Easiest Colleges to Get Into
The easiest colleges to get into are open-admission schools and colleges that accept 90% or more of applicants. Easy to get into does not mean easy to finish, so the list below favors schools with stronger graduation rates. Admission is never guaranteed.
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Note: Open admission means the school admits students with a high school diploma or equivalent; some programs (e.g., nursing, engineering) have extra requirements. Check the school's admissions page.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2024–25. Retrieved 2026-10-29. Figures are school-wide averages and may be out of date.
What makes a college easy to get into?
A high acceptance rate, an open-admission policy, rolling admissions and no essay or test requirement. Many regional public universities fit, along with a large number of community and online colleges.
Easy to get into, but worth attending?
Check the graduation rate first. A school that admits 95% but graduates 30% may cost you time and debt. Median earnings and average annual cost round out the picture.
Four-year schools accepting 90%+ with the best graduation rates
Four-year schools that reported admitting at least 90% of applicants, with 2,000+ undergraduates, largest first. 1,715 schools nationwide are open admission or accept 90% or more.
| School | Location | Admission | In-state tuition | Graduation rate | Median earnings | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern New Hampshire University | Manchester, NH | 100% accepted | $18,410 | 37% | $67,139 | Private nonprofit |
| Liberty University | Lynchburg, VA | 99% accepted | $23,171 | 47% | $57,700 | Private nonprofit |
| California State University-Fullerton | Fullerton, CA | 91% accepted | $7,952 | 80% | $63,753 | Public |
| California State University-Northridge | Northridge, CA | 94% accepted | $7,850 | 72% | $59,664 | Public |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | Edinburg, TX | 94% accepted | $9,993 | 56% | $53,888 | Public |
| California State University-Sacramento | Sacramento, CA | 94% accepted | $9,014 | 73% | $64,511 | Public |
| University of Kentucky | Lexington, KY | 93% accepted | $13,907 | 69% | $65,922 | Public |
| University of Nevada-Las Vegas | Las Vegas, NV | 96% accepted | $10,279 | 55% | $62,637 | Public |
| California State University-Fresno | Fresno, CA | 95% accepted | $8,224 | 70% | $59,992 | Public |
| University of Mississippi | University, MS | 97% accepted | $10,150 | 69% | $66,243 | Public |
| University of Kansas | Lawrence, KS | 94% accepted | $12,453 | 68% | $69,680 | Public |
| The University of Texas at El Paso | El Paso, TX | 100% accepted | $9,772 | 53% | $58,771 | Public |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond, VA | 93% accepted | $17,490 | 68% | $64,703 | Public |
| Utah State University | Logan, UT | 93% accepted | $9,412 | 57% | $63,484 | Public |
| California State University-Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | 91% accepted | $7,530 | 69% | $59,756 | Public |
| Appalachian State University | Boone, NC | 90% accepted | $7,642 | 75% | $54,010 | Public |
| San Francisco State University | San Francisco, CA | 96% accepted | $8,324 | 67% | $67,804 | Public |
| Sam Houston State University | Huntsville, TX | 90% accepted | $9,228 | 63% | $57,044 | Public |
| Old Dominion University | Norfolk, VA | 90% accepted | $13,250 | 55% | $64,472 | Public |
| University of New Mexico-Main Campus | Albuquerque, NM | 95% accepted | $10,383 | 56% | $59,818 | Public |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI | 91% accepted | $10,916 | 56% | $62,480 | Public |
| California State University-San Bernardino | San Bernardino, CA | 94% accepted | $8,524 | 71% | $55,441 | Public |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | Denver, CO | 99% accepted | $11,540 | 39% | $60,186 | Public |
| California State University-San Marcos | San Marcos, CA | 95% accepted | $8,454 | 68% | $67,891 | Public |
| California State University-Chico | Chico, CA | 93% accepted | $8,896 | 74% | $65,228 | Public |
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2024–25.
Should every school on my list be easy?
Include a few likely schools for security, then add targets that fit your GPA. Set your GPA in the finder and switch the minimum acceptance rate to Auto to see a broader list.
Are online colleges easier to get into?
Many online-only schools are open admission. Choose "Online-only schools" in the finder and compare outcomes carefully, since results vary a lot.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest college to get into?
Open-admission colleges, such as most community colleges, are the easiest: they admit students with a diploma or equivalent. Among four-year schools, those reporting 90% to 100% acceptance are the next easiest.
Are easy colleges cheaper?
Often, especially public and community colleges. Some private schools with high acceptance rates have high sticker prices, so compare average net price.
Can I get into an easy college with a low GPA?
Many high-acceptance and open-admission schools accept low GPAs. Some programs inside the school set their own minimums.
Do easy colleges have lower quality?
Not necessarily. Admission rate measures selectivity, not teaching. Graduation rate and earnings are better signs of value.
How current is this data?
It comes from the latest U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard release. Confirm details on each school's site.
Also see: colleges that accept a 2.0 gpa, colleges that accept a 2.5 gpa, colleges for a 3.0 gpa, colleges with a 100% acceptance rate, open-admission colleges.