It’s Cornell for New Orleans student with $10M in offers from 149 schools
May 5, 2023
Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS — A 16-year-old high school senior in New Orleans who received scholarship offers from 149 colleges and universities totaling $10 million said Friday that he has chosen to attend Cornell University.
Dennis “Maliq” Barnes will graduate on May 24 from the International High School of New Orleans, where he earned a 4.98 grade point average. He also has 27 college credits through a dual enrollment program with Southern University of New Orleans.
David Grunfeld, NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP
Dennis "Maliq" Barnes, 16, announces that he will be attending Cornell University during a news conference at International High School of New Orleans Friday, May 5, 2023.Â
He plans to study computer science at Cornell, an Ivy League school in Ithaca, New York. He has also said he is considering law school.
“Today is an exciting day for me and my family, and I look forward to working with Cornell’s College of Engineering over the course of my undergraduate education,” Barnes said.
In an interview las week, Barnes said that a major reason he cranked out applications to close to 200 schools was his desire to have numerous educational and financial options. He ultimately was accepted at 186 colleges and universities. The school said it believes the $10 million in scholarship offers from 149 of them to be a record for U.S. college-bound seniors.
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
vectorfusionart // Shutterstock
While there is no shortage of exceptional colleges in the United States, there are millions of gifted kids across the nation jockeying for limited seats at some of America's top universities every year. Parents often go to great financial lengths to send their children to some of the nation's most prestigious schools, the likes of which include paying private school tuition, hiring personal tutors, or paying for test prep classes that typically cost upwards of $1,000.
Using data from the National Center for Education Statistics , Stacker listed the 50 most selective colleges in the United States. The institutions are ranked according to acceptance rates. Statistics pertaining to total acceptance and enrollment are provided for context. Stacker used the latest available NCES data for this story, ranking schools that received at least 1,000 applications for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Read on to see if your alma mater is among the most competitive schools in the nation today.
You may also like: How diverse are the 10 most selective universities?
vectorfusionart // Shutterstock
While there is no shortage of exceptional colleges in the United States, there are millions of gifted kids across the nation jockeying for limited seats at some of America's top universities every year. Parents often go to great financial lengths to send their children to some of the nation's most prestigious schools, the likes of which include paying private school tuition, hiring personal tutors, or paying for test prep classes that typically cost upwards of $1,000.
Using data from the National Center for Education Statistics , Stacker listed the 50 most selective colleges in the United States. The institutions are ranked according to acceptance rates. Statistics pertaining to total acceptance and enrollment are provided for context. Stacker used the latest available NCES data for this story, ranking schools that received at least 1,000 applications for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Read on to see if your alma mater is among the most competitive schools in the nation today.
You may also like: How diverse are the 10 most selective universities?
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
EQRoy // Shutterstock
- Acceptance rate: 15.96%
- Total accepted: 7,030 (44,048 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 3,453 (49.1% yield)
EQRoy // Shutterstock
- Acceptance rate: 15.96%
- Total accepted: 7,030 (44,048 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 3,453 (49.1% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Ssantera // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 15.07%
- Total accepted: 3,562 (23,642 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 2,059 (57.8% yield)
Ssantera // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 15.07%
- Total accepted: 3,562 (23,642 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 2,059 (57.8% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
EQRoy // Shutterstock
- Acceptance rate: 14.68%
- Total accepted: 393 (2,678 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 210 (53.4% yield)
EQRoy // Shutterstock
- Acceptance rate: 14.68%
- Total accepted: 393 (2,678 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 210 (53.4% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Lrd1rocha // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 14.44%
- Total accepted: 16,295 (112,843 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 6,931 (42.5% yield)
Lrd1rocha // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 14.44%
- Total accepted: 16,295 (112,843 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 6,931 (42.5% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons
Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Bill Clark // Getty Images
- Acceptance rate: 14.07%
- Total accepted: 1,320 (9,380 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 533 (40.4% yield)
Bill Clark // Getty Images
- Acceptance rate: 14.07%
- Total accepted: 1,320 (9,380 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 533 (40.4% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Amy Lutz // Shutterstock
- Acceptance rate: 13.54%
- Total accepted: 4,453 (32,896 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 1,896 (42.6% yield)
Amy Lutz // Shutterstock
- Acceptance rate: 13.54%
- Total accepted: 4,453 (32,896 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 1,896 (42.6% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Funuk // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 13.45%
- Total accepted: 1,601 (11,906 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 680 (42.5% yield)
Funuk // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 13.45%
- Total accepted: 1,601 (11,906 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 680 (42.5% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Grindstone Media Group // Shutterstock
- Acceptance rate: 13.05%
- Total accepted: 4,364 (33,435 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 1,494 (34.2% yield)
Grindstone Media Group // Shutterstock
- Acceptance rate: 13.05%
- Total accepted: 4,364 (33,435 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 1,494 (34.2% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Minbaili // Wikimedia Commons
Minbaili // Wikimedia Commons
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
littlenySTOCK // Shutterstock
- Acceptance rate: 12.96%
- Total accepted: 12,380 (95,517 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 6,097 (49.2% yield)
littlenySTOCK // Shutterstock
- Acceptance rate: 12.96%
- Total accepted: 12,380 (95,517 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 6,097 (49.2% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Brion Vibber // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 12.51%
- Total accepted: 8,884 (71,031 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 3,668 (41.3% yield)
Brion Vibber // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 12.51%
- Total accepted: 8,884 (71,031 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 3,668 (41.3% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
U.S. Air Force // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 12.43%
- Total accepted: 1,453 (11,687 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 1,091 (75.1% yield)
U.S. Air Force // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 12.43%
- Total accepted: 1,453 (11,687 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 1,091 (75.1% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Detamblelibrary // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 12.29%
- Total accepted: 266 (2,164 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 261 (98.1% yield)
Detamblelibrary // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 12.29%
- Total accepted: 266 (2,164 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 261 (98.1% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Patrickneil // Wikimedia Commons
Patrickneil // Wikimedia Commons
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 11.47%
- Total accepted: 1,192 (10,395 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 769 (64.5% yield)
Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 11.47%
- Total accepted: 1,192 (10,395 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 769 (64.5% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Jellymuffin40 // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 11.43%
- Total accepted: 3,566 (31,198 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 1,800 (50.5% yield)
Jellymuffin40 // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 11.43%
- Total accepted: 3,566 (31,198 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 1,800 (50.5% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Craig Stanfill // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 11.24%
- Total accepted: 633 (5,632 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 358 (56.6% yield)
Craig Stanfill // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 11.24%
- Total accepted: 633 (5,632 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 358 (56.6% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Josh Lee // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 10.77%
- Total accepted: 15,028 (139,489 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 6,584 (43.8% yield)
Josh Lee // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 10.77%
- Total accepted: 15,028 (139,489 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 6,584 (43.8% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Teddy Wade // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 10.66%
- Total accepted: 1,488 (13,955 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 1,201 (80.7% yield)
You may also like: Most liberal colleges in America
Teddy Wade // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 10.66%
- Total accepted: 1,488 (13,955 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 1,201 (80.7% yield)
You may also like: Most liberal colleges in America
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Aureliusxv // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 10.54%
- Total accepted: 1,108 (10,513 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 471 (42.5% yield)
Aureliusxv // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 10.54%
- Total accepted: 1,108 (10,513 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 471 (42.5% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Monirb // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 10.50%
- Total accepted: 173 (1,648 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 161 (93.1% yield)
Monirb // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 10.50%
- Total accepted: 173 (1,648 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 161 (93.1% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Bovineone // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 9.99%
- Total accepted: 473 (4,737 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 225 (47.6% yield)
Bovineone // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 9.99%
- Total accepted: 473 (4,737 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 225 (47.6% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Fotoluminate LLC // Shutterstock
- Acceptance rate: 9.63%
- Total accepted: 4,385 (45,525 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 2,027 (46.2% yield)
Fotoluminate LLC // Shutterstock
- Acceptance rate: 9.63%
- Total accepted: 4,385 (45,525 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 2,027 (46.2% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Daderot // Wikimedia Commons
Daderot // Wikimedia Commons
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Nick Kline // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 8.87%
- Total accepted: 1,407 (15,857 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 667 (47.4% yield)
Nick Kline // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 8.87%
- Total accepted: 1,407 (15,857 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 667 (47.4% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Beyond my Ken // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 8.83%
- Total accepted: 1,099 (12,452 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 574 (52.2% yield)
Beyond my Ken // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 8.83%
- Total accepted: 1,099 (12,452 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 574 (52.2% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Daderot // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 8.82%
- Total accepted: 822 (9,325 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 517 (62.9% yield)
Daderot // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 8.82%
- Total accepted: 822 (9,325 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 517 (62.9% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Kenneth C. Zirkel // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 8.74%
- Total accepted: 1,224 (13,999 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 515 (42.1% yield)
Kenneth C. Zirkel // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 8.74%
- Total accepted: 1,224 (13,999 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 515 (42.1% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Notyourbroom // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 8.69%
- Total accepted: 5,852 (67,380 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 3,718 (63.5% yield)
You may also like: Best private colleges in America
Notyourbroom // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 8.69%
- Total accepted: 5,852 (67,380 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 3,718 (63.5% yield)
You may also like: Best private colleges in America
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Daniel J. McLain // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 8.45%
- Total accepted: 1,374 (16,265 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 1,183 (86.1% yield)
Daniel J. McLain // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 8.45%
- Total accepted: 1,374 (16,265 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 1,183 (86.1% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Tlönorbis // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 7.79%
- Total accepted: 1,013 (13,012 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 454 (44.8% yield)
Tlönorbis // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 7.79%
- Total accepted: 1,013 (13,012 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 454 (44.8% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Lester Spence // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 7.52%
- Total accepted: 2,972 (39,515 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 1,420 (47.8% yield)
Lester Spence // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 7.52%
- Total accepted: 2,972 (39,515 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 1,420 (47.8% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Paul Masck // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 7.43%
- Total accepted: 174 (2,342 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 110 (63.2% yield)
Paul Masck // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 7.43%
- Total accepted: 174 (2,342 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 110 (63.2% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Vortex895 // Wikimedia Commons
Vortex895 // Wikimedia Commons
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Madcoverboy // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 6.97%
- Total accepted: 3,321 (47,636 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 2,086 (62.8% yield)
Madcoverboy // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 6.97%
- Total accepted: 3,321 (47,636 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 2,086 (62.8% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
OfficialPomonaCollege // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 6.64%
- Total accepted: 771 (11,620 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 451 (58.5% yield)
OfficialPomonaCollege // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 6.64%
- Total accepted: 771 (11,620 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 451 (58.5% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Crimsonmaroon // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 6.48%
- Total accepted: 2,460 (37,974 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 2,053 (83.5% yield)
Crimsonmaroon // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 6.48%
- Total accepted: 2,460 (37,974 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 2,053 (83.5% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Kane5187 // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 6.17%
- Total accepted: 1,750 (28,356 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 1,221 (69.8% yield)
Kane5187 // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 6.17%
- Total accepted: 1,750 (28,356 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 1,221 (69.8% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Ildar Sagdejev // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 5.89%
- Total accepted: 2,927 (49,703 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 1,744 (59.6% yield)
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Ildar Sagdejev // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 5.89%
- Total accepted: 2,927 (49,703 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 1,744 (59.6% yield)
You may also like: 25 oldest colleges in America
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Teutonia25 // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 5.87%
- Total accepted: 3,304 (56,332 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 2,418 (73.2% yield)
Teutonia25 // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 5.87%
- Total accepted: 3,304 (56,332 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 2,418 (73.2% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Dale182 // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 5.51%
- Total accepted: 2,568 (46,568 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 1,705 (66.4% yield)
Dale182 // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 5.51%
- Total accepted: 2,568 (46,568 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 1,705 (66.4% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Ragesoss // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 5.31%
- Total accepted: 2,509 (47,240 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 1,786 (71.2% yield)
Ragesoss // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 5.31%
- Total accepted: 2,509 (47,240 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 1,786 (71.2% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Carol M. Highsmith // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 4.38%
- Total accepted: 1,647 (37,601 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 1,290 (78.3% yield)
Carol M. Highsmith // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 4.38%
- Total accepted: 1,647 (37,601 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 1,290 (78.3% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Bronxbombr21 // Wikimedia Commons
Bronxbombr21 // Wikimedia Commons
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences Massachusetts Institute of Technology // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 4.11%
- Total accepted: 1,365 (33,240 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 1,177 (86.2% yield)
Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences Massachusetts Institute of Technology // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 4.11%
- Total accepted: 1,365 (33,240 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 1,177 (86.2% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Bostonian13 // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 4.01%
- Total accepted: 2,318 (57,786 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 1,951 (84.2% yield)
Bostonian13 // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 4.01%
- Total accepted: 2,318 (57,786 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 1,951 (84.2% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Jawed Karim // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 3.95%
- Total accepted: 2,190 (55,471 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 1,757 (80.2% yield)
Jawed Karim // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 3.95%
- Total accepted: 2,190 (55,471 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 1,757 (80.2% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
Antony-22 // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 3.92%
- Total accepted: 510 (13,026 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 270 (52.9% yield)
Antony-22 // Wikimedia Commons
- Acceptance rate: 3.92%
- Total accepted: 510 (13,026 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 270 (52.9% yield)
The 50 most selective colleges in the US
4 PM production // Shutterstock
- Acceptance rate: 1.02%
- Total accepted: 256 (25,026 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 186 (72.7% yield)
You may also like: Best public colleges in America
4 PM production // Shutterstock
- Acceptance rate: 1.02%
- Total accepted: 256 (25,026 total applicants)
- Total enrolled: 186 (72.7% yield)
You may also like: Best public colleges in America
vectorfusionart // Shutterstock