Massachusetts’ Hardest College to Get Into is Also the Nation’s Oldest

Any New Englander will tell you that many factors contribute to our region's excellent reputation, including our schools and higher education opportunities.

Massachusetts, specifically, is home to 114 colleges and universities.These institutions are not only great centers for learning, but also popular employers throughout the Bay State.

But of these schools, which one has the lowest acceptance rate? Niche has shared the hardest colleges to get into in Massachusetts for 2024, and the place that took the top spot shouldn't come as a surprise.

Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts

We all know that Harvard is an Ivy League member, so its acceptance rate is remarkably small. According to the school's official website, roughly 3.5% of applicants were admitted to the class of 2027 (1,966 out of 56,937 applicants). That's a staggeringly-low percentage.

You might also know that Harvard is the oldest higher education institution in the country, founded in 1636 as the first college in the American colonies. Over the years, it's produced its share of famous alumni, including Founding Father, statesman, and President John Adams, Presidents Barack Obama and John F. Kennedy, actress Natalie Portman, and businessman Mark Zuckerberg.

Do you think you'd be able to beat the odds and get into a school like Harvard? What about Dartmouth or Bowdoin, which have the smallest acceptance rates in New Hampshire and Maine, respectively? Whatever the case may be, if you're an aspiring college student, we wish you the best of luck in the application process.

Speaking of excellent schools, here are some of the best in New England.