11 Best Universities with high acceptance rate for international students in USA| Tuition, Details & Rankings

According to open door reports, a total of 1,075,496 international students got enrolled in Universities in the United States for the 2019-2020 academic year.

International students are vital to the Universities and the country at large.

With international students contributing about USD 44 billion to the economy of the country.

With all that money being pumped into the higher institutions in the country, why won’t the educational system of the country be top-notch?

The U.S News and World Report has put out the list of Universities with high acceptance rate for international students in USA and I have decided to give you a comprehensive list of those universities.

Listed in this article are the top 11 US universities that accepted between 82% and 99% of international applicants for Fall 2019, according to U.S. News.

Before we head on to the list, It is important that we go through some information that I consider important.

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What are college acceptance rates?

This can be said to be the rate at which schools accept applicants. When compared to the number of applicants, what is the number of students accepted or rejected?

When there is a high number of applicants, such a school is likely to reject more students and of course have a lower acceptance rate.

For instance, a school that accepts 1,000 students out of 2,000 applicants has a 50% acceptance rate while a school that accepted 1,000 out of 5,000 applicants have a 20% acceptance rate.

Moving on, why is the acceptance rate very important?

Why is acceptance rate of schools very important?

While you think about the universities with high acceptance rate for international students in USA it is vital you know that universities with a low acceptance rate for international students in USA are considered more desirable. Why?

This is because universities with a low acceptance rate signal high competition. That means it is a highly sought-after school. That also means that they have more applicants than they are ready to accept.

That’s not all. It also means that they are only accepting top students.

These acceptance rates are very essential to universities because it is an important factor when most ranking bodies want to rank institutions.

Some institutions can decide to lower their application fees in order to increase their acceptance rate, while others increase theirs in order to attract only serious students and subsequently lower their acceptance.

So far, all we have talked about is on the side of the institutions. But as a student, why should you consider the acceptance rate of institutions.

As a student

As a student, the acceptance rate of schools is important as well as the sense of community at the college or how safe students feel on campus.

Therefore, the acceptance rate is a way to generally gauge your chances of getting into that school of your choice.

Though it might be a nice bragging point for a parent of a high school senior to say their kid got into Williams College, which accepts less than 18% of applicants.

The highly selective schools you know use their resources in getting as many people as possible to apply including those students who never really wanted to apply or who never had a chance in the first place.

Most elite or ivy league schools love it when the number of applicants is high which gives them a chance to reject more students and consequently lowers their acceptance rate.

Is it easier for international students to get into Ivy League?

Though getting into an Ivy League school might be hard for international students, however, Ivy league universities need international students.

This is because most international students are often asked to pay or are more capable of paying full tuition when compared to domestic students.

With that being said, getting into Ivy League schools are not that easy. However, it is very possible.

From the application process, down to other things are difficult. Most Ivy League schools have an overall acceptance rate of just 10%.

Getting into the universities with high acceptance rate for international students in USA

Here are some of the steps which you have to take towards getting into any of the Universities with high acceptance rate for international students in USA.

1) Plan to apply early.

2) Take note of the tests which you need to take.

3) Focus on extra-curricular activities that you are aware that you are interested in.

4) Start getting your application essay ready.

5) While submitting your application, pay attention to every vital detail.

6) Take note of deadlines.

It is very important that you take note of the deadlines for the various core pieces of your application.

You should be aware of when the items listed below are due:

  • regular decision or action
  • Financial aid
  • Final acceptance dates for recommendations
  • date for your TOEFL
  • date for SAT/ACT
  • dates for AP or IB exams

When it comes to the SAT/ACT or TOEFL, you must plan to get all of them done as far in advance as possible if you wanna be considered in the early decision.

About SAT & ACT Testing For International Students

As an international student, most of the universities with high acceptance rate for international students in USA require international students to submit an SAT or ACT score with their application.

The requirements vary from school to school. In standard schooling years, international students are only exempted from submitting their SAT/ACT requirement if these tests are not available in their country and travelling to take them is logistically or financially prohibitive.

Havard does not require any international students to submit TOEFL scores while universities such as UPenn require students to submit TOEFL scores, especially if the applicant doesn’t have English as his or her native language or if the applicant’s primary language of instruction for the duration of high school is not English.

Financial aid in the universities with high acceptance rate for international students in USA

While applying for financial aid, you have to be honest about if you can be capable to attend the university without any form of financial aid.

If you think you do not need financial aid, it is very vital that you let the college know because that action alone is capable of increasing your chances of being accepted.

Some Ivy League schools, like Harvard, claim that they are need-blind for both international and domestic students alike. However, most schools, like Cornell, are openly need-aware for international students.

While the majority of the schools in the United States allow students to apply for financial aid, schools such as Brown do not allow international students to apply for financial aid. Read on to see the list of universities with high acceptance rate for international students in USA.

List of Universities with high acceptance rate for international students in USA

Here is the list of universities with high acceptance rate for international students in USA :

  • Colorado State University
  • Kent State University (OH)
  • University of Toledo (OH)
  • University of Kansas
  • The University of Texas at Arlington
  • Loyola University Chicago
  • Virginia Commonwealth University
  • University of Utah
  • University of Colorado Boulder
  • University of Cincinnati
  • University of Texas at Dallas

Details of these universities with high acceptance rate for international students in USA can be found below.

Colorado State University

International Students Acceptance Rate in Fall 2019: 99%
U.S. News Rank 2020: 153

This university is ranked 153 by U.S. News.

This is one of the Universities with high acceptance rate for international students in USA that was founded in 1870.

It is one of the top public research institutions and operates on a semester-based academic calendar

This university is also ranked 166 in the edition of best colleges for the year 2020. The university boasts of about 70 majors and 140 concentrations.

Students are eligible for the honours scholarship, which is a scholarship that is available to first-year students who are enrolled in the honours program at the university. The honors scholarship is $4,000(1,000 per year).

Also, their international scholarships range from $2,000 to $12,000 per year.

Students receiving their largest awards have a combination of outstanding grades (GPA), challenging coursework, and demonstrate strong engagement in extracurricular involvement.

No separate application is required for the scholarship and you must that for you to be considered for the scholarship, then you must have completed your application by February 1st.

Non-Resident Tuition and Required Fees: $31,962
Living and Personal Expenses: $13,038
Books and supplies: $1,200

Visit website


Kent State University (OH)

International Students Acceptance Rate in Fall 2019: 99%
U.S. News Rank 2020: 217

This is one of the prominent public research universities in Ohio, United States.

It is one of the Universities with high acceptance rate for international students in USA that was founded in 1910.

It is one of the prominent public research universities in Ohio, United States. Above all, it is among the 91 public doctoral universities listed by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

It is equally among the highest-ranked public Universities in Northern Ohio. The U.S. News & World Report ranked KSU among the best national universities.

It is also ranked 25th among the safest campuses in the USA, according to the National Council for Home Safety and Security. 

College of Business Administration is ranked as one of the nation’s most outstanding Business Schools by the Princeton Review.

Their Global Scholarship provides eligible students with $4,000 per year ($2,000 per semester), reducing the cost of a Kent State 4-year undergraduate degree by up to $16,000.

Average Annual Tuition Fee:

Bachelors: $20,799 (2021-22)

Masters: $21,952 (2021-22)

University of Toledo (OH)

International Students Acceptance Rate in Fall 2019: 99%
U.S. News Rank 2020: 298-389

The University of Toledo is one of the leading universities of the nation. It is ranked among the top 100 public universities by the Times Higher Education Ranking.

It has received more than $46.4 million in funds in 2019 to support higher education and research at the university.

International students are eligible for the International Rocket Award that is about $7,500 or $8,500 (beginning 2021-2022 academic year).

The International Rocket Award is offered to new undergraduate international students who are entering the University as freshmen or as transfer students, and who have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Check out their other scholarships and awards.

Full-Time Tuition and General Fees: $20,108

Check out their living expenses and medical insurance fee.

University of Kansas

International Students Acceptance Rate in Fall 2019: 98%
U.S. News Rank 2020: 124

This is one of the universities with high acceptance rate for international students in USA that has consistently earned high rankings for academics and has above all, received a significant recognition as a known premier research university.

130th in the list of best national universities in the USA by US News & World Report and is one of the top 500 universities in the world. 

The university has a wide range of renewable institutional scholarships based on GPA alone.

Kansans in this university can qualify for more than $20,000 across four years, while out-of-state students can earn up to $64,000 across their entire KU career. See scholarship details.

Average Annual Tuition Fee:

Bachelors: $30,014 (2021-22)

Masters: $20,312 (2021-22)

The University of Texas at Arlington

International Students Acceptance Rate in Fall 2019: 93%
U.S. News Rank 2020: 298-389

This is one of the universities with high acceptance rate for international students in USA that has been offering academic excellence for over 100 years.

The US News & World Report has ranked UTA as the 8th best university for diversity, while the Chronicle of Higher Education’s Almanac categorised the university as the 3rd fastest growing doctoral public institution in the US.

Among the globally competitive programmes, aspirants have the opportunity of earning a Bachelors, Masters or a Doctoral degree in fields such as Science, Social Work, Education, Engineering, Nursing and Health Innovation, Liberal Arts, Business, Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs.

Scholarships are available to students based on their funding levels and usually ranges anywhere from $1,000-$1,500.

Average Annual Tuition:

Bachelors-  $42,706 (2021-22)

Masters- $40,742 (2021-22)

Loyola University Chicago

International Students Acceptance Rate in Fall 2019: 90%
U.S. News Rank 2020: 112

Established in 1870 by the Jesuits, Loyola is one of the biggest Catholic colleges in the United States. It is equally one of the universities with high acceptance rate for international students in USA .

The University is authorized by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and was first licensed in 1921.

The HLC is a free partnership that was established in 1895 as one of six local institutional accreditors in the United States.

Loyola University Chicago is ranked 104th among National Universities according to the 2019 U.S. News & World Report 2020 college rankings. U.S. News commonly places Loyola among their “Best Value” and their “A-plus Schools for B Students” lists as well.

Scholarships are awarded to academically qualified students entering Fall 2021 based on information provided in the admission application process, without regard to financial need. Scholarship amounts range from $10,000 to $26,000 per year. 

See details about scholarships.

Virginia Commonwealth University

International Students Acceptance Rate in Fall 2019: 88%
U.S. News Rank 2020: 160

Virginia Commonwealth University has been gaining recognition, awards and ranks in various categories from research, hospital to being the best universities for diversity and minorities.

A total of 25 of its programmes and courses have been recognised as the top 50 courses in the country.

VCU is a public research-based university situated in the heart of Richmond, Virginia, USA.

It is a popular choice among study abroad students who wish to pursue careers in the fields of Engineering, Medical and Humanities.

Currently, more than 31,000 students are pursuing higher studies at VCU out of which approx 1,600 are international students. It is also one of the universities with high acceptance rate for international students in USA .

They are backed number of rankings, awards and recognitions conferred to the university, viz. Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award, Top 100 institutions for minority students, Virginia’s Best Employer for Diversity, among others. 

They have four years scholarships that covers tuition fees up to  $16,000 per year (maximum amount of $8,000 per semester), for an estimated total value of $114,356.

See other scholarships available and their eligibility requirements.

University of Utah

International Students Acceptance Rate in Fall 2019: 87%
U.S. News Rank 2020: 97

 The university was established in 1850 as the University of Desert and later got renamed as the University of Utah in 1892.

It is ranked amongst the top US research-based universities at 61st position with a research expenditure of more than 380 million USD in 2017.

According to Washington Monthly, the university is ranked 84th in the US and is one of the universities with high acceptance rate for international students in USA also.

The Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) places the University of Utah within the range of 42-56 and the U.S. News & World Report 2021 ranks the university 97th among top universities in the country.

The university has 17 colleges and schools with 150 departments to educate students in all the possible career disciplines.

It focuses on giving the best educational facility to its students and creating an environment where students can achieve the highest standards of knowledge.

The University of Utah provides hostel facilities for international students in a housing complex with 33 buildings on the campus.

Their are merit based scholarships that are provided to students in their freshman year, especially to those students with excellent academic records. There are scholarships up to $18,250.

See the full list of the scholarships available to international students.

University of Colorado Boulder

International Students Acceptance Rate in Fall 2019: 86%
U.S. News Rank 2020: 103

Tracing its roots to 1876, when it first opened its door, the University of Colorado Boulder is among the 36 public research institutions mentioned under the Association of American Universities.

Recognised as a leader in Sciences, Law, Engineering and Arts, the University of Colorado Boulder is nexus for innovation and research.

The University has been recognised for many feats such as helping in establishing 136 new startups, recognised as one of the top 20 universities to be granted US patents and many more.

The Princeton Review ranks the University of Colorado Boulder as one of the top 10 universities for sustainability as well.

With an 18:1 student to teacher ratio, the University of Colorado Boulders is able to maintain a number 1 four-year graduation rate for Colorado Public Universities.

International students are eligible for a few merit-based CU Boulder scholarships. 

Additionally, not only that there are many funding opportunities outside of the university, it is equally one of the universities with high acceptance rate for international students in USA .

Average Annual Tuition Fee: $38,312

University of Cincinnati

International Students Acceptance Rate in Fall 2019: 82%
U.S. News Rank 2020: 143

The QS World University of the University of Cincinnati ranges between 601- 650.

The University of Cincinnati remains one of the few global leaders in experience-based learning, where US News and World Report ranks the university’s co-op programme among the top 5 in the US.

With a 200-year rich history that outlines the research-oriented adventure that the university has taken, UC favours, encourages and facilitates research and innovation among its students.

The University of Cincinnati Global Scholarship is exclusively for international undergraduate applicants.

Awards range from $1,000 to $15,000 each year and are renewable for up to four academic years.

Average Annual Tuition Fee:

Bachelors – $28,972 (2021-22)

Masters – $28,972  (2021-22)

University of Texas at Dallas

International Students Acceptance Rate in Fall 2019:82%
U.S. News Rank 2020: 143

Over the years, The University of Texas Dallas has been a nationally and internationally recognised educational institution.

Forbes recognised UTD as the Best Value Public University in Texas, meanwhile, US News and World Report recognise UTD’s MBA programme where the graduates earn more than they owe.

The University of Texas Dallas offers 21 Nationally ranked graduate programmes, as recognised by the US News and World Report. All in all, UTD offers 142-degree programmes under 8 schools.

Scholarships are sometimes referred to as “gift aid” because they provide funding that does not have to be repaid.

Generally, scholarships are awarded based on merit but some may also require that the student demonstrate financial need.

For the academic year 2020-2021, the undergraduate tuition & fees at The University of Texas at Dallas is $15,310 for Texas residents and $40,840 for out-of-state students.

See full details about tuition fees.

In Conclusion

U.S. higher education institutions are highly sought after for international students who want to learn from world-class faculty and broaden their cultural horizons.

Therefore do not be left out, consider these universities with high acceptance rate for international students in USA.

What do you think about these universities with high acceptance rate for international students in USA? Please leave a comment below.

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