The Most Underrated College In Every State
To make the most out of this strategy, we've partnered with Niche to bring you the top schools in the country with great academics and high acceptance rates. To compile this list, Niche used its data for highest academics rankings, acceptance rates, and in-state population.
Oftentimes, these schools' strong academic programs are overshadowed by the popular perception that a college is better if it's tough to get into. These colleges challange that myth, and are smart - and potentially safe - options for student applicants.
We've included one school from each state in our list, as well as a bonus university from Washington, DC. Check out the full list below:
Alaska - University of Alaska
- Location: Anchorage, Alaska
- Undergraduates: 7,861
- Acceptance Rate: 72%
Alabama - University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Location: Birmingham, Alabama
- Undergraduates: 8,270
- Acceptance Rate: 72%
Arkansas - Arkansas Tech University
- Location: Russellville, Arkansas
- Undergraduates: 7,068
- Acceptance Rate: 88%
Arizona - Arizona State University
- Location: Tempe, Arizona
- Undergraduates: 50,484
- Acceptance Rate: 89%
California - University of California, Santa Cruz
- Location: Santa Cruz, California
- Undergraduates: 15,677
- Acceptance Rate: 68%
Colorado - Colorado State University
- Location: Fort Collins, Colorado
- Undergraduates: 20,336
- Acceptance Rate: 75%
Connecticut - University of Connecticut
- Location: Storrs, Connecticut
- Undergraduates: 16,736
- Acceptance Rate: 45%
Delaware - University of Delaware
- Location: Newark, Delaware
- Undergraduates: 15,558
- Acceptance Rate: 58%
Florida - University of Florida
- Location: Gainesville, Florida
- Undergraduates: 30,241
- Acceptance Rate: 44%
Georgia - University of North Georgia - Gainesville
- Location: Oakwood, Georgia
- Undergraduates: 5,181
- Acceptance Rate: 99%
Hawaii - University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
- Undergraduates: 11,975
- Acceptance Rate: 78%
Iowa - Iowa State University
- Location: Ames, Iowa
- Undergraduates: 26,103
- Acceptance Rate: 85%
Idaho - Brigham Young University - Idaho
- Location: Rexburg, Idaho
- Undergraduates: 15,235
- Acceptance Rate: 99%
Illinois - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Location: Champaign, Illinois
- Undergraduates: 31,118
- Acceptance Rate: 63%
Indiana - Indiana University Bloomington
- Location: Bloomington, Indiana
- Undergraduates: 30,949
- Acceptance Rate: 74%
Kansas - Kansas State University
- Location: Manhattan, Kansas
- Undergraduates: 17,245
- Acceptance Rate: 99%
Kentucky - University of Louisville
- Location: Louisville, Kentucky
- Undergraduates: 12,192
- Acceptance Rate: 73%
Lousiana - University of Louisiana at Monroe
- Location: Monroe, Louisiana
- Undergraduates: 5,116
- Acceptance Rate: 91%
Massachusetts - University of Massachusetts Lowell
- Location: Lowell, Massachusetts
- Undergraduates: 8,724
- Acceptance Rate: 66%
Maryland - University of Maryland, Baltimore County
- Location: Baltimore County, Maryland
- Undergraduates: 9,371
- Acceptance Rate: 60%
Maine - University of Maine
- Location: Orono, Maine
- Undergraduates: 7,549
- Acceptance Rate: 78%
Michigan - Michigan Technological University
- Location: Houghton, Michigan
- Undergraduates: 5,196
- Acceptance Rate: 75%
Minnesota - University of St. Thomas
- Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota
- Undergraduates: 6,046
- Acceptance Rate: 87%
Missouri - Missouri University of Science and Technology
- Location: Rolla, Missouri
- Undergraduates: 5,260
- Acceptance Rate: 89%
Mississippi - Mississippi State University
- Location: Mississippi State, Mississippi
- Undergraduates: 15,004
- Acceptance Rate: 62%
Montana - University of Montana
- Location: Missoula, Montana
- Undergraduates: 9,941
- Acceptance Rate: 81%
North Carolina - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Undergraduates: 17,437
- Acceptance Rate: 33%
North Dakota - North Dakota State University
- Location: Fargo, North Dakota
- Undergraduates: 10,718
- Acceptance Rate: 84%
Nebraska - University of Nebraska - Lincoln
- Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
- Undergraduates: 18,039
- Acceptance Rate: 59%
New Hampshire - University of New Hampshire
- Location: Durham, New Hampshire
- Undergraduates: 12,342
- Acceptance Rate: 78%
New Jersey - Seton Hall University
- Location: South Orange, New Jersey
- Undergraduates: 5,023
- Acceptance Rate: 84%
New Mexico - New Mexico State University
- Location: Las Cruces, New Mexico
- Undergraduates: 11,673
- Acceptance Rate: 80%
New York - College of Staten Island
- Location: Staten Island, New York
- Undergraduates: 9,917
- Acceptance Rate: 99%
Nevada - University of Nevada, Reno
- Location: Reno, Nevada
- Undergraduates: 12,411
- Acceptance Rate: 82%
Ohio - Ohio University
- Location: Athens, Ohio
- Undergraduates: 16,862
- Acceptance Rate: 78%
Oklahoma - University of Oklahoma
- Location: Norman, Oklahoma
- Undergraduates: 18,111
- Acceptance Rate: 79%
Oregon - Oregon State University
- Location: Corvallis, Oregon
- Undergraduates: 17,794
- Acceptance Rate: 78%
Pennsylvania - University of Pittsburgh
- Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Undergraduates: 17,256
- Acceptance Rate: 58%
Rhode Island - University of Rhode Island
- Location: Kingston, Rhode Island
- Undergraduates: 11,923
- Acceptance Rate: 85%
South Carolina - Clemson University
- Location: Clemson, South Carolina
- Undergraduates: 15,643
- Acceptance Rate: 63%
South Dakota - South Dakota State University
- Location: Brookings, South Dakota
- Undergraduates: 8,562
- Acceptance Rate: 92%
Tennessee - Tennessee Technological University
- Location: Cookeville, Tennessee
- Undergraduates: 8,923
- Acceptance Rate: 93%
Texas - Texas A&M University
- Location: College Station, Texas
- Undergraduates: 36,219
- Acceptance Rate: 67%
Utah - University of Utah
- Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
- Undergraduates: 17,518
- Acceptance Rate: 83%
Virginia - Virginia Tech
- Location: Blacksburg, Virginia
- Undergraduates: 23,366
- Acceptance Rate: 70%
Vermont - University of Vermont
- Location: Burlington, Vermont
- Undergraduates: 9,956
- Acceptance Rate: 77%
Washington - Washington State University
- Location: Pullman, Washington
- Undergraduates: 20,082
- Acceptance Rate: 76%
Washington, DC - American University
- Location: Washington, DC
- Undergraduates: 6,970
- Acceptance Rate: 44%
Wisconsin - University of Wisconsin - Madison
- Location: Madison, Wisconsin
- Undergraduates: 28,167
- Acceptance Rate: 69%
West Virginia - West Virginia University
- Location: Morgantown, West Virginia
- Undergraduates: 21,118
- Acceptance Rate: 85%
Wyoming - University of Wyoming
- Location: Laramie, Wisconsin
- Undergraduates: 8,311
- Acceptance Rate: 96%