What's the toughest college to gain admission to as an out-of-state student?

Hey everyone, I was just curious about which college is the toughest to get into as an out-of-state student? I've heard that some state schools are really competitive for out-of-state students, but I'm not sure which ones. Would really appreciate your insights on this!

When considering the competitiveness for out-of-state students, it's important to look at public universities that have a mandate to primarily serve residents of their own state. These schools may keep tighter control on the number of out-of-state students they admit.

For instance, the University of California schools, including UC Berkeley and UCLA, can be very competitive for out-of-state applicants. These schools have a commitment to California residents, so they limit out-of-state enrollment.

Another challenging school for out-of-state students is the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC Chapel Hill). As a public school, the majority of their spaces are reserved for in-state students.

With this said, while certain public state schools may be especially competitive for out-of-state applicants, the 'toughest' colleges to get into overall are often private institutions with ultra-low acceptance rates across the board. Schools like Harvard, Stanford, and MIT often have single-digit acceptance rates for all applicants, whether in-state, out-of-state, or international.

Remember that the focus should not solely lie on admission rates. Consider each school's academic offerings, culture, location, and financial aid opportunities together with your personal preferences and goals. The right college for you is one that aligns with your academic pursuits, personal preferences, and career goals rather than the one that is statistically the toughest to get into.