | $46,482 | $13,154 | $22,113 | 0.48x |
| 8 | [Western Colorado University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/western-colorado-university) | Gunnison, CO | 51% | $46,833 | $16,425 | $20,250 | 0.43x |
| 9 | [Columbus State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/columbus-state-university) | Columbus, GA | 42% | $44,544 | $13,115 | $26,000 | 0.58x |
| 10 | [Valley City State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/valley-city-state-university) | Valley City, ND | 51% | $52,725 | $11,890 | $20,369 | 0.39x |
| 11 | [Southern Wesleyan University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southern-wesleyan-university) | Central, SC | 52% | $47,756 | $15,464 | $26,000 | 0.54x |
| 12 | [Metropolitan State University of Denver](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/metropolitan-state-university-of-denver) | Denver, CO | 31% | $52,093 | $15,327 | $21,500 | 0.41x |
| 13 | [Sul Ross State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/sul-ross-state-university) | Alpine, TX | 29% | $41,871 | $13,286 | $15,900 | 0.38x |
| 14 | [Middle Georgia State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/middle-georgia-state-university) | Macon, GA | 25% | $40,863 | $12,361 | $19,000 | 0.46x |
| 15 | [Central State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/central-state-university) | Wilberforce, OH | 24% | $33,267 | $13,096 | $30,739 | 0.92x |
| 16 | [Culver-Stockton College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/culver-stockton-college) | Canton, MO | 45% | $46,092 | $21,983 | $26,000 | 0.56x |
| 17 | [Grand View University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/grand-view-university) | Des Moines, IA | 55% | $52,824 | $21,774 | $22,500 | 0.43x |
| 18 | [Oral Roberts University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/oral-roberts-university) | Tulsa, OK | 56% | $46,885 | $25,365 | $27,000 | 0.58x |
| 19 | [King University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/king-university) | Bristol, TN | 47% | $59,831 | $22,347 | $22,750 | 0.38x |
| 20 | [College of Coastal Georgia](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/college-of-coastal-georgia) | Brunswick, GA | 26% | $39,318 | $15,261 | $15,039 | 0.38x |
| 21 | [The University of Montana](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-montana) | Missoula, MT | 47% | $44,511 | $16,784 | $22,400 | 0.5x |
| 22 | [Emporia State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/emporia-state-university) | Emporia, KS | 55% | $47,601 | $16,261 | $19,500 | 0.41x |
| 23 | [University of the Incarnate Word](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-the-incarnate-word) | San Antonio, TX | 51% | $56,733 | $22,775 | $27,000 | 0.48x |
| 24 | [Benedictine College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/benedictine-college) | Atchison, KS | 63% | $53,175 | $27,891 | $24,599 | 0.46x |
| 25 | [University of the Cumberlands](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-the-cumberlands) | Williamsburg, KY | 48% | $45,036 | $14,107 | $14,911 | 0.33x |
| 26 | [Missouri Southern State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/missouri-southern-state-university) | Joplin, MO | 40% | $42,620 | $12,007 | $19,174 | 0.45x |
| 27 | [Southern Illinois University Edwardsville](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southern-illinois-university-edwardsville) | Edwardsville, IL | 56% | $56,346 | $14,889 | $20,500 | 0.36x |
| 28 | [Greenville University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/greenville-university) | Greenville, IL | 46% | $46,827 | $19,533 | $23,875 | 0.51x |
| 29 | [Texas Southern University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/texas-southern-university) | Houston, TX | 21% | $38,924 | $16,590 | $29,000 | 0.75x |
| 30 | [Spalding University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/spalding-university) | Louisville, KY | 54% | $49,438 | $25,491 | $25,250 | 0.51x |
| 31 | [Shepherd University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/shepherd-university) | Shepherdstown, WV | 50% | $49,358 | $11,363 | $21,600 | 0.44x |
| 32 | [Loras College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/loras-college) | Dubuque, IA | 69% | $58,289 | $20,716 | $26,000 | 0.45x |
| 33 | [West Liberty University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/west-liberty-university) | West Liberty, WV | 60% | $43,296 | $15,366 | $23,250 | 0.54x |
| 34 | [Le Moyne-Owen College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/le-moyne-owen-college) | Memphis, TN | 26% | $35,594 | $7,099 | $28,070 | 0.79x |
| 35 | [Roosevelt University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/roosevelt-university) | Chicago, IL | 38% | $48,712 | $20,194 | $22,000 | 0.45x |
| 36 | [University of Mississippi](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-mississippi) | University, MS | 70% | $50,994 | $13,314 | $20,000 | 0.39x |
| 37 | [Alabama State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/alabama-state-university) | Montgomery, AL | 30% | $34,502 | $20,435 | $31,000 | 0.9x |
| 38 | [American International College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/american-international-college) | Springfield, MA | 44% | $53,124 | $23,274 | $27,000 | 0.51x |
| 39 | [Virginia Union University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/virginia-union-university) | Richmond, VA | 39% | $38,275 | $13,235 | $29,000 | 0.76x |
| 40 | [University of the Virgin Islands](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-the-virgin-islands) | Charlotte Amalie, VI | 28% | $38,681 | $7,469 | $16,800 | 0.43x |
| 41 | [Point Park University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/point-park-university) | Pittsburgh, PA | 59% | $45,856 | $25,942 | $27,000 | 0.59x |
| 42 | [Austin Peay State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/austin-peay-state-university) | Clarksville, TN | 42% | $44,301 | $9,735 | $20,547 | 0.46x |
| 43 | [Union Adventist University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/union-adventist-university) | Lincoln, NE | 49% | $55,045 | $23,716 | $27,000 | 0.49x |
| 44 | [University of Wyoming](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-wyoming) | Laramie, WY | 59% | $56,880 | $13,599 | $18,000 | 0.32x |
| 45 | [The Evergreen State College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-evergreen-state-college) | Olympia, WA | 43% | $45,320 | $24,319 | $20,500 | 0.45x |
| 46 | [Metropolitan State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/metropolitan-state-university) | Saint Paul, MN | 42% | $64,705 | $16,863 | $17,100 | 0.26x |
| 47 | [Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/franciscan-missionaries-of-our-lady-university) | Baton Rouge, LA | 49% | $59,419 | $18,552 | $27,672 | 0.47x |
| 48 | [West Texas A & M University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/west-texas-a-m-university) | Canyon, TX | 51% | $50,741 | $19,487 | $19,500 | 0.38x |
| 49 | [Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-penn-state-berks) | Reading, PA | 28% | $63,435 | $24,356 | $25,000 | 0.39x |
| 50 | [Texas Woman's University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/texas-womans-university) | Denton, TX | 47% | $56,544 | $11,963 | $19,218 | 0.34x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Colleges With the Highest Acceptance Rates." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/highest-acceptance-rate

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.