The term “Public Ivies” has arguably been around longer than any of the other “Ivy adjacent” categories (“Southern Ivies,” “New Ivies,” etc.). A Yale University admissions officer, Richard Moll, coined the phrase in 1985 to refer to state universities that offer exceptional educations at a fraction of the Ivy league price for in-state students. The eight universities listed in Moll’s book were:
- College of William & Mary (Williamsburg, Virginia)
- Miami University (Oxford, Ohio)
- University of California (all campuses)
- University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- University of Texas at Austin
- University of Vermont (Burlington)
- University of Virginia (Charlottesville)
Below, we are shining a spotlight on five selective public universities that continue to boast low acceptance rates and impressive incoming class profiles.
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PUBLIC IVIES: CLASS OF 2028 ACCEPTANCE RATES
University of Virginia
In March, we’ve covered the impressive Class of 2028 admissions statistics at the University of Virginia, which saw an overall in-state acceptance rate of 25.5% and an overall out-of-state acceptance rate of 13%.
University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA)
UCLA consistently receives some of the highest application volumes of any four-year university in the United States, and this year was no different as UCLA received 146,250 applications for first-year admission. None of the UCs offer early admission or consider standardized test scores.
Unfortunately, the UCs do not release specific admissions data until the fall, however, we know that last year’s acceptance rate was 8.8% and we expect to see another sub-9% acceptance rate for the Class of 2028.
The University of Texas at Austin
UT Austin received almost 73,000 applications for the Class of 2028 — breaking another record for the UT system’s flagship university. The top 6% of all Texas high school students are offered automatic acceptance to the university — and make up 75% of the incoming class. Those applying to the remaining 25% of the first-year class saw an acceptance rate of 11%.
UT Austin announced in March that after four years of test-optional admissions for undergraduate admissions it will once again require standardized test scores, beginning with applications for the Fall 2025 semester.
The College of William & Mary
William & Mary saw an overall acceptance rate of 33% this year, with 5,800 students being offered admission to the Class of 2028 from a pool of 17,787. Since 2020, the university has experienced a 25% increase in total applications. For the third consecutive year, W&M saw a record number of early round applicants. The Class of 2028 is expected to include about 1,650 students.
William & Mary continues to be test-optional, although only 30% of admitted students applied without standardized test scores this year. The Class of 2028 had an SAT middle 50th percentile of 1430-1530 and an ACT middle 50th percentile of 33-35.
W&M meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for in-state Virginia residents and continues to expand access for local students. The university offered admission to 6% more in-state, first-generation students this year and 10% more in-state students who used income-based application fee waivers.
Georgia Institute of Technology
While the overall acceptance rate for Georgia Tech this year was 13.81%, in-state applicants enjoyed a much higher rate of 33% compared to out-of-state and international applicants, of which just 10% were accepted.
The university received a record number of first-year applications during both Regular Decision and Early Action application periods — over 60,000 in total. Following recruitment efforts in-state to improve college access, applications from Georgia students increased 13% this year.
From the 8,250 students offered admission, Georgia Tech aims to enroll approximately 3,900 students in the first-year class, about a 4% increase from last year and a record high for the university as it aims to expand its student body.
TTA Takeaway: Finding your fit is key when discerning which schools are worth an application, so be sure to dig deeper than just the school’s name or its inclusion on a ranking list. Do your research, plan those campus visits and college tours, and aim for high grades and scores so all options are on the table — “Ivy” and “Public Ivy” alike.
At Top Tier Admissions, we are committed to making the college admissions process more transparent. Easy access to clear data helps families understand trends in college admissions to make more informed decisions. We’re collecting acceptance rate data at selective schools and providing insight and analysis of our own. For historical data, see our collection of Ivy League and Top College Acceptance Rates and Admissions Statistics, including the Class of 2028 Ivy League admissions data and admissions stats for a range of additional selective schools.
Want To Read More About Selective Schools?
- Southern Ivies: Class of 2028 Acceptance Rates
- Standardized Testing Policies: A Shifting Landscape
- What Are the Little Ivies?
- Introducing the New Ivies
- Ivy Plus Acceptance Rates
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