For parents and students, the college admissions process for the Class of 2028 was one of the most competitive in recent years. With record-breaking application numbers at top schools, it’s more important than ever to understand the trends and statistics shaping this ever-evolving landscape.
Let’s discuss key trends in Class of 2028 college admissions, including declining acceptance rates, waitlists, and tips to navigate this competitive process effectively going forward.
Why Are Admission Rates Declining?
This year, colleges and universities are reporting some of the largest applicant pools in history. Several factors contribute to this continued surge:
- Increased accessibility of online applications through platforms like the Common App.
- Test-optional policies that continue to encourage applications from a broader range of students.
- Global interest in U.S. higher education is driven by the perceived quality of American degrees.
While these trends create opportunities for students to apply to a wider array of schools, they also result in lower acceptance rates as institutions manage larger pools of qualified applicants.
What Does This Mean for Future Applicants?
With admission rates declining, students and families should be prepared for:
- Tougher competition: Even schools with historically higher acceptance rates are becoming more selective.
- Longer waitlists: Colleges are relying on waitlists to fine-tune enrollment numbers amid application surges.
- A need for strategic applications: Crafting a compelling narrative through essays, extracurriculars, and recommendation letters has never been more important.
Early Decision and Early Action applications are becoming more popular, with schools often filling a significant portion of their incoming class through these rounds. Applying early can boost your chances of admission, but it also requires a clear first-choice school and a strong application prepared ahead of regular deadlines. Families should weigh the commitment of Early Decision against the flexibility of Early Action when building their strategy.
Tracking Admission Rate Data
Knowing these numbers provides valuable insights into acceptance trends and helps families better understand how to position their applications.
| School | Class of 2028 | Class of 2027 | Class of 2026 | Class of 2025 |
| American University | TBA | 47.38% | 40.63% | 64.09% |
| Amherst College | 9.01% | 9.81% | 7.25% | 8.74% |
| Auburn University | 45.92% | 50.47% | 43.60% | 71.18% |
| Babson College | 17.00% | 19.74% | 22.35% | 25.35% |
| Barnard College | 8.83% | 7.96% | 8.79% | 10.40% |
| Bates College | 13.00% | 13.06% | 13.76% | 17.31% |
| Boston College | 15.87% | 15.45% | 16.70% | 18.90% |
| Boston University | TBA | 10.85% | 14.00% | 18.30% |
| Bowdoin College | 7.13% | 8.02% | 9.19% | 8.80% |
| Brandeis University | TBA | 35.33% | 39.00% | 39.00% |
| Brown University | 5.16% | 5.23% | 5.00% | 5.50% |
| Bucknell University | 28.93% | 32.01% | 32.55% | 34.50% |
| California Institute of Technology | TBA | 3.14% | 2.69% | 3.90% |
| Carleton College | 17.85% | 22.28% | 16.63% | 17.55% |
| Carnegie Mellon University | 11.50% | 11.40% | 11.30% | 13.54% |
| Case Western Reserve University | TBA | 28.67% | 27.41% | 30.24% |
| Claremont McKenna College | TBA | 11.12% | 10.35% | 11.24% |
| Colby College | 7.00% | 7.00% | 7.45% | 8.00% |
| Colgate University | 13.59% | 11.95% | 12.43% | 17.20% |
| College of the Holy Cross | 18.00% | 21.10% | 36.00% | 43.00% |
| Colorado College | 19.00% | 20.03% | 16.30% | 14.25% |
| Columbia University | 3.86% | 4.00% | 3.74% | 3.90% |
| Cornell University | 8.41% | 7.90% | 7.26% | ~8.70% |
| Dartmouth College | 5.32% | 6.23% | 6.38% | 6.17% |
| Davidson College | 13.40% | 14.48% | 16.95% | 17.80% |
| Denison University | 17.00% | 16.93% | 22.00% | 28.27% |
| DePaul University | TBA | 73.53% | 70.17% | 69.44% |
| Dickinson College | TBA | 43.08% | 34.92% | 48.08% |
| Duke University | 5.40% | 6.30% | 6.20% | 5.70% |
| Elon University | 66.00% | 67.31% | 74.46% | 77.71% |
| Emory University | Emory: 10.28% Oxford: 14.33% | Emory: 10.65% Oxford: 17.53% | Emory: 11.35% Both campuses: 15.80% | Both campuses: 20.40% |
| Fairfield University | 33.00% | 44.98% | 52.18% | 55.81% |
| Florida State University | 21.82% | 23.77% | 25.04% | 37.06% |
| Fordham University | 59.33% | 56.28% | 54.13% | 58.30% |
| Furman University | 42.96% | 52.57% | 67.02% | 71.35% |
| George Washington University | TBA | 43.54% | 48.98% | 49.71% |
| Georgetown University | 12.33% | 13.08% | 12.10% | 12.00% |
| Georgia Tech | 13.81% | 16.46% | 17.14% | 18.30% |
| Gonzaga University | TBA | 75.96% | 69.77% | 76.15% |
| Grinnell College | 14.50% | 12.68% | 10.76% | 10.50% |
| Hamilton College | 13.62% | 11.77% | 11.78% | 14.10% |
| Harvard University | 3.65% | 3.45% | 3.19% | 3.43% |
| Harvey Mudd College | TBA | 13.10% | 13.36% | 9.99% |
| Haverford College | 12.38% | 12.91% | 14.21% | 17.84% |
| Howard University | 30.00% to 32.00% | 34.81% | 51.90% | 35.25% |
| Johns Hopkins University | 5.67% | 7.56% | 7.24% | 7.40% |
| Lafayette College | 30.60% | 31.40% | 33.60% | 40.70% |
| Lehigh University | 25.93% | 29.26% | 36.98% | 45.97% |
| Lewis & Clark College | TBA | 74.53% | 68.59% | 79.45% |
| Loyola Marymount University | TBA | 40.29% | 41.31% | 45.82% |
| Loyola University Maryland | TBA | ~76.00% | 83.48% | 84.21% |
| Macalester College | 28.21% | 27.55% | 28.42% | 31.26% |
| Marquette University | TBA | 87.48% | 87.21% | 86.26% |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 4.55% | 4.80% | 3.96% | 4.00% |
| Miami University – Ohio | 80.78% | 83.35% | 87.92% | 88.60% |
| Middlebury College | 11.96% | 10.37% | 12.69% | 15.70% |
| Mount Holyoke College | 36.00% | 38.00% | 39.76% | 52.30% |
| New York University | 8.00% | 9.41% | 12.46% | 12.80% |
| North Carolina State University | 41.70% | 39.55% | 47.01% | 47.23% |
| Northeastern University | TBA | 5.65% | 6.80% | 18.38% |
| Northwestern University | ~7.50% | 7.22% | 7.21% | 6.80% |
| Oberlin College | College of Arts and Sciences: 34.00% Conservatory of Music: 32.00% | 32.98% | 34.90% | 34.34% |
| Occidental College | 44.00% | 39.89% | 39.40% | 38.24% |
| Olin College of Engineering | TBA | 21.66% | 19.14% | 17.97% |
| Pepperdine University | 59.08% | 49.85% | 48.71% | 52.71% |
| Pitzer College | 25.60% | 16.66% | 18.40% | 18.31% |
| Pomona College | 6.62% | 6.76% | 7.02% | 6.60% |
| Princeton University | 4.62% | 4.50% | 5.70% | 3.98% |
| Purdue University | 49.84% | 50.36% | 52.72% | 68.98% |
| Reed College | TBA | 27.16% | 30.80% | 43.80% |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | TBA | 58.50% | 64.51% | 53.06% |
| Rice University | 8.00% | 7.88% | 8.68% | 9.30% |
| Santa Clara University | 47.00% | 43.84% | 52.11% | 53.99% |
| Sarah Lawrence College | TBA | TBA | 49.88% | Unknown |
| Skidmore College | 21.00% | 22.92% | 25.54% | 30.59% |
| Smith College | 21.00% | 19.73% | 22.86% | 29.91% |
| Southern Methodist University | TBA | 61.22% | 52.25% | 53.13% |
| Stanford University | TBA | 3.91% | 3.68% | 3.95% |
| Swarthmore College | 7.46% | 6.94% | 6.93% | 8.00% |
| Syracuse University | TBA | 43.12% | 51.75% | 59.19% |
| Texas A&M | TBA | 63.10% | 60.34% | 64.13% |
| Texas Christian University | 44.49% | 42.60% | 55.76% | 53.61% |
| Trinity College | 29.00% | 33.52% | 36.14% | 37.75% |
| Trinity University | 26.00% | 28.16% | 30.51% | 33.72% |
| Tufts University | 10.00% | 10.13% | 9.69% | 11.00% |
| Tulane University | ~14.06% | 14.59% | 11.45% | 9.63% |
| University of California – Berkeley | 11.03% | 11.73% | 11.39% | 14.53% |
| University of California – Davis | 42.11% | 41.64% | 37.34% | 48.74% |
| University of California – Irvine | 28.79% | 25.75% | 21.27% | 26.34% |
| University of California – Los Angeles | 8.98% | 8.73% | 8.56% | 10.76% |
| University of California – Merced | 99.60% | 88.60% | 89.46% | 86.60% |
| University of California – Riverside | 77.20% | 70.38% | 68.69% | 65.37% |
| University of California – San Diego | 26.77% | 24.76% | 23.70% | 34.21% |
| University of California – Santa Barbara | 32.94% | 27.78% | 25.85% | 29.18% |
| University of California – Santa Cruz | 64.97% | 61.28% | 46.85% | 58.66% |
| University of Chicago | TBA | 4.79% | 5.43% | 6.20% |
| University of Florida | TBA | 24.03% | 23.35% | 28.98% |
| University of Georgia | 37.36% | 37.19% | 42.23% | 38.96% |
| University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign | 42.37% | 43.69% | 44.82% | 59.66% |
| University of Maryland | TBA | 44.84% | 36.00% | 43.00% |
| University of Miami | 19.00% | 18.51% | 18.94% | 28.49% |
| University of Michigan | TBA | 17.94% | 17.69% | 20.15% |
| University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill | TBA | 18.74% | 16.85% | 19.24% |
| University of Notre Dame | 11.27% | 12.38% | 12.87% | 14.60% |
| University of Pennsylvania | 5.38% | 5.87% | 6.50% | 5.68% |
| University of Richmond | 22.20% | 23.31% | 24.37% | 27.33% |
| University of Rochester | TBA | 35.85% | 38.88% | 40.55% |
| University of San Diego | 52.00% | 46.81% | 52.61% | 52.70% |
| University of Southern California | 9.81% | 10.01% | 12.02% | 12.00% |
| University of Tennessee – Knoxville | 34.28% | 45.99% | 68.41% | 74.94% |
| University of Texas at Austin | 11.00% (for the 25% of the incoming class that were not directly admitted) | Overall: 29.12% | 31.41% | 28.75% |
| University of Vermont | TBA | 60.00% | 59.79% | 63.51% |
| University of Virginia | In-state: 25.50% Out-of-state: 13.00% | In-state: 27.58% Out-of-state: 13.18% | In-state: 27.58% Out-of-state: 15.21% | In-state: 28.16% Out-of-state: 17.45% |
| University of Washington – Seattle | TBA | 42.53% | 47.52% | 53.48% |
| University of Wisconsin – Madison | TBA | 43.24% | Not reported | 60.31% |
| Vanderbilt University | 5.75% | 6.28% | 6.10% | 6.70% |
| Vassar College | TBA | 17.73% | 18.66% | 20.15% |
| Villanova University | 23.50% | 20.50% | 23.39% | 25.24% |
| Wake Forest University | 22.00% | 21.56% | 21.37% | 25.18% |
| Washington and Lee University | 14.12% | 17.36% | 16.96% | 18.87% |
| Washington University in St. Louis | 12.06% | 11.96% | 11.33% | 13.00% |
| Wellesley College | ~13.00% | 13.91% | 13.57% | 16.00% |
| Wesleyan University | 16.00% | 17.10% | 14.43% | 19.44% |
| Willamette University | TBA | 79.08% | 80.63% | 79.38% |
| William & Mary | 34.00% | 32.72% | 33.50% | 36.50% |
| Williams College | 7.52% | 9.99% | 8.50% | 8.00% |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute | TBA | 58.50% | 57.48% | 60.21% |
| Yale University | 3.90% | 4.50% | 4.57% | 4.62% |
With steep odds like these, navigating the college application journey can be exciting as well as daunting for students and parents alike. As your trusted resource, we’re here to provide guidance and support every step of the way.
How Families Can Navigate the Process
The competitive nature of college admissions can feel overwhelming, but preparation is key. Here’s how families can approach this challenge:
- Focus on a balanced college list: Include a mix of safety, target, and reach schools.
- Optimize application strategies: Tailor essays to reflect your student’s unique story and align it with each school’s values.
- Demonstrate interest: Especially at colleges where yield rates (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) are critical, strategies include attending virtual info sessions, scheduling campus visits, participating in interviews, and writing personalized essays. Admissions officers take note of students who show genuine enthusiasm for their institution!
- Utilize test-optional policies wisely: Decide whether to submit scores based on how they strengthen the application.
- Plan early: Starting the application process during junior year (or earlier) allows for more thoughtful decision-making and development.
Finally, college affordability is a significant factor for most families. Begin researching financial aid options, including need-based aid through the FAFSA and CSS Profile, as well as merit-based scholarships offered by colleges and external organizations. Many schools also provide net price calculators to estimate costs. Planning ahead ensures you don’t leave valuable opportunities on the table.
Empowerly: Your Partner in College Admissions
Navigating the college admissions landscape doesn’t have to be a solo journey. At Empowerly, our team of expert counselors works closely with students to create customized strategies, craft standout applications, and make confident decisions. Stay tuned for updates as we continue to monitor admissions rates for the Class of 2028. Whether your student is aiming for an Ivy League school or exploring state universities, we’re here to provide tailored support every step of the way.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Schedule a free consultation today to learn how Empowerly can help your family navigate the complexities of the admissions process and achieve your goals.
Sophia Minhas
Madeleine Karydes