10 Universities with High Acceptance Rates & Full Funding for International Students (Part 2)
More U.S. universities with higher acceptance rates and full scholarships for bachelor's degrees — Lafayette, Kenyon, Bryn Mawr, Case Western, Reed, Lehigh, and more.
More U.S. universities where your odds of admission are higher — and they still meet 100% of your demonstrated financial need for a bachelor's degree. Full tuition, housing, food, books, and more.
1. Lafayette College#
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | Easton, Pennsylvania |
| Type | Private liberal arts college |
| Students | ~2,700 |
| Acceptance Rate | ~30% |
| Financial Aid | 100% of demonstrated need |
Lafayette is one of the few liberal arts colleges that offers engineering degrees alongside traditional liberal arts — a rare combination at this size. Located in Easton, Pennsylvania, you're between New York City and Philadelphia (90 minutes to each), giving you access to two massive job markets.
2. Kenyon College#
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | Gambier, Ohio |
| Type | Private liberal arts college |
| Students | ~1,850 |
| Acceptance Rate | ~30% |
| Financial Aid | 100% of demonstrated need |
Kenyon is home to one of the best creative writing programs in America — alumni include several Pulitzer Prize winners. The campus village of Gambier is centered entirely around the college, creating a uniquely immersive academic community. Strong across English, humanities, and the sciences.
3. Bryn Mawr College#
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania |
| Type | Private women's liberal arts college |
| Students | ~1,400 |
| Acceptance Rate | ~32% |
| Financial Aid | 100% of demonstrated need (COF Required) |
Bryn Mawr is a women's college in the tri-college consortium with Swarthmore and Haverford — you can take classes at all three. The first U.S. institution to offer graduate degrees to women, Bryn Mawr has been empowering women from around the world since its founding. Their international student community dates back to 1885.
4. Trinity College (CT)#
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | Hartford, Connecticut |
| Type | Private liberal arts college |
| Students | ~2,200 |
| Acceptance Rate | ~33% |
| Financial Aid | 100% of demonstrated need |
Trinity is located in Hartford — Connecticut's capital city — offering urban internship opportunities alongside a traditional New England campus experience. Their community learning initiative connects students with organizations throughout the city, giving you real-world experience from day one.
5. Case Western Reserve University#
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | Cleveland, Ohio |
| Type | Private research university |
| Students | ~5,800 |
| Acceptance Rate | ~28% |
| Financial Aid | 100% of demonstrated need |
Case Western is a research university — larger and more research-focused than most schools on this list. Particularly strong in engineering, pre-med, and the sciences. Located in University Circle, Cleveland's cultural hub with world-class museums, hospitals (Cleveland Clinic is next door), and research institutions.
6. Macalester College#
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| Type | Private liberal arts college |
| Students | ~2,200 |
| Acceptance Rate | ~30% |
| Financial Aid | 100% of demonstrated need |
About 15% of Macalester's student body is international — one of the highest percentages at any liberal arts college. They actively recruit globally and have decades of experience supporting international students. Located in the Twin Cities metro, a major job market with a surprisingly affordable cost of living.
7. Reed College#
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | Portland, Oregon |
| Type | Private liberal arts college |
| Students | ~1,500 |
| Acceptance Rate | ~41% |
| Financial Aid | 100% of demonstrated need |
Reed doesn't give traditional letter grades — professors provide detailed written evaluations instead. Every senior completes a year-long thesis. Reed refuses to participate in college rankings. Steve Jobs famously audited courses here. If you're genuinely intellectually driven and don't care about prestige for its own sake, Reed is unmatched.
8. Franklin & Marshall College#
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | Lancaster, Pennsylvania |
| Type | Private liberal arts college |
| Students | ~2,300 |
| Acceptance Rate | ~30% |
| Financial Aid | 100% of demonstrated need |
About 20% of F&M's student body is international — one of the highest in America. This school doesn't just admit a few international students — they've built their identity around global diversity. Lancaster is charming and affordable, with Philadelphia 90 minutes away for internships and city life.
9. Lehigh University#
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania |
| Type | Private research university |
| Students | ~5,600 |
| Acceptance Rate | ~32% |
| Financial Aid | 100% of demonstrated need |
Lehigh is a research university with strong engineering, business, and science programs. Located between New York City and Philadelphia (90 minutes to each), you get access to two of the largest job markets in the country. Their integrated approach to business and engineering is especially valuable for tech and entrepreneurship careers.
10. Skidmore College#
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | Saratoga Springs, New York |
| Type | Private liberal arts college |
| Students | ~2,700 |
| Acceptance Rate | ~29% |
| Financial Aid | 100% of demonstrated need (COF Required) |
Skidmore's motto is "Creative Thought Matters" — they value creativity across all disciplines, not just the arts. Whether you're studying business, biology, or studio art, Skidmore encourages innovative thinking. Saratoga Springs is a beautiful small city known for its arts scene and vibrant community.
Complete Summary: All 20 Schools Ranked by Acceptance Rate#
| Rank | School | Acceptance Rate | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thomas Aquinas College | ~75% | Great Books |
| 2 | Whitman College | ~50% | Liberal arts |
| 3 | Soka University of America | ~42% | Liberal arts |
| 4 | Reed College | ~41% | Liberal arts |
| 5 | Mount Holyoke College | ~40% | Women's |
| 6 | University of Rochester | ~39% | Research |
| 7 | Union College | ~38% | Liberal arts + engineering |
| 8 | Connecticut College | ~38% | Liberal arts |
| 9 | Brandeis University | ~35% | Research |
| 10 | Scripps College | ~33% | Women's |
| 11 | Oberlin College | ~33% | Liberal arts + conservatory |
| 12 | Trinity College | ~33% | Liberal arts |
| 13 | Bryn Mawr College | ~32% | Women's |
| 14 | Lehigh University | ~32% | Research |
| 15 | Lafayette College | ~30% | Liberal arts + engineering |
| 16 | Kenyon College | ~30% | Liberal arts |
| 17 | Macalester College | ~30% | Liberal arts |
| 18 | Franklin & Marshall College | ~30% | Liberal arts |
| 19 | Skidmore College | ~29% | Liberal arts |
| 20 | Case Western Reserve University | ~28% | Research |
For Women#
Four women's colleges on this list: Mount Holyoke (~40%), Scripps (~33%), and Bryn Mawr (~32%) are excellent options with strong acceptance rates and full funding.
For Engineering/STEM#
Three options stand out: Case Western Reserve (~28%), Lehigh (~32%), and Union (~38%) all offer engineering programs with full funding at research universities or engineering-focused liberal arts colleges.
For Research Universities#
University of Rochester (~39%), Brandeis (~35%), Case Western (~28%), and Lehigh (~32%) are research universities with higher acceptance rates — a rare combination with full financial aid.
What's Next?#
Part 3 has the final 10 schools plus the complete ranking of all 30.
Related Resources#
- Part 1 — The first 10 schools
- Part 3 — The final 10 schools
- 60+ Universities with Full Scholarships — the complete master list
- Schools with No SAT Required — 44 test-optional schools
- How to Get a Full Scholarship for Your Bachelor's Degree — the step-by-step guide
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