For the Class of 2028, Duke University received 54,194 applications and admitted 2,926 students, resulting in an overall acceptance rate of 5.40%. The Early Decision round was significantly more favorable, with an acceptance rate of 13%, and accounted for 806 admits—making up approximately 46.35% of the incoming class. This highlights the strategic advantage of applying Early Decision for students who are confident that Duke is their top choice.
For the Class of 2028, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) maintained its status as one of the most selective universities in the world, admitting only 1,284 students from a pool of 28,232 applicants—an overall acceptance rate of just 4.5%. The Early Action program, which had an acceptance rate of 5.26%, resulted in 661 admits, making up approximately 51.48% of the incoming class.
For the Class of 2028, Stanford University received 57,326 applications and accepted just 2,067 students, resulting in an overall acceptance rate of 3.60%. Although Stanford offers a Restrictive Early Action (REA) option, it has not released specific data regarding REA acceptance rates or the number of students admitted through that round.
For the Class of 2028, Columbia University admitted 2,327 students from a competitive pool of 60,248 applicants, resulting in an exceptionally low acceptance rate of 3.86%. Although Columbia offers an Early Decision option, the university has not released specific data on Early Decision acceptance rates or the number of students admitted through that round for this cycle.
For the Class of 2028, Cornell University received 65,582 applications and admitted 5,516 students, yielding an overall acceptance rate of 8.41%. The Early Decision round had a higher acceptance rate of 11.64%, with 1,161 students admitted early, making up approximately 32.94% of the incoming class.
For the Class of 2028, the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) received 65,236 applications and admitted 3,508 students, resulting in an overall acceptance rate of 5.4%. While the university has not released specific numbers for Early Decision admits, it's estimated that roughly 50% of the incoming class was admitted through the Early Decision process—highlighting the strategic advantage of applying early.
For the Class of 2028, Harvard University continued its trend of extreme selectivity, admitting just 3.65% of applicants. From a pool of 54,008 applications, only 1,970 students were accepted. The Early Decision round saw a slightly higher acceptance rate of 8.74%, with 692 students admitted, representing 42% of the incoming class.
For the Class of 2028, Yale University maintained its position as one of the most selective institutions in the world, admitting only 3.9% of applicants. From a record-setting pool of 57,465 applications, just 2,146 students were accepted. Yale’s Single-Choice Early Action program offered a modestly higher acceptance rate of 9.02%, with 709 students admitted early—making up 46% of the incoming class.