List of Colleges With High Acceptance Rates and Online Degrees
Colleges with high acceptance rates appeal to many students because of the options they provide. This includes acting as a starting point for your college research, especially for students who may not have had the best academic success while in high school.
Check out some of the colleges with high acceptance rates below, including some of the top programs offered at each, to see if any of these are the perfect schools with high acceptance rates for you.
Did You Know?
Approximately 2.94 million U.S. students graduate from more than 27,000 high schools each year. That means that each college applicant is competing against 27,000 valedictorians and 27,000 salutatorians.
14 Colleges With High Acceptance Rates
Below is a list of some colleges with high acceptance rates. As opposed to being a complete list, this is only a sample of schools to provide you with a number of good options to start your research.
Keep in mind that a particular college’s acceptance rate may change for a variety of reasons. Plus, the degrees listed for each school are just a sample of some of the programs offered.
Be sure to check with each school for current acceptance rates and degrees offered before applying in order to find the perfect school for you.
1. Academy of Art University
Acceptance Rate: 100%
The Academy of Art University is the largest accredited private art and design university in the nation. It was founded by artists for artists in 1923 and offers many different degree levels, including:
- Associate of Arts (AA)
- Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
- Master of Arts (MA)
- Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
- Master of Architecture (M.Arch)
Some of the degrees offered at the Academy of Art University include:
- Animation and Visual Effects
- Communications and Media Technologies
- Fashion Marketing
- Landscape Architecture
- Writing for Film, Television, and Digital Media
2. Herzing University
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded in 1965 as a way to prepare students for careers in technology, Herzing University has expanded to include other in-demand professional areas such as business, healthcare, and design.
Herzing offers associates degrees, bachelors, diplomas, and certificates in more than 30 programs. Some of the degrees include:
- Business Management
- Medical Billing
- Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Criminal Justice
- Software Development
3. University of Maryland University College
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Most of the degrees offered at University of Maryland University College can be earned completely online. As a respected state university, the school specializes in teaching busy professionals so that you can build your professional value with each class you take.
UMUC offers more than 90 degrees, certificates, and specializations, including bachelors, masters, and doctorate degree levels. Some of these are:
- Computer Science
- Human Resources Management
- Psychology
- Data Analytics
- Health Care Administration
4. University of Texas-El Paso
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded in 1914 as the State School of Mines and Metallurgy, the University of Texas El Paso has grown through the years into a powerful public research university. In the process, it has been redefining excellence in education for more than a century.
Currently, the school offers:
- 71 Bachelors programs
- 76 Masters programs
- 20 Doctoral programs
- 25 Certificate programs
5. New England College
Acceptance Rate: 98%
New England College was originally created for students attending college on the G.I. Bill after World Word II. Now, their online programs use experiential learning as an essential curriculum component for both undergraduate and successful professionals.
Some of their online programs include:
- Accounting
- Healthcare Administration
- Liberal Studies
- Education
- Management
6. Everglades University
Acceptance Rate: 97%
As one of the colleges with high acceptance rates, Everglades University is a not-for-profit, private university that offers both bachelors and masters degree programs. By combining small class sizes, innovative degree programs, and convenient scheduling to accommodate working students, Everglades prepares students to advance in their future or current field of study.
Some of the degrees offered at Everglades University include:
- Construction Management
- Business Administration
- Environmental Policy and Management
- Aviation / Aerospace
- Public Health Administration
7. Utah State University
Acceptance Rate: 97%
Utah State University extends its reach to provide courses and degrees to students around the world. Founded in 1888 as a small-town college, Utah State is now a thriving research university that is respected all around the world.
Utah State University offers:
- Associates degrees
- Bachelors degrees
- Masters degrees
- Doctorate degrees
- Certificates
Some of the degrees offered include:
- Elementary Education
- Human Movement Science
- Management Information Systems
- Human Resources
- Sociology
8. Clarion University of Pennsylvania
Acceptance Rate: 96%
The faculty at Clarion University of Pennsylvania is dedicated to your success, and draws upon academic expertise and field experience. This is one of the main reasons why the school has grown to a public state university with an annual enrollment of 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
Some of the degrees offered at Clarion University include:
- Nursing
- Management
- Education
- Criminal Justice
- Political Science
9. Lubbock Christian University
Acceptance Rate: 96%
Lubbock Christian University prepares men and women for Christian service to their families, churches, and communities throughout their lives. The educational experience at LCU starts with expert faculty and instructors who are excited to help you learn.
Some of the programs offered at Lubbock Christian University are:
- Information Systems and Technology
- Digital Media Arts
- Criminal Justice
- Nursing
- Psychology
10. Bethel University
Acceptance Rate: 95%
Bethel University has one mission: to create opportunities for students to develop to their highest potential—intellectually, physically, spiritually, and socially. Bethel has developed a number of online programs because they understand the struggle professional students have trying to balance work, life, and education.
Some of the online programs available at Bethel University include:
- Business Management
- Human Services
- Organizational Leadership
- Education K-12
- Nurse Midwifery
11. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Acceptance Rate: 95%
Oklahoma Wesleyan University offers a challenging, evolving, and hard charging college experience in a caring Christian atmosphere. Instead of only talking about it, OKWU engages students in real-world discussions and decisions around the concept of integrating faith, learning, and living.
Oklahoma Wesleyan University offers online degrees such as:
- RN to BS in Nursing
- Business Administration
- Organizational Management
- Strategic Leadership
- Psychology
12. Colorado Christian University
Acceptance Rate: 94%
Since 1914, Colorado Christian University has been embracing the crossroads of faith and learning. The school strives to develop professional competence, critical thinking, and leadership abilities through a variety of degree options while promoting awareness in the Christian tradition.
Colorado Christian University offers associates degrees, bachelors, masters, and certificates online. Some of the online programs are:
- Biblical Studies
- Early Childhood Education, with Licensure
- Logistics and Supply Chain Management
- Business Administration
- Computer Information Technology
13. Tiffin University
Acceptance Rate: 93%
Tiffin University offers a personal and practical education to professionally focused students who want real-world experiences and results. As a private, coeducational university, Tiffin creates innovative partnerships in nearly everything they do to help students pursue their dreams.
Some of the online programs at Tiffin University are:
14. University of Toledo
Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded in 1872, the University of Toledo currently has over 12,000 students enrolled in distance learning courses. With over 950 online courses offered each year, Toledo is a leading accredited provider of distance learning courses and programs at the certificate, associates, bachelors, and masters degree level.
Some of the online programs at Toledo University include:
- Nursing RN to BSN
- Criminal Justice
- Accounting
- Business Administration
- Health Information Administration
Top Benefits of Colleges With High Acceptance Rates
Obviously, schools with high acceptance rates interest many students because they are statistically easier to get into than schools with lower acceptance rates. More importantly, they provide a number of options and other benefits to students besides the potential for easier acceptance.
Some of the good benefits of colleges with a high acceptance rate are:
- Can be used as safety schools
- Access to higher education to more students
- Appeal to those who may not have succeeded in high school
- Ability to transition to college without the risk of burnout or overloaded stress
- Ability to enjoy high school more
With the amount of distractions in high school, as well as the variety of living conditions throughout the country and the world, you may not have been able to achieve the best academic success. By applying to some schools that have a higher acceptance rate, you may give yourself options in case you don’t get into your "reach" schools.
As with all college research, be sure to check with a variety of schools in order to find ones that meet your expectations and that offer the degree you wish to pursue. Before applying, be sure to check with all the admissions requirements and not just the acceptance rate listed below.
What Is the Average College Acceptance Rate?
The average collage acceptance rate was 65.8% in 2015, according to a report from the National Association for College Admissions Counseling.
Factors to Consider for High Acceptance Rate Colleges
When searching for the perfect school for you, remember that you shouldn’t only focus on colleges with high acceptance rates. There are a number of other factors to consider that may reveal more about the school and your individual program.
Some of the other aspects to consider include:
- Enrollment rate or the number of accepted students that enroll
- Graduation rate of school and individual program
- Other Admissions requirements
- Total number of applicants
- Compare acceptance rate to tuition, fees, and financial aid
- Compare acceptance rate to similar schools
These factors reveal more about a school’s individual performance than simply the acceptance rate. For instance, some schools have a high acceptance rate but a low enrollment rate because many students didn’t really want to attend and picked other options. Use all of these factors to find the perfect fit for you.
Apply to Colleges With High Acceptance Rates Today
Interested in applying to colleges with high acceptance rates? Click on any of the sponsored listings on this page, including those schools highlighted throughout this article to learn more about each program.
This may include degrees offered at each school, common courses, and even provide top links to reach out to your favorites. You can even learn when classes start and how best to apply today.