Which American universities can be real safety schools? If unfortunately rejected by reach schools and target schools, are you willing to study at your safety school? In recent years, the competition for good universities has become more and more fierce. Many people have to choose some safety schools as their plan B when applying to colleges. Join us as we compile great safety schools with unique features and high acceptance rates and lower the pressure of your admission.
What is a Safety School?
A safety school is a university to which applicants have a big likelihood of being admitted based on its admissions requirements.
What Should You Consider Before Applying to Safety Schools?
1. Find the law of acceptance rates
Many families believe that universities with high acceptance rates are definitely safety schools. However, this assumption is incorrect. The best way to determine whether a university is a suitable safety school is to examine its acceptance rates in relation to historical statistics. It is also advisable to combine acceptance rates with other factors, such as GPA, average SAT scores, graduation rates, and more when selecting safety schools.
For example, the University of Wisconsin-Madison has become increasingly competitive, especially in engineering and business, attracting over 60,000 applicants for the Fall 2024 semester. Many qualified applicants meet the requirements but may not be accepted. Although UW-Madison has an acceptance rate above 40%, it tends to favor in-state students and is more selective with out-of-state and international applicants. Therefore, this university may not be a suitable choice for a safety school.
2. Do not just consider the ranking
Some universities may have lower rankings in the QS or U.S. News rankings, but this does not necessarily mean they have a higher acceptance rate. For instance, Northeastern University, located in the heart of Boston, boasts a high employment rate, which attracts many students to apply without focusing on the acceptance rate. The university received 98,373 applications for the fall of 2024, 96,631 applications for the fall of 2023, and 91,000 applications for the fall of 2022. Consequently, the acceptance rates from 2021 to 2023 were 18.38%, 6.8%, and 5.65%, respectively.
3. Be confident
You should have confidence when applying to universities. When selecting safety schools, avoid choosing universities where you are overqualified. There is a phenomenon known as Yield Protection or Tufts Syndrome. This occurs when colleges and universities deny or waitlist high-achieving applicants because they believe these students are likely to be admitted to more prestigious institutions and would choose to attend those instead.
10 Safety Schools for Your Backup Plan
1. University of Florida
Ranking: #30 in National Universities (tie)
Undergrad Enrollment: 34,924
Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT/ACT: 1300-1480/28-33
Tuition & Fees( In-state/Out-of-state): $6,381/$28,658
The University of Florida is a well-known public research university. In recent years, its acceptance rate has typically ranged between 23% and 24%. Despite an increase in the number of applicants year after year, the university has been able to offer more admission opportunities compared to other top colleges in the U.S.
In the fall of 2022, the University of Florida received 64,473 applications and accepted 15,054, resulting in an acceptance rate of 23.35%. For the fall of 2024, the number of applicants increased even further, but the number of admissions also rose, allowing the acceptance rate to remain relatively stable. This makes the University of Florida a good choice for students looking for a safety school.
As a university with many outstanding academic programs and abundant campus resources, the University of Florida has produced many outstanding students. UF prefers applicants who are interested in extra-curricular activities, and can contribute to school, family, and community. At the same time, students’ past learning experience confirms their potential for academic success, which can be an advantage.
2. University of Rochester
Ranking: #44 in National Universities (tie)
Undergrad Enrollment: 6,764
Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT/ACT: 1400-1540/31-34
Tuition & Fees( In-state/Out-of-state): $67,124
The University of Rochester is a well-known private research university founded in 1850 and located in the city of Rochester, New York. The University has two arts and cultural pillars in the local: the Eastman School of Music, one of the world’s premier music schools, and the Memorial Art Gallery, one of the few university-affiliated art museums in the country that also serves as a community art museum.
With more than 200 programs, the University of Rochester offers students advanced degrees in music, medicine, business, education, and beyond. Compared with other top universities, such as Harvard and Yale, admission difficulty may be slightly lower, and it can be used as a guarantee institution. The University of Rochester may show some diversity in its admissions, offering more opportunities to applicants from different backgrounds.
3. University of California, Irvine
Ranking: #33 in National Universities (tie)
Undergrad Enrollment: 29,503
Acceptance Rate: 26%
Average SAT/ACT: N/A
Tuition & Fees( In-state/Out-of-state): $14,737/$46,626
Founded in 1965, UC Irvine has strength in the field of science and technology. It offers over 200 different degree programs covering a wide range of subject areas. Students can choose courses from many majors and minors. The university has many advanced research facilities such as the Museum of Biological Body Tissue, Zeiss electron transmission microscope, etc. It is one of the best safety schools for computer science. Besides, UC Irvine pays attention to safety in schools. It is one of the safest schools in the California system university, providing students with a supportive learning environment.
4. University of California, Davis
Ranking: #33 in National Universities (tie)
Undergrad Enrollment: 31,797
Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT/ACT: N/A
Tuition & Fees( In-state/Out-of-state): $15,794/$47,682
The University of California, Davis, was established in 1905 and is a public institution located in Northern California. As of fall 2023, the undergraduate enrollment is 31,797. The university has an acceptance rate of approximately 40-50 percent, which makes it an attractive option for many students who consider it a safety school.
UC Davis emphasizes equality in its admissions process, particularly for first-generation college applicants. This approach helps to equalize educational opportunities for a broader range of students, making the university a welcoming safety net for those seeking higher education.
UC Davis has academic strength in biology, psychology, environmental science, agricultural science, veterinary medicine, animals and plants, and other majors. Unique teaching methods help students improve their professional skills and broaden their employment prospects.
5. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Ranking: #33 in National Universities (tie)
Undergrad Enrollment: 35,564
Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT/ACT: 1340-1530/30-34
Tuition & Fees( In-state/Out-of-state): $17,640/$36,760
Since its founding in 1867, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has been committed to being a world-class leader in research, teaching, and community. It has one of the largest libraries in the world, with 15 million volumes in its 20+ unit libraries. In the past data, UIUC’s acceptance rate has reached more than 60%. Many applicants make it a choice for their safety schools due to its attractive acceptance rate.
UIUC is located in Champaign, Illinois, and has lower tuition and cost of living than some large cities. This allows many applicants who are under financial pressure to afford to study here. The comfortable living environment also gives students more choices of living in resident halls or off-campus student housing.
6. Purdue University
Ranking: #46 in National Universities (tie)
Undergrad Enrollment: 39,170
Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT/ACT: 1190-1470/27-34
Tuition & Fees( In-state/Out-of-state): $9,992/$28,794
Purdue University is a public research institution in America. It was founded in 1869. Purdue University has six campuses. They are in West Lafayette, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Hammond, and Westville. Durdo Graduate School of International Administration, located in Hanover, Germany, is another campus.
Purdue University West Lafayette is the main campus. The College of Engineering and the College of Agriculture are its largest colleges. There are more than 200 undergraduate programs, over 80 graduate programs, and professional degrees in pharmacy and veterinary medicine for students to choose from. Purdue Fort Wayne is one of the safest schools in the northeast of Indiana, with over 200 academic options.
7. University of Washington
Ranking: #46 in National Universities (tie)
Undergrad Enrollment: 39,125
Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT/ACT: 1260-1510/30-34
Tuition & Fees( In-state/Out-of-state): $12,973/$43,209
The University of Washington was founded in 1861. The UW has three campuses located in Seattle, Bothell, and Tacoma. Besides, it also has a world-class medical center serving the state and the region. The university pays attention to cultivating students’ innovative spirit and practical ability. Students in the UW in Seattle can choose from 180 majors based on their interests.
Additionally, freshmen are required to live on campus. You will not feel bored because there are many interesting activities held at the three campuses. Compared to some of the top US universities, UW has a higher acceptance rate, making it a relatively viable option for safety schools.
8. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Ranking: #70 in National Universities (tie)
Undergrad Enrollment: 5,945
Acceptance Rate: 59%
Average SAT/ACT: 1360-1520/31-34
Tuition & Fees: $64,081
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private institution with a history of more than 190 years. It is one of the world’s most renowned technological research universities. The university offers 145+ programs at different levels, and there is a wide range of majors for students to choose from. The university focuses on practice and helps students develop the ability to solve practical problems through collaborative projects and laboratory research.
The university has 5 schools. They are the School of Architecture, School of Engineering, School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, Lally School of Management, and School of Science. If you are admitted to this safety school, you will not regret it. Besides its strong academics, you can enjoy your campus life with the choice of 50+ sports clubs and 200+ student organizations.
9. University of Minnesota
Ranking: #54 in National Universities (tie)
Undergrad Enrollment: 39,556
Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT/ACT: 1310-1480/27-31
Tuition & Fees( In-state/Out-of-state): $17,214/$38,362
The University of Minnesota in Twin Cities is the flagship of the University of Minnesota System. It is a prestigious public research university in the US. The university was founded in 1851. It comprises engineering school, medical school, law school, veterinary medicine school, and agricultural school.
With 77% of the acceptance rate, the University of Minnesota is on the list of safety schools for many students. The University of Minnesota is located in the third largest metropolitan area in the Midwest of the United States; the geographical location is the center of business and industry in the Twin Cities area, with a number of large international companies, providing students with a wealth of internship and career opportunities.
10. University of Massachusetts Amherst
Ranking: #58 in National Universities (tie)
Undergrad Enrollment: 23,936
Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT/ACT: 1300-1480/29-33
Tuition & Fees( In-state/Out-of-state): $17,772/$40,449
The public institution was founded in 1863. The University of Massachusetts Amherst offers students 110 undergraduate majors and 127 graduate programs, which they can choose to learn on campus or online. Beyond academic coursework, students at the university also have access to research projects, internships, and extracurricular activities.
The university focuses on cultivating students’ critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, as well as communication skills. A high acceptance rate makes it more competitive to be a good safety school for many applicants. Once admitted, you will have the resources of the university’s extensive alumni network, which helps its graduates get ready for careers.
Conclusion
Choosing safety schools can be a complex process. Understanding what safety schools are is a crucial step for students during the application season. There are three important factors to consider when selecting your safety schools. Conduct research on the universities you are interested in, and compare your academic profile with their admission requirements to gain a clear understanding of both yourself and the institutions. Additionally, we have compiled a list of 10 safety schools that rank within the top 100 national universities in the U.S. for your reference. By including a diverse range of colleges in your list, you can enhance your chances of finding a suitable school that fosters both personal and academic growth.
FAQ
What are good safety schools?
A good safety school is a university where applicants have a high chance of being admitted based on its admissions requirements. Due to differences in each applicant’s circumstances and universities’ admission criteria, suitable safety schools may vary.
How to pick a safety school?
There are three things that should be considered when selecting safety schools.
- Find the law of acceptance rates.
- Do not just consider the ranking.
- Do not apply to overqualified universities
Is Iowa State a safety school?
Yes. Below is the basic information about Iowa State University. With its low acceptance rate in American public national universities, Iowa State University can be a great safety school for most applicants.
Ranking: #121 in National Universities (tie)
Undergrad Enrollment: 25,332
Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT/ACT: 1110-1350/21-28
Tuition & Fees( In-state/Out-of-state): $10,787/$28,881
