How do colleges define a 'selective' acceptance rate?

This might sound like a silly question, but I've been hearing the term 'selective' thrown around a lot when talking about college acceptance rates. What exactly does it mean for a college to be considered selective, and what acceptance rate range would fall under this category?

The term "selective" is often used to describe colleges that admit a relatively low percentage of applicants. These schools typically have more competitive admissions processes, and students who apply to selective colleges generally need to have stronger academic and extracurricular profiles to be considered for admission.

While there's no strict definition or exact acceptance rate range that constitutes "selective," here's a general guideline to help you understand the concept:

- Highly Selective: Colleges with acceptance rates below 15% are often considered highly selective. These typically include top-ranked schools and Ivy League institutions. Examples of highly selective colleges are Harvard, Stanford, and MIT.

- Moderately Selective: Colleges with acceptance rates in the range of 15% to 40% are usually considered moderately selective. These schools still have competitive admissions processes, but they admit a larger portion of applicants compared to highly selective colleges. Examples of moderately selective colleges are University of Miami and University of Michigan.

- Selective: Colleges with acceptance rates in the range of 40% to 60% can be considered selective. They tend to have more flexible admissions criteria compared to the more selective categories, but still maintain certain academic standards for their incoming class. Examples of selective colleges are Ohio State University and Texas A&M University.

- Less Selective: Colleges with acceptance rates above 60% are generally considered less selective or non-selective. These schools have a more open admissions process and often admit a majority of their applicants. Examples include many regional or public institutions, such as University of Central Florida and Arizona State University.

Keep in mind that acceptance rate is just one factor to consider when evaluating a college's selectivity. Other factors, such as the academic quality of the incoming class (e.g., average GPA, test scores if applicable, and course rigor), can also be indicative of a college's selectivity. Additionally, selectivity may vary from year to year and within different majors or programs at a particular institution.