College admissions data you can quote
Every number below is computed from CollegeCalcAI's dataset of 1,094 four-year U.S. colleges, reconciled from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard release of 2026-06-10) and each school's Common Data Set. Quote any of it with attribution and a link; embed any stat with the HTML under it. Updated 2026-09-16.
Headline statistics
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The median four-year U.S. college in the CollegeCalcAI dataset admits 75% of applicants; only 29 of 1,094 admit one in ten or fewer, while 906 admit more than half.
CollegeCalcAI. "The median four-year U.S. college in the CollegeCalcAI dataset admits 75% of applicants; only 29 of 1,094 admit one in ten or fewer, while 906 admit more than half." 2026. https://collegecalcai.com/data/college-acceptance-rates-by-state
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<a href="https://collegecalcai.com/data/college-acceptance-rates-by-state?utm_source=embed&utm_medium=statcard" style="display:inline-block;padding:16px 20px;border:1px solid #E5E9F0;border-radius:14px;text-decoration:none;font-family:system-ui,sans-serif;background:#fff"><span style="display:block;font-size:30px;font-weight:800;color:#0F766E;line-height:1">75%</span><span style="display:block;margin-top:6px;font-size:13px;color:#475569">median acceptance rate across 1,094 U.S. colleges</span><span style="display:block;margin-top:8px;font-size:11px;color:#94A3B8">Source: CollegeCalcAI</span></a>
Just 29 of the 1,094 four-year colleges tracked admit 10% of applicants or fewer.
CollegeCalcAI. "Just 29 of the 1,094 four-year colleges tracked admit 10% of applicants or fewer." 2026. https://collegecalcai.com/data/most-selective
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<a href="https://collegecalcai.com/data/most-selective?utm_source=embed&utm_medium=statcard" style="display:inline-block;padding:16px 20px;border:1px solid #E5E9F0;border-radius:14px;text-decoration:none;font-family:system-ui,sans-serif;background:#fff"><span style="display:block;font-size:30px;font-weight:800;color:#0F766E;line-height:1">29</span><span style="display:block;margin-top:6px;font-size:13px;color:#475569">colleges admit 10% or fewer applicants (of 1,094)</span><span style="display:block;margin-top:8px;font-size:11px;color:#94A3B8">Source: CollegeCalcAI</span></a>
Across 1,013 colleges reporting counts, 12.4 million applications produced 7.0 million admits for the fall 2023 entering class, an aggregate acceptance rate of 57%.
CollegeCalcAI. "Across 1,013 colleges reporting counts, 12.4 million applications produced 7.0 million admits for the fall 2023 entering class, an aggregate acceptance rate of 57%." 2026. https://collegecalcai.com/data/top-100-hardest-colleges
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<a href="https://collegecalcai.com/data/top-100-hardest-colleges?utm_source=embed&utm_medium=statcard" style="display:inline-block;padding:16px 20px;border:1px solid #E5E9F0;border-radius:14px;text-decoration:none;font-family:system-ui,sans-serif;background:#fff"><span style="display:block;font-size:30px;font-weight:800;color:#0F766E;line-height:1">57%</span><span style="display:block;margin-top:6px;font-size:13px;color:#475569">of 12.4M applications were admitted (fall 2023)</span><span style="display:block;margin-top:8px;font-size:11px;color:#94A3B8">Source: CollegeCalcAI</span></a>
Of 1,013 colleges reporting a test policy, 73% consider scores but do not require them, 21% neither require nor recommend them, and only 6% (57 schools) still require them.
CollegeCalcAI. "Of 1,013 colleges reporting a test policy, 73% consider scores but do not require them, 21% neither require nor recommend them, and only 6% (57 schools) still require them." 2026. https://collegecalcai.com/data/colleges-where-test-scores-are-very-important
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<a href="https://collegecalcai.com/data/colleges-where-test-scores-are-very-important?utm_source=embed&utm_medium=statcard" style="display:inline-block;padding:16px 20px;border:1px solid #E5E9F0;border-radius:14px;text-decoration:none;font-family:system-ui,sans-serif;background:#fff"><span style="display:block;font-size:30px;font-weight:800;color:#0F766E;line-height:1">73%</span><span style="display:block;margin-top:6px;font-size:13px;color:#475569">of colleges are test-optional; 21% do not consider scores at all</span><span style="display:block;margin-top:8px;font-size:11px;color:#94A3B8">Source: CollegeCalcAI</span></a>
The median college's published cost of attendance is $38,954 a year, but the median net price after grants and scholarships is $19,693, 49% below sticker.
CollegeCalcAI. "The median college's published cost of attendance is $38,954 a year, but the median net price after grants and scholarships is $19,693, 49% below sticker." 2026. https://collegecalcai.com/data/best-value-high-acceptance
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<a href="https://collegecalcai.com/data/best-value-high-acceptance?utm_source=embed&utm_medium=statcard" style="display:inline-block;padding:16px 20px;border:1px solid #E5E9F0;border-radius:14px;text-decoration:none;font-family:system-ui,sans-serif;background:#fff"><span style="display:block;font-size:30px;font-weight:800;color:#0F766E;line-height:1">$19,693</span><span style="display:block;margin-top:6px;font-size:13px;color:#475569">median net price per year after aid (sticker median $38,954)</span><span style="display:block;margin-top:8px;font-size:11px;color:#94A3B8">Source: CollegeCalcAI</span></a>
Ten years after entering, the median student at the median college earns $54,947 a year.
CollegeCalcAI. "Ten years after entering, the median student at the median college earns $54,947 a year." 2026. https://collegecalcai.com/research
Free to cite and reuse with attribution and a link.
<a href="https://collegecalcai.com/research?utm_source=embed&utm_medium=statcard" style="display:inline-block;padding:16px 20px;border:1px solid #E5E9F0;border-radius:14px;text-decoration:none;font-family:system-ui,sans-serif;background:#fff"><span style="display:block;font-size:30px;font-weight:800;color:#0F766E;line-height:1">$54,947</span><span style="display:block;margin-top:6px;font-size:13px;color:#475569">median earnings ten years after entry (median college)</span><span style="display:block;margin-top:8px;font-size:11px;color:#94A3B8">Source: CollegeCalcAI</span></a>
The median college graduates 58% of first-time, full-time students within six years.
CollegeCalcAI. "The median college graduates 58% of first-time, full-time students within six years." 2026. https://collegecalcai.com/research
Free to cite and reuse with attribution and a link.
<a href="https://collegecalcai.com/research?utm_source=embed&utm_medium=statcard" style="display:inline-block;padding:16px 20px;border:1px solid #E5E9F0;border-radius:14px;text-decoration:none;font-family:system-ui,sans-serif;background:#fff"><span style="display:block;font-size:30px;font-weight:800;color:#0F766E;line-height:1">58%</span><span style="display:block;margin-top:6px;font-size:13px;color:#475569">median six-year graduation rate</span><span style="display:block;margin-top:8px;font-size:11px;color:#94A3B8">Source: CollegeCalcAI</span></a>
The widest residency tuition gap among public universities is $43,210 a year at University of Michigan, followed by University of Virginia ($37,709).
CollegeCalcAI. "The widest residency tuition gap among public universities is $43,210 a year at University of Michigan, followed by University of Virginia ($37,709)." 2026. https://collegecalcai.com/schools/university-of-michigan
Free to cite and reuse with attribution and a link.
<a href="https://collegecalcai.com/schools/university-of-michigan?utm_source=embed&utm_medium=statcard" style="display:inline-block;padding:16px 20px;border:1px solid #E5E9F0;border-radius:14px;text-decoration:none;font-family:system-ui,sans-serif;background:#fff"><span style="display:block;font-size:30px;font-weight:800;color:#0F766E;line-height:1">$43,210</span><span style="display:block;margin-top:6px;font-size:13px;color:#475569">largest in-state vs out-of-state tuition gap (University of Michigan)</span><span style="display:block;margin-top:8px;font-size:11px;color:#94A3B8">Source: CollegeCalcAI</span></a>
University of Chicago enrolls 88% of the students it admits, the highest yield among colleges with more than 1,000 applicants; U.S. Naval Academy (85%) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (85%) follow.
CollegeCalcAI. "University of Chicago enrolls 88% of the students it admits, the highest yield among colleges with more than 1,000 applicants; U.S. Naval Academy (85%) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (85%) follow." 2026. https://collegecalcai.com/schools/university-of-chicago
Free to cite and reuse with attribution and a link.
<a href="https://collegecalcai.com/schools/university-of-chicago?utm_source=embed&utm_medium=statcard" style="display:inline-block;padding:16px 20px;border:1px solid #E5E9F0;border-radius:14px;text-decoration:none;font-family:system-ui,sans-serif;background:#fff"><span style="display:block;font-size:30px;font-weight:800;color:#0F766E;line-height:1">88%</span><span style="display:block;margin-top:6px;font-size:13px;color:#475569">highest yield among large applicant pools (University of Chicago)</span><span style="display:block;margin-top:8px;font-size:11px;color:#94A3B8">Source: CollegeCalcAI</span></a>
Studies and collections
Original analyses, each with a CSV download and a citation.
About CollegeCalcAI
Who we are, in the words you can paste.
CollegeCalcAI is a free college admissions platform that estimates a student's acceptance chances at 1,100+ U.S. colleges using a fixed, published model over federal admissions data, builds a balanced Reach / Target / Likely college list from those odds, and reviews application essays against each school's own priorities. The first calculation needs no account; a free account keeps it unlimited. The methodology is public at https://collegecalcai.com/methodology.
Press and data inquiries: support@collegecalcai.com. We answer requests for custom cuts of the dataset (by state, selectivity band, or test policy) and can provide a spokesperson on the model.
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Federal figures are rounded and lag the current admissions cycle by one to two years. CollegeCalcAI estimates are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.