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National Universities Where Most Accepted Students Enroll

Take a look at the yield rates for these ranked institutions.

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January 28, 2013 RSS Feed Print

The average prospective college student is applying to more schools than in previous years, according to the National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC). 

"The number of applications submitted to colleges rose dramatically over the past decade, fueled by a record increase in applications submitted per-student," NACAC reported in a press release for its "State of College Admission: 2012" report. 

[Find out how to apply to college for free.] 

But even if a student is accepted to more colleges, he or she can still only choose one. Colleges report the rates that their accepted first year students choose to attend—known as yield—to U.S. News in annual surveys. Yield is an important indicator of what students think about their college choice. A high yield means that students greatly value being admitted to a school, while a low yield may mean that the school was considered a "safety" and may not have been those students' first choice.

In fall 2011, Brigham Young University—Provo in Utah reported the highest yield rate, 79.7 percent, of any National University—schools that offer a full range of undergraduate majors, as well as master's and doctoral degrees, and tend to emphasize research. Harvard University, a No. 1-ranked school in the U.S. News Best National Universities rankings, reported the second-highest yield rate: 75.9 percent. 

Another highly ranked school, Stanford University in California, had the third-highest yield rate (70 percent) followed by the University of Nebraska—Lincoln with 68.9 percent and New York's Yeshiva University in fifth with 67.8 percent. 

On average, the 266 National Universities that reported yield rates to U.S. News had close to 36 percent of accepted students ultimately enroll. That's significantly higher than the average among National Liberal Arts Colleges that year, which narrowly missed 30 percent. 

[See the yield rates at National Liberal Arts Colleges.] 

The school-reported statistics below may have been impacted by any early decision or early action options available, which typically mandate that accepted students attend and can lead to higher yield rates. Below is every fall 2011 yield rate reported by a ranked National University to U.S. News. 

School name Students accepted First year enrollment Yield
Brigham Young University--Provo 7,055 5,624 79.7%
Harvard University 2,188 1,661 75.9%
Stanford University 2,437 1,707 70.0%
University of Nebraska--Lincoln 5,943 4,093 68.9%
Yeshiva University 1,261 855 67.8%
University of Alaska--Fairbanks 1,610 1,072 66.6%
Georgia Southern University 5,456 3,542 64.9%
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1,742 1,126 64.6%
Yale University 2,109 1,351 64.1%
University of Pennsylvania 3,935 2,467 62.7%
University of North Dakota 3,439 2,091 60.8%
University of Nevada--Las Vegas 4,746 2,870 60.5%
University of Alabama 9,636 5,728 59.4%
University of New Orleans 1,862 1,104 59.3%
University of Memphis 4,452 2,577 57.9%
Cleveland State University 2,389 1,377 57.6%
Columbia University 2,418 1,391 57.5%
Princeton University 2,300 1,300 56.5%
North Dakota State University 4,383 2,420 55.2%
Brown University 2,757 1,507 54.7%
University of Florida 11,786 6,429 54.5%
University of Alabama--Huntsville 1,243 677 54.5%
National-Louis University 48 26 54.2%
Lamar University 2,894 1,564 54.0%
University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill 7,469 4,026 53.9%
Texas Southern University 2,269 1,184 52.2%
South Dakota State University 4,313 2,241 52.0%
Florida A&M University 3,540 1,830 51.7%
University of Texas--El Paso 5,687 2,924 51.4%
University of Nebraska--Omaha 3,503 1,785 51.0%
Spalding University 338 172 50.9%
Cornell University 6,538 3,307 50.6%
University of Notre Dame 4,019 2,020 50.3%
Texas A&M University--College Station 16,489 8,254 50.1%
Louisiana Tech University 3,274 1,632 49.8%
University of South Alabama 3,903 1,944 49.8%
University of Louisiana--Lafayette 5,975 2,966 49.6%
University of Georgia 11,062 5,482 49.6%
Dartmouth College 2,270 1,113 49.0%
University of Texas--Dallas 3,672 1,788 48.7%
Oklahoma State University 8,099 3,896 48.1%
East Tennessee State University 4,482 2,140 47.7%
University of Texas--Austin 15,172 7,149 47.1%
University of Nevada--Reno 6,191 2,881 46.5%
Georgetown University 3,480 1,599 45.9%
University of New Mexico 7,288 3,341 45.8%
Middle Tennessee State University 7,600 3,439 45.3%
Montana State University 5,938 2,669 44.9%
Louisiana State University--Baton Rouge 11,789 5,290 44.9%
University of Louisville 5,738 2,569 44.8%
University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee 8,246 3,677 44.6%
Kansas State University 8,204 3,644 44.4%
Wichita State University 3,102 1,366 44.0%
Missouri University of Science & Technology 2,495 1,096 43.9%
North Carolina State University--Raleigh 10,395 4,564 43.9%
University of Arkansas 10,129 4,447 43.9%
Trinity International University 358 157 43.9%
Andrews University 897 393 43.8%
University of Virginia 7,844 3,434 43.8%
Duke University 3,938 1,724 43.8%
University of Tennessee 9,594 4,188 43.7%
Cardinal Stritch University 455 198 43.5%
University of Texas--San Antonio 11,450 4,974 43.4%
Indiana University-Purdue University--Indianapolis 7,048 3,059 43.4%
Mississippi State University 6,684 2,898 43.4%
University of Colorado--Denver 2,106 913 43.4%
Benedictine University 1,159 502 43.3%
Wright State University 6,273 2,713 43.2%
University of Oklahoma 9,377 4,053 43.2%
University of North Texas 9,503 4,075 42.9%
Ohio State University--Columbus 16,546 7,089 42.8%
University of South Dakota 2,923 1,252 42.8%
Maryville University of St. Louis 832 354 42.5%
University of Southern Mississippi 4,060 1,727 42.5%
Sam Houston State University 4,871 2,068 42.5%
North Carolina A&T State University 4,446 1,875 42.2%
Georgia State University 6,567 2,758 42.0%
East Carolina University 9,283 3,891 41.9%
University of Akron 10,673 4,464 41.8%
University of Missouri--St. Louis 1,222 504 41.2%
University of Wyoming 3,728 1,536 41.2%
University of Central Florida 15,303 6,301 41.2%
University of Utah 7,941 3,268 41.2%
Utah State University 7,630 3,139 41.1%
University of Missouri 14,924 6,138 41.1%
Virginia Commonwealth University 9,412 3,803 40.4%
University of Washington 14,340 5,788 40.4%
Iowa State University 12,541 5,048 40.3%
University of Kentucky 10,362 4,139 39.9%
University of Chicago 3,538 1,411 39.9%
University of Alabama--Birmingham 4,027 1,605 39.9%
University of Wisconsin--Madison 14,627 5,828 39.8%
Florida International University 6,545 2,607 39.8%
Illinois State University 8,339 3,321 39.8%
University of Texas--Arlington 6,593 2,625 39.8%
Ball State University 9,659 3,844 39.8%
University of Houston 9,359 3,719 39.7%
Indiana University of Pennsylvania 7,428 2,928 39.4%
Vanderbilt University 4,078 1,601 39.3%
University of Hawaii--Manoa 5,130 2,010 39.2%
Portland State University 3,471 1,354 39.0%
University of California--Berkeley 11,441 4,443 38.8%
University of Michigan--Ann Arbor 16,073 6,236 38.8%
University of Cincinnati 11,020 4,268 38.7%
Washington State University 11,601 4,473 38.6%
Michigan State University 20,728 7,984 38.5%
University of Kansas 9,306 3,580 38.5%
Rice University 2,600 1,000 38.5%
Texas Tech University 11,645 4,464 38.3%
University of Northern Colorado 5,949 2,280 38.3%
University of Arizona 19,172 7,300 38.1%
University of North Carolina--Greensboro 6,418 2,443 38.1%
New Mexico State University 5,954 2,254 37.9%
Tennessee State University 3,046 1,152 37.8%
Texas A&M University--Commerce 2,039 771 37.8%
Northwestern University 5,575 2,107 37.8%
Southern Illinois University--Carbondale 6,402 2,417 37.8%
University of Missouri--Kansas City 3,076 1,159 37.7%
Virginia Tech 13,860 5,221 37.7%
West Virginia University 13,415 5,022 37.4%
Georgia Institute of Technology 7,210 2,695 37.4%
University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign 19,434 7,255 37.3%
Stevens Institute of Technology 1,500 559 37.3%
University of California--Los Angeles 15,689 5,825 37.1%
Florida State University 16,561 6,145 37.1%
Oregon State University 9,471 3,506 37.0%
University of North Carolina--Charlotte 8,570 3,169 37.0%
Biola University 2,548 935 36.7%
University of West Florida 3,616 1,324 36.6%
California Institute of Technology 667 244 36.6%
New York University 13,487 4,870 36.1%
New Jersey Institute of Technology 2,787 1,006 36.1%
Temple University 11,926 4,276 35.9%
Colorado State University 12,564 4,504 35.8%
Johns Hopkins University 3,576 1,279 35.8%
Kent State University 12,231 4,351 35.6%
Old Dominion University 7,746 2,738 35.3%
Tufts University 3,743 1,317 35.2%
Texas Woman's University 2,972 1,044 35.1%
Arizona State University 26,425 9,254 35.0%
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey--New Brunswick 17,487 6,075 34.7%
Morgan State University 3,134 1,086 34.7%
Wayne State University 7,150 2,466 34.5%
University of Toledo 11,131 3,837 34.5%
University of South Carolina 13,451 4,636 34.5%
University of Southern California 8,566 2,931 34.2%
Florida Atlantic University 9,805 3,347 34.1%
Ohio University 11,415 3,886 34.0%
University of Illinois--Chicago 9,151 3,115 34.0%
Oakland University 6,941 2,361 34.0%
University of Maryland--College Park 11,762 3,992 33.9%
University of Mississippi 10,524 3,569 33.9%
Michigan Technological University 3,441 1,161 33.7%
College of William and Mary 4,443 1,485 33.4%
Purdue University--West Lafayette 20,163 6,659 33.0%
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry 872 287 32.9%
Auburn University 12,827 4,202 32.8%
University of Idaho 5,020 1,631 32.5%
Jackson State University 2,643 854 32.3%
New School 3,381 1,091 32.3%
University of Colorado--Boulder 17,828 5,700 32.0%
Edgewood College 929 297 32.0%
Howard University 4,857 1,546 31.8%
Trevecca Nazarene University 848 269 31.7%
Bowling Green State University 12,251 3,861 31.5%
George Washington University 7,124 2,241 31.5%
Wake Forest University 3,933 1,237 31.5%
Regent University 1,216 382 31.4%
Washington University in St. Louis 4,763 1,488 31.2%
Lehigh University 3,864 1,207 31.2%
Nova Southeastern University 2,180 675 31.0%
Pennsylvania State University--University Park 23,855 7,366 30.9%
University of South Florida 11,107 3,378 30.4%
St. Mary's University of Minnesota 1,228 373 30.4%
Central Michigan University 12,670 3,838 30.3%
University of Iowa 15,105 4,565 30.2%
University of St. Thomas 4,435 1,324 29.9%
Emory University 4,542 1,342 29.5%
University of Massachusetts--Boston 4,417 1,297 29.4%
Duquesne University 4,578 1,343 29.3%
Azusa Pacific University 4,028 1,180 29.3%
Indiana University--Bloomington 25,455 7,424 29.2%
Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi 4,879 1,422 29.1%
University of Minnesota--Twin Cities 18,505 5,368 29.0%
Texas A&M University--Kingsville 3,939 1,142 29.0%
University of Maryland--Baltimore County 4,925 1,425 28.9%
George Mason University 9,263 2,665 28.8%
University at Buffalo--SUNY 11,363 3,255 28.6%
Illinois Institute of Technology 1,566 448 28.6%
Carnegie Mellon University 5,029 1,436 28.6%
University of Massachusetts--Lowell 5,020 1,433 28.5%
Indiana State University 8,843 2,521 28.5%
University of Delaware 13,768 3,914 28.4%
Northern Illinois University 9,239 2,590 28.0%
University of Maine 6,289 1,750 27.8%
University of Pittsburgh 13,544 3,768 27.8%
Clemson University 10,803 2,933 27.1%
San Diego State University 14,805 4,019 27.1%
Syracuse University 12,779 3,410 26.7%
South Carolina State University 3,130 829 26.5%
Western Michigan University 11,986 3,166 26.4%
Miami University--Oxford 13,702 3,581 26.1%
Texas Christian University 7,217 1,871 25.9%
University of Connecticut 12,894 3,327 25.8%
Worcester Polytechnic Institute 3,998 1,005 25.1%
University of Rochester 5,101 1,273 25.0%
University of Oregon 16,790 4,167 24.8%
Southern Methodist University 5,641 1,382 24.5%
Ashland University 2,502 611 24.4%
St. John Fisher College 2,300 555 24.1%
University of Tulsa 2,564 617 24.1%
Brandeis University 3,566 858 24.1%
Stony Brook University--SUNY 10,536 2,521 23.9%
Clarkson University 3,630 851 23.4%
Our Lady of the Lake University 1,042 244 23.4%
DePaul University 10,714 2,458 22.9%
University of New Hampshire 12,863 2,949 22.9%
Boston College 9,227 2,113 22.9%
Pepperdine University 2,962 676 22.8%
University at Albany--SUNY 10,810 2,422 22.4%
University of California--Davis 21,085 4,705 22.3%
University of La Verne 2,286 506 22.1%
Clark Atlanta University 3,772 833 22.1%
Lynn University 1,862 411 22.1%
Binghamton University--SUNY 11,440 2,516 22.0%
University of Massachusetts--Amherst 21,373 4,688 21.9%
University of California--Irvine 23,391 5,115 21.9%
University of Dayton 9,106 1,970 21.6%
Widener University 3,538 762 21.5%
Immaculata University 1,140 242 21.2%
University of Rhode Island 15,211 3,215 21.1%
St. Louis University 8,202 1,707 20.8%
Northeastern University 14,938 3,082 20.6%
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 5,779 1,186 20.5%
University of Miami 10,635 2,172 20.4%
American University 7,788 1,541 19.8%
Loyola University Chicago 9,793 1,930 19.7%
Baylor University 15,451 3,033 19.6%
Polytechnic Institute of New York University 2,124 416 19.6%
Clark University 2,803 546 19.5%
Boston University 20,662 4,023 19.5%
Colorado School of Mines 4,520 879 19.4%
University of California--Santa Cruz 19,034 3,606 18.9%
University of California--Riverside 19,389 3,664 18.9%
Pace University 8,530 1,594 18.7%
Northern Arizona University 20,727 3,872 18.7%
University of California--Santa Barbara 22,379 4,098 18.3%
Catholic University of America 4,971 904 18.2%
University of California--San Diego 18,976 3,444 18.1%
Seton Hall University 5,474 993 18.1%
Tulane University 9,422 1,642 17.4%
University of San Diego 6,590 1,143 17.3%
University of Denver 7,160 1,240 17.3%
Adelphi University 5,730 988 17.2%
University of San Francisco 6,973 1,190 17.1%
Florida Institute of Technology 3,925 669 17.0%
Barry University 4,060 662 16.3%
Marquette University 12,707 2,068 16.3%
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey--Newark 6,143 986 16.1%
Fordham University 13,478 1,986 14.7%
University of Vermont 16,841 2,423 14.4%
Hofstra University 12,576 1,675 13.3%
Case Western Reserve University 6,944 902 13.0%
University of the Pacific 7,608 927 12.2%
Drexel University 27,861 3,141 11.3%
St. John's University 25,998 2,763 10.6%

The yield data above are correct as of Jan. 28, 2013. For additional admissions data, complete rankings, and much more, access the U.S. News College Compass.

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