Guide October 22, 2025 by Amber Wilson

Top U.S. Universities with High Acceptance Rates for International Students

Are you an ambitious student looking for a world-class education in the United States? 

The USA is a home of top-quality education, a vibrant student culture, and numerous career opportunities that many international students aspire to be a part of. With more than 18 million students and over 1 million international students enrolled in 4,000+ educational institutions, the USA offers a wide range of courses and programs for aspiring students. However, not every university has high acceptance rates. 

For international applicants, the acceptance rate typically ranges from as high as 99% to as low as 3%. It’s better to opt for universities with high acceptance rates to increase your chances of being accepted. But finding the best university that aligns with your academic and career goals can be overwhelming and hard. Researching educational institutions, preparing for standardised exams and applying to individual universities according to their unique requirements is challenging and lonely. 

CounsellingX is a reputable organisation dedicated to providing career-related counselling to students across the world. Unlike typical counselling agencies, our counsellors are alumni of the U.S. universities you wish to study in, and each counsellor has secured at least 30+ successful placements. You can book a free 15-minute consultation session with a counsellor of your choice, and take the first step towards your dream future in the United States.

Top 15 U.S. Universities with High Acceptance Rates

  1. Liberty University
  2. Marshall University
  3. University of Wyoming
  4. University of New Mexico
  5. Utah State University
  6. University of Maine
  7. University of Memphis
  8. University of Toledo
  9. University of East Carolina
  10. University of Kansas
  11. University of Utah
  12. South Dakota State University
  13. University of Northern Colorado
  14. Mississippi State University
  15. Wichita State University
  16. Liberty University

Liberty University, founded in 1971, is located in Lynchburg, Virginia. There are over 140,000 students enrolled in different programs. It is known for Christian-oriented quality education and is the university with the highest acceptance rate among all educational institutions. 

Why choose Liberty University?

  • It is known for quality education.
  • If you want an education from a Christian worldview.
  • Liberty University offers benefits to military students.
  • It is one of the most affordable educational institutions.
  • It offers 100% online degree programs, encouraging flexibility.
  • Liberty University provides a wide range of course options to choose from.
  • It provides student support services during education and after completion of studies.

Liberty University

Features

Acceptance Rate

99%

Top Courses

Criminal Justice, Liberal Arts

U.S. Ranking

436

World Ranking

1776

Employment Rate

94%

  1. Marshall University

Marshall University, founded in 1837, is a public university in West Virginia. It is one of the oldest educational institutions in the United States. It offers vast resources and opportunities to international students to improve themselves culturally, academically and physically and has one of the highest acceptance rates among universities.

Why choose Marshall University?

  • Extracurricular learning is highly encouraged.
  • MU is very affordable for international students.
  • It encourages students to think critically, learn and live in a globalised society.
  • Marshall University serves over 14000 students in undergraduate and graduate courses.
  • The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), an institutional accreditor in the United States, accredits Marshall University as an institution of higher learning.
  • Each class has a limit of 20 students, which is ideal if you prefer quality peer bonding.
  • It provides a safe residential environment for international students.

Marshall University

Features

Acceptance Rate

97%

Top Courses

Psychology, General Studies, Marketing

U.S. Ranking

315

World Ranking

1757

Employment Rate

Graduates: 40%

Post-graduates: 60%

  1. University of Wyoming

University of Wyoming, founded in 1886, is a well-known public university. It offers programs in engineering and environmental sciences. It is an ideal educational institution for students passionate about environmental studies, such as climate change.

A unique thing about the University of Wyoming is its outdoor research opportunities because it’s close to the Rocky Mountains.

Why choose the University of Wyoming?

  • It is rated number one for a Small College Town in the USA.
  • Around 91% of classes are taught by highly qualified professors.
  • The University of Wyoming offers several scholarships and funding options.
  • It is home to over 12,000 students, with more than 600 being international students.
  • The College of Business is ranked in the top 5% among business schools through AACSB accreditation.

University of Wyoming

Features

Acceptance Rate

96%

Top Courses

Business, Psychology,  Criminal Justice

U.S. Ranking

220

World Ranking

1001

Employment Rate

73%

  1. University of New Mexico

University of New Mexico, founded in 1889, is a public university in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. It also has one of the highest acceptance rates among US universities. The University of New Mexico is well-known for its diversity, inclusion, and quality of education. With over 22,000 students, it offers a wide range of programs and scholarship options to international students.

Why choose the University of New Mexico?

  • The medical school has over 700 faculty members.
  • UNM has one of the best law schools in the country.
  • Clinical and research programs are internationally recognised.
  • University programs encourage learning through various learning modes.
  • UNM offers spirited athletic programs. Their basketball and soccer teams are well-reputed.
  • The regional location of the university is rich in history, cultural diversity and natural landscape beauty.
  • It is a highly affordable university that provides numerous scholarship aid options and competitive tuition rates for international students.

University of New Mexico

Features

Acceptance Rate

96%

Top Courses

Law, Medical programs, Engineering

U.S. Ranking

231

World Ranking

445

Employment Rate

87%

  1. Utah State University

Utah State University (USU), founded in 1888, is highly regarded in agriculture science, education and engineering programs. From over 28,000 students, around 400 are international students. It offers affordable tuition for international students and has top-tier research facilities. USU houses one of NASA’s Space Grant Consortia and is a leader in space science research. 

Why choose Utah State University?

  • It has a 19:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
  • It ranks #5 as the most engaging college on social media.
  • USU has the second-oldest undergraduate program in the USA.
  • USU offers the top 10% of online Bachelor's programs in the United States.
  • USU is home to more Carnegie-recognised professors than any other school in Utah.
  • Utah State University is a leading educational institution which nurtures innovation, technology and research.

Utah State University

Features

Acceptance Rate

94%

Top Courses

Agriculture, Aerospace Engineering, Education programs

U.S. Ranking

249

World Ranking

827

Employment Rate

91%

  1. University of Maine

University of Maine, or UMaine, founded in 1865, offers affordable tuition rates and has a high acceptance rate for international students. It encourages building a strong academic foundation in forestry, marine sciences and environmental studies. UMaine is a flagship university and provides a wide range of opportunities in research and development. It is home to over 11,000 students, including 600 international students from 80 countries.

Why choose the University of Maine?

  • UMaine is a flagship public university in the state.
  • Forbes magazine ranked it in the top 15% of America’s colleges.
  • It has a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio, which is one of the lowest among national universities.
  • UMaine offers nearly 100 undergraduate majors and programs, 70 master’s and 35 doctoral degree programs.
  • The University of Maine is widely known for its “Advanced Structures and Composites Centre”. It conducts world-class research on wind energy. 
  • Maine is rated the safest state in the USA by the Institute of Economics and Peace, and the happiest place to live in New England by the Journal Science.

University of Maine

Features

Acceptance Rate

94%

Top Courses

Business, Engineering, Biological and Biomedical Sciences

U.S. Ranking

168

World Ranking

731

Employment Rate

93%

  1. University of Memphis

University of Memphis (UoM), founded in 1912, is a top-tier educational institution with quality research facilities. It is located in a peaceful residential neighbourhood of Memphis, Tennessee. UoM has one of the highest acceptance rates among US universities. UoM not only provides top-notch education to students but also encourages a sense of responsibility as a citizen. It is one of the best universities for master's programs in the United States and is home to over 20,000 students.

Why choose the University of Memphis?

  • The UoM campus is one of the safest in Tennessee. 
  • UoM students are like a family to each other; they hang out on campus and relax.
  • The University of Memphis has diverse cultures where students learn from each other.
  • Several scholarship options are available for international students to support their financial aid needs.
  • It has great scholarship options, education is top-tier, and it is a major research-centred educational institution.

University of Memphis

Features

Acceptance Rate

93%

Top Courses

Business, Management, Marketing

U.S. Ranking

266

World Ranking

801

Employment Rate

93%

  1. University of Toledo

The University of Toledo (UT), founded in 1872, is located in Toledo, Ohio. It has top-tier research facilities in health sciences and engineering. UT is one of the leading universities in the United States in terms of innovation, research and development and student experience. It is well-known for its notable solar energy research facility, which is among the largest ones in Ohio. UT has over 15000 students with over 1200 international students from 77 countries.

Why choose the University of Toledo?

  • UT offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across business, health sciences, liberal arts and engineering. 
  • It offers the opportunity for hands-on research to students to learn practical education, which enhances their skillset.
  • Compared to other universities in the area, UT has quite affordable tuition rates.
  • The University of Toledo offers a range of support services, including mental health support, tutoring, and academic and career advising.
  • The University of Toledo is located in a large metropolitan area of Ohio, which offers various internship and job opportunities and multicultural experiences.

University of Toledo

Features

Acceptance Rate

92%

Top Courses

Business, Engineering, Biological and Biomedical Sciences

U.S. Ranking

296

World Ranking

1089

Employment Rate

91%

  1. University of East Carolina

The University of East Carolina, founded in 1907, is one of the oldest universities in Greenville, East Carolina. It has a unique teaching approach to prepare students for the future. It ranks #9 among the universities in the USA with the highest acceptance rates. Over 27,000 students are enrolled in various programs, of which more than 200 are international students.

Why choose the University of East Carolina?

  • Its tuition costs are pretty affordable.
  • ECU degree, programs and faculty members are nationally recognised.
  • Two PhD programs are ranked in the top ten for faculty scholarly productivity.
  • US News and World Report ranks ECU's two online degree programs among the top 20.
  • Over $215 million in funding has been utilised for external research in the previous 5 years.
  • All programs, including online ones and campus ones, are taught by the same ECU faculty.
  • A total of 100 full-time graduate faculty are actively engaged in research and scholarly activity.
  • ECU is classified among the Doctoral/Research universities by the Carnegie Foundation. A total of 69 master’s degree programs, 5 professional doctorate programs, 13 scholarship/research doctoral programs, and 77 graduate programs are offered.

University of East Carolina

Features

Acceptance Rate

90%

Top Courses

Nursing, Engineering

U.S. Ranking

189

World Ranking

1337

Employment Rate

90%

  1.  University of Kansas

The University of Kansas (KU), founded in 1865, is a high-tier research institute known for its programmes in health, law, and engineering. It has one of the highest acceptance rates among US universities. Over 26000 students are enrolled in different courses, out of which over 2000 are international students.

Why choose the University of Kansas?

  • KU trains leaders in Occupational Therapy.
  • KU tuition rates are pretty affordable, and scholarship options are ample.
  • KU faculty is world-renowned for its expertise and internationally recognised.
  • KU is highly regarded for state-of-the-art research facilities in aerospace engineering and medicine.
  • Graduates from the University of Kansas are highly sought after. The work opportunities are endless.
  • It is highly known for its School of Pharmacy, which ranks among the top 20 in the US pharmacy education.

University of Kansas

Features

Acceptance Rate

88%

Top Courses

Occupational Therapy, Engineering, Nursing, Pharmacy

U.S. Ranking

151

World Ranking

340

Employment Rate

94.6%

  1.  University of Utah

The University of Utah, founded in 1850, is a public university located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Over 35,000 students are enrolled annually, out of which over 2000 are international students. It has one of the highest acceptance rates among US universities.

Why choose the University of Utah?

  • The university is located in Utah, which has a low cost of living and a strong economy.
  • The annual healthcare budget is over $2 billion. The student body receives plenty of clinical training.
  • The University of Utah is beautiful and is located in a mesmerising landscape, which brings calm to the mind.
  • The instructors and faculty are not only professional but also very compassionate and committed to students’ success.
  • The University of Utah prioritises quality over quantity with a smaller program size for a more personal learning experience.

University of Utah

Features

Acceptance Rate

87%

Top Courses

Engineering, Healthcare, Arts, Business

U.S. Ranking

105

World Ranking

141

Employment Rate

94.7%

  1.  South Dakota State University

South Dakota State University (SDSU), founded in 1881, is a public educational institution in the United States. If you’re seeking a high-quality but affordable education, it is one of the best to apply to. Their nursing, agriculture and pharmacy programs are well-known nationwide. SDSU enrolled over 12000 students last year, out of which over 800 were international students. 

Why choose the South Dakota State University?

  • SDSU offers premier academic programs.
  • Over $84 million is allocated for research and development.
  • Being highly committed to students’ well-being, SDSU offers support to students in all areas.
  • It has division one athletics that boast Summit League championships and National championship titles.
  • SDSU is home to the renowned South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, which has brought innovation and change to sustainable farming practices.
  • A total of 9 colleges offer the following programs: 86 majors, 35 specialisations, 107 minors, 39 master’s degrees, 17 PhD and 2 professional doctorates.

South Dakota State University

Features

Acceptance Rate

86%

Top Courses

Pharmacy, Agriculture, Nursing

U.S. Ranking

266

World Ranking

1255

Employment Rate

91%

  1.  University of Northern Colorado

The University of Northern Colorado (UNC), founded in 1889, is a public university in Greeley, Colorado. It offers a welcoming environment to international students. Over 8000 students are enrolled in UNC, with over 170 being international students. 

Why choose the University of Northern Colorado?

  • The UNC campus is beautiful.
  • It offers students more hands-on and practical experience.
  • Class sizes are small, encouraging more personalised learning.
  • The Monfort College of Business has received national recognition.
  • UNC offers highly affordable education options for higher education.
  • Faculty members are well-qualified and highly experienced in their areas of teaching.
  • UNC is widely known in the fields of education, performing arts, nursing and business. 
  • It is home to the renowned School of Theatre Arts and Dance, which has produced highly qualified Hollywood and Broadway professionals.

University of Northern Colorado

Features

Acceptance Rate

84%

Top Courses

Nursing, Business, Music, Arts, Education

U.S. Ranking

352

World Ranking

903

Employment Rate

93%

  1.  Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University (MSU), founded in 1878, is a public educational institution located in Starkville, Mississippi. Over 23,000 students got enrolled last year, out of which more than 700 were international students. It provides scholarship options to international students and ranks #14 among universities with the highest acceptance rates.

Why choose the Mississippi State University?

  • MSU is highly regarded for its agriculture, business and engineering programs.
  • The campus is a beautiful green place in the small, peaceful town of Starkville.
  • It is well-reputed for research, innovation and a safe, inclusive study environment.
  • The Centre of Entrepreneurship and Outreach support students and fosters innovation.
  • MSU Starkville campus houses one of the largest supercomputing centres in the United States. 
  • The university has one of the only 28 accredited Colleges of Veterinary Medicine in the United States.
  • MSU is a space-, land-, and sea-grant institution, with an enormous budget dedicated to research and development.

University of Northern Colorado

Features

Acceptance Rate

70%

Top Courses

Business, Psychology, Arts, Computer Science

U.S. Ranking

214

World Ranking

1001

Employment Rate

90%

  1.  Wichita State University

Wichita State University (WSU), founded in 1895, is a public educational institution located in Wichita, Kansas. Over 15,000 students are enrolled annually, with 1500 being international students. 

Why choose Wichita State University (WSU)?

  • WSU fosters practical learning through hands-on experience in industries. 
  • Over $100 million scholarship fund is allocated for international students.
  • WSU is highly recognised for its aerospace, business, engineering and health sciences programs.
  • The university provides a favourable environment for students interested in entrepreneurship.
  • WSU encourages a diverse community environment, a welcoming atmosphere and vibrant student life.
  • WSU's reputable National Institute of Aviation Research (NIAR) makes it a leader in aerospace research and development.

Wichita State University

Features

Acceptance Rate

68%

Top Courses

Business, Engineering, Aerospace, Health

U.S. Ranking

296

World Ranking

1889

Employment Rate

74%

Get Help From a Counsellor in the United States

Applying to U.S. universities as a non-native student can be a challenging and isolating task. Every step can have its complications. It’s also normal to be confused about which universities to choose for the application process. Different universities have different acceptance rates and their unique features. All of it can feel too much to deal with sometimes. It’s best to get help from an expert counsellor who understands your challenges and can ease the burden.

CounsellingX is a reputable organisation that provides counselling services to students worldwide. Unlike typical admission agencies, our counsellors are part of the alumni of your favourite U.S. universities and provide personalised advice according to your academic needs and career goals. Moreover, each counsellor has 50+ successful placements each. We take a step-by-step approach and guarantee admissions to specific universities in the United States. You can book a free 15-minute consultation call with a counsellor of your choice and take the first step towards your dream future.

CounsellingX is the admission counselling wing of My Tutor Source; one of the largest Licensed educational organisations in the UAE. We have counsellors from top universities of the world such as Harvard, Stanford, Oxford, Cambridge etc. and we are also in collaboration with more than 600 universities globally for student admissions.

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