Millions of young people come to the United States yearly for a better life. Many of them try to achieve this by enrolling at a state university, where tuition fees are far more affordable. However, it can be challenging to enter U.S. institutions, as many students are on pins and needles waiting for their admission call.
That’s why we have listed some of America’s most welcoming universities with the highest acceptance rates to help international students with easy admissions. Most of these schools are from the second echelon of higher education, yet the quality of training you can expect to receive there is quite reasonable. They are four-year universities, not community colleges, offering graduate and undergraduate programs, so read the article carefully!
Universities in the USA with High Rates of Acceptance
1. University of Southern Mississippi
Our top choice of American university with the highest acceptance rate does not lack in traditions – the University of Southern Mississippi has been providing sustainable and affordable higher education to the young people in the state of Mississippi since 1910.
The university has over 13,000 students and offers learners over 180 undergraduate and graduate degrees. The tuition fees for Mississippi residents are nearly $10,000 a year, while the one for out-of-state and international students is almost $12,000 a year. These tuition fees are very affordable, but over 70% of all undergraduate full-time students still receive some financial aid.
The most popular undergraduate programs at the University of Southern Mississippi are general psychology, kinesiology and exercise science, and elementary education and teaching. This school’s student/faculty ratio is 17:1, which is already excellent for a second-tier university. Provided you have $45 to pay the application fee and show proof of completing secondary education, your chances of getting admitted to the University of Southern Mississippi are pretty good!
2. Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University, founded in 1906, is the oldest and best-known university in Kentucky. Since 1922, it has granted four-year degrees to young and ambitious people from Western Kentucky and the region. Even though it is one of the universities in the USA with the highest acceptance rates, it provides an outstanding education to its students.
The organization of Western Kentucky University is currently divided into five colleges. The ones that receive the highest number of applications from future undergraduate students are the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, the College of Health and Human Services, and the College of Science & Engineering. Obviously, the academic focus is equally distributed between the humanities, medicine, and sciences.
The latest statistics show that the university enrolls just over 15,000 undergraduates yearly. Compared to our first candidate, the gap between the in-state and out-of-state undergraduate candidates regarding the annual tuition fees is a bit wider — $11,436 against $27,000.
The application fee of $50 is quite affordable, and you don’t need to send your recommendation letters or essays, either!
Even if you can’t afford the out-of-state tuition fee, you should remember that over 60% of all first-year students at Western Kentucky University qualify for some financial aid.
3. University of Alabama at Birmingham
Established in 1969, the University of Alabama at Birmingham currently has about 14,000 undergraduate students and just over 8,000 postgraduate students. Its main campus is in the heart of Birmingham, the most populous city in Alabama. This presupposes excellent opportunities for student entertainment and part-time employment.
Under the cap of UAB, there is one college, nine schools, and one graduate school. Together, this university in the USA, with high acceptance rates, provides more than 50 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and over 30 Ph.D. programs. A curious fact about this university is that it is the largest employer in the whole state of Alabama, providing 23,000 jobs. However, this university is not very popular abroad, with only six percent of all students coming from outside the U.S.
The average tuition fee for undergraduate students from Alabama is just over $12,000 a year, while out-of-state residents pay more than $27,000 a year. The most popular bachelor’s programs are biological and biomedical sciences and health services. The application fee for this university is $40, so it’s relatively easy to apply. While the University of Alabama at Birmingham has a high acceptance rate of 88%, its four-year graduation rate is just one-third of that – 43%.
4. University of Northern Colorado
University of Northern Colorado is a public university in Greely, Colorado, whose academic roots date back to 1889. The institution is a relatively small higher education provider with a total enrollment of just over 8,000 students. Up to 5,600 are undergraduates, and the rest are enrolled in some of the university’s postgraduate programs.
The university is organized into five major colleges, the most popular of which are the College of Performing and Visual Arts, the Monfort College of Business, and the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences. The university’s student/faculty ratio is 14:1, which is not bad for a second-tier higher school. Surprisingly, however, the four-year graduation rate of the University of Northern Colorado is just 37 percent. Colorado residents’ average undergraduate tuition fees are about $12,416 a year and just over $27,000 for out-of-state students.
The total number of international students at the University of Northern Colorado is nearly 10,000. So, if you want to be one of these students, remember that the application deadline is November 30 for the summer programs. The application fee is $50, and with the latest admission rate at this university at 89%, you won’t have any issues getting in!
5. Murray State University
Next on our list of universities in the USA with high acceptance rates is Murray State University, a small public university in Murray, Kentucky. Its latest total enrollment is 9,857 students, of whom over 8,000 are undergraduate students, and the rest are enrolled in one of this school’s postgraduate programs.
In addition to the main campus in Calloway County, this university also has academic divisions in Henderson, Paducah, and Madisonville. Established in 1922, Murray State University is among the 35 best regional universities in the south of the United States, offering over 60 bachelor’s and 40 master’s programs.
During the latest admission cycle, this university has attracted more than one thousand international students coming from 66 different countries. The average tuition fee for Kentucky residents is just nearly $10,000 a year, while out-of-state students pay over $14,700 a year.
Murray State University’s most popular undergraduate programs include liberal arts, engineering, and health services. The application fee is $40, and the deadline for sending your requirements to Murray is November 15 for future undergraduates in spring 2025.
6. Auburn University
As we go down the list, our candidates become more selective. Our seventh choice in universities in the USA with the highest acceptance rates began its existence on February 1856 as East Alabama Male College, a liberal arts school under the Methodist Episcopal Church. It was not until 1960 that it assumed its current name.
Auburn University has a total enrollment of over 33,000 students, 26,874 of whom are full-time undergraduates. According to the U.S. News Best Colleges rankings, it is the 93rd best university in the USA nationwide. This institution is a somewhat expensive second-tier school, with an average undergraduate tuition fee for in-state students of $12,536 a year and out-of-state students of $33,944 a year.
Interestingly, this university was one of the first higher schools in the country to offer its students a two-year master’s program in interior design. Popular undergraduate programs are biological and biomedical sciences, journalism, and marketing.
If you would like to apply to this university, consider that the acceptance rate is 50% on average, and the deadline for sending in your papers is June 1st. The $50 application fee ($60 for international applicants) is non-refundable, and the applicant’s SAT or ACT scores should be sent in by February 1st.
7. Sonoma State University
On the seventh position on our list is a university in “The Golden State” of California. This institution should not surprise you, as the top places are occupied by higher education providers in the American South, who traditionally have fewer applicants.
When talking about California, however, we should bear in mind that this is the state where Hollywood is, and young people usually give a year to live and study there. Sonoma State University began its existence under the name Sonoma State College in 1960, and it was not until 1978 that it assumed its current name.
The university’s academic focus is equally divided between the arts and humanities, business and economics, and the symbolic program for California — winemaking and management. With an average acceptance rate for U.S. universities of 95%, securing admission at Sonoma State University should be easy.
This university is surprisingly cheap for a California-based school — the average undergraduate tuition fee for home students is under $8,000 annually. At the same time, their out-of-state peers have to pay just under $20,000 a year.
8. Henderson State University
The eighth school on our list is Henderson State University. It was established in 1890 under the name Arkadelphia Methodist College and assumed its current name in 1904. Today, it is the only representative of the state of Arkansas in the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges.
This university, with high acceptance rates, has a total enrollment of just 2,139 students, which makes Henderson State University a relatively small higher education provider. The enrollment number has obviously decreased by 15% compared to the data in fall 2022. Despite that, this university is a moderately selective higher school with an average acceptance rate of 82%.
Their most popular programs are business, psychology, and general studies. This university is also considerably affordable. The tuition fee for undergraduate students from Arkansas is over $7,600 a year, while the cost for out-of-state students is nearly $10,000 a year. If you plan to apply for Henderson State University, please bear in mind that the application deadline for the spring term is until October 31.
9. University of Hawaii at Hilo
The University of Hawaii at Hilo is a member of the University of Hawaii’s higher education system. It was established in 1941 as Hawaii College, but it did not assume its current name until 1947. The university is one of the most ethnically diverse in the USA, with the most recent average acceptance rate of this school being 78%.
Moreover, the institution has offered its students four-year programs since 1970. With almost 3,000 students, it is a relatively small university on the main island of Hawaii. Students study in 34 undergraduate and three graduate programs. International students also pursue Hawaiian studies, marine biology, and astronomy degrees.
One of the most famous master’s programs that this university offers is Hawaiian language and literature. The tuition fee for students from Hawaii is below $7,500 a year, while all other students pay about $20,000 a year.
10. Concordia University-Chicago
The 10th position on our list is for a representative of Chicago, one of the most emblematic cities in the USA. Concordia University-Chicago was established in 1864, so it is a higher education provider with long traditions. The university is relatively small, with a total enrollment of less than 5,500 students in fall 2022. Moreover, this school firmly believes in the Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod.
It is hardly surprising that most of its programs are religion-focused, but there are also some programs in the business and health, science, and technology department. In contrast to many of the universities reviewed above, this is a rather expensive university, with an average tuition fee for undergraduate students of about $35,200 annually for 2023-24 school year. Finally, the university has an excellent student/faculty ratio of just 13:1, which means that the quality of the education that each student receives at Concordia is very high.
11. University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is a public educational institution at number 12, founded in 1889 in Moscow, Idaho. Today, it has ten colleges, the most popular of which are the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the College of Law, and the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences.
This university, which has high acceptance rates, has a total enrollment of nearly 11,850 students, with 9,493 studying at the main campus in Moscow. One of the most exotic master’s programs this university offers is Latin American studies, while two of the most popular undergraduate programs are in mechanical engineering and psychology.
The University of Idaho is relatively selective, with an average acceptance rate of nearly 80%. Only one-third of first-year students manage to complete the four years of study at the university. This university’s student/faculty ratio is 16:1, which is very good for a public university.
12. San Francisco State University
As we move down the list, the universities become more selective. Our thirteenth candidate has an acceptance rate of 96%. Founded in 1899, San Francisco State University is now a second-tier university with over 29,000 students applying yearly. Studying at SFSU, as this school is known for short, is reasonably cheap. Its average tuition fee for in-state undergraduate students is just over $7,000 a year, while their out-of-state fellows pay just over $19,000 a year.
SFSU is most famous for its College of Ethnic Studies, which offers some of the most popular undergraduate programs, including African Studies, Latino/Latina Studies, and Asian American Studies. Its College of Engineering is also highly popular. If you would like to join the international student community at SFSU, please note that the application fee is non-refundable, costing $70, and the deadline is approaching on September 30 for spring 2025.
As mentioned above, San Francisco State University is selective, and its undergraduate programs are challenging. Only 27% of first-year students complete the entire four-year course of study.
13. Drake University
The 13th spot on our list of the U.S. universities with the highest acceptance rates is for Drake University – a rather selective school whose average admission rate is just a notch under 70%. This private university was founded in 1881 in Des Moines, Iowa. According to the U.S. News and World Report’s 2019 Best Colleges rankings, it is the third-best university in America’s Midwest and the second-best college for veterans.
Drake University is a relatively small higher education provider with approximately 4,884 students. They study at its seven colleges and schools, the most popular being the College of Arts & Sciences, the Zimpleman College of Business, and the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Our research has shown that Drake University has one of the strongest undergraduate journalism programs in the USA.
With a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio, Drake provides an exceptionally high level of graduate and postgraduate training. However, the high-quality education that Drake’s students receive comes at a price. With an average tuition fee for undergraduate students of over $24,700 per semester, it is one of the most expensive universities on our list.
14. North Central University
Whereas most high-admission universities are public and usually have “state” in their name, our last candidate on the list of universities with the highest acceptance rates in the USA is a private institution established in 1930. North Central University has a strong religious affiliation, and most of the undergraduate programs offered are focused on the history and development of Christianity through the ages.
Most of this university’s graduates are trained for ministerial, that is, clerical, offices across the USA. Therefore, it is not surprising that North Central University has a total enrollment of just over 1,450 students a year. In addition, only a quarter of those nine hundred young people earn a degree after four years of rigorous academic training.
Finally, this is a relatively expensive higher school with an average undergraduate tuition fee of over $30,000 annually. If we add the $5,450 payable for housing and $4,100 for meals per year, the total cost of attendance soars to over $41,000 a year. However, with specific scholarships and an acceptance rate of 91%, it’s no wonder you can get in quickly, as it is one of the U.S. universities with the highest admission rates.
In summary, it can be nerve-wracking for many prospective students, whether local or international, to anxiously wait for the admissions call because of how challenging it can be to enroll in many universities in the United States. This article can help you increase your chances of enrolling in well-known institutions with quality higher education due to their high acceptance rates!
We hope this article on U.S. universities with the highest acceptance rates was helpful. If you are interested in studying in the United States, consider reading our article: Study in the USA and check out the Available Programs for International Students in the USA!
