Map Ranks the 50 Most Desirable Colleges In the United States

We’ve seen (and made) a lot of college maps over the last couple months, including biggest college party schools in every state, the schools with the highest graduation rates, and the school with the largest student enrollment. Today the visual data junkies at eCollegeFinder have created a map ranking the Most Desirable colleges in each state, ranked by which college received the most undergraduate applications in the fall of 2013. As you can guess, many of the schools are your typical major state research universities that have pretty solid reputations for partying, big athletic programs, and getting a job after college.

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Here’s some cool stats from the map:

Top 5 Most Applications:

  1. University of California – Los Angeles – 72,676
  2. New York University – 57,552
  3. Pennsylvania State University – 47,552
  4. Northeastern University – 47,364
  5. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor – 46,813

Top 5 Fewest Applications:

  1. University of Alaska – Anchorage – 3,062
  2. University of Wyoming – 4,181
  3. South Dakota State University – 4,851
  4. North Dakota State University – 5,812
  5. University of Hawaii at Manoa – 6,901

Here’s the state-by-state breakdown from eCollegeFinder:

Alabama – University of Alabama

  • Location – Tuscaloosa, Alabama
  • Number of Applications Received – 30,975
  • Acceptance Rate – 57%
  • Total Undergraduates – 28,026

Alaska – University of Alaska

  • Location – Anchorage, Alaska
  • Number of Applications Received – 3,062*
  • Acceptance Rate – 72%
  • Total Undergraduates – 16,498

Arizona – University of Arizona

  • Location – Tucson, Arizona
  • Number of Applications Received – 26,329
  • Acceptance Rate – 77%
  • Total Undergraduates – 31,565

Arkansas – University of Arkansas

  • Location – Fayetteville, Arkansas
  • Number of Applications Received – 18,908
  • Acceptance Rate – 59%
  • Total Undergraduates – 20,350

California – University of California-Los Angeles

  • Location – Los Angeles, California
  • Number of Applications Received – 72,676
  • Acceptance Rate – 22%
  • Total Undergraduates – 27,941

Colorado – University of Colorado

  • Location – Boulder, Colorado
  • Number of Applications Received – 22,473
  • Acceptance Rate – 88%
  • Total Undergraduates – 25,941

Connecticut – Yale University

  • Location – New Haven, Connecticut
  • Number of Applications Received – 28,977
  • Acceptance Rate – 7%
  • Total Undergraduates – 5,405

Delaware – University of Delaware

  • Location – Newark, Delaware
  • Number of Applications Received – 25,458
  • Acceptance Rate – 65%
  • Total Undergraduates – 18,202

Florida – University of Central Florida

  • Location – Orlando, Florida
  • Number of Applications Received – 31,820
  • Acceptance Rate – 49%
  • Total Undergraduates – 51,010

Georgia – University of Georgia

  • Location – Athens, Georgia
  • Number of Applications Received – 18,458
  • Acceptance Rate – 56%
  • Total Undergraduates – 26,259

Hawaii – University of Hawaii at Manoa

  • Location – Honolulu, Hawaii
  • Number of Applications Received – 6,901
  • Acceptance Rate – 80%
  • Total Undergraduates – 14,655

Idaho – Boise State University

  • Location – Boise, Idaho
  • Number of Applications Received – 7,832
  • Acceptance Rate – 78%
  • Total Undergraduates – 19,477

Illinois – Northwestern University

  • Location – Evanston, Illinois
  • Number of Applications Received – 32,060
  • Acceptance Rate – 15%
  • Total Undergraduates – 9,376

Indiana – Indiana University

  • Location – Bloomington, Indiana
  • Number of Applications Received – 37,826
  • Acceptance Rate – 72%
  • Total Undergraduates – 32,371

Iowa – University of Iowa

  • Location – Iowa City, Iowa
  • Number of Applications Received – 21,642
  • Acceptance Rate – 80%
  • Total Undergraduates – 21,999

Kansas – University of Kansas

  • Location – Lawrence, Kansas
  • Number of Applications Received – 12,389
  • Acceptance Rate – 92%
  • Total Undergraduates – 19,169

Kentucky – University of Kentucky

  • Location – Lexington, Kentucky
  • Number of Applications Received – 19,810
  • Acceptance Rate – 69%
  • Total Undergraduates – 20,827

Louisiana – Tulane University

  • Location – New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Number of Applications Received – 30,122
  • Acceptance Rate – 26%
  • Total Undergraduates – 8,357

Maine – University of Maine

  • Location – Orono, Maine
  • Number of Applications Received – 8,306
  • Acceptance Rate – 81%
  • Total Undergraduates – 8,778

Maryland – University of Maryland

  • Location – College Park, Maryland
  • Number of Applications Received – 26,247
  • Acceptance Rate – 47%
  • Total Undergraduates – 26,538

Massachusetts – Northeastern University

  • Location – Boston, Massachusetts
  • Number of Applications Received – 47,364
  • Acceptance Rate – 32%
  • Total Undergraduates – 16,640

Michigan – University of Michigan

  • Location – Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • Number of Applications Received – 46,813
  • Acceptance Rate – 33%
  • Total Undergraduates – 27,979

Minnesota – University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

  • Location – Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • Number of Applications Received – 43,048
  • Acceptance Rate – 44%
  • Total Undergraduates – 34,469

Mississippi – University of Mississippi

  • Location – University, Mississippi
  • Number of Applications Received – 14,258
  • Acceptance Rate – 59%
  • Total Undergraduates – 16,060

Missouri – Washington University in St. Louis

  • Location – Saint Louis, Missouri
  • Number of Applications Received – 30,117
  • Acceptance Rate – 16%
  • Total Undergraduates – 7,259

Montana – Montana State University

  • Location – Bozeman, Montana
  • Number of Applications Received – 12,581
  • Acceptance Rate – 84%
  • Total Undergraduates – 12,679

Nebraska – University of Nebraska

  • Location – Lincoln, Nebraska
  • Number of Applications Received – 10,929
  • Acceptance Rate – 64%
  • Total Undergraduates – 19,103

Nevada – University of Nevada-Reno

  • Location – Reno, Nevada
  • Number of Applications Received – 7,857
  • Acceptance Rate – 84%
  • Total Undergraduates – 15,082

New Hampshire – Dartmouth College

  • Location – Hanover, New Hampshire
  • Number of Applications Received – 23,110
  • Acceptance Rate – 10%
  • Total Undergraduates – 4,193

New Jersey – Rutgers University

  • Location – New Brunswick, New Jersey
  • Number of Applications Received – 30,631
  • Acceptance Rate – 60%
  • Total Undergraduates – 31,593

New Mexico – University of New Mexico

  • Location – Albuquerque, New Mexico
  • Number of Applications Received – 11,467
  • Acceptance Rate – 65%
  • Total Undergraduates – 22,773

New York – New York University

  • Location – New York, New York
  • Number of Applications Received – 57,845
  • Acceptance Rate – 26%
  • Total Undergraduates – 22,498

North Carolina – Duke University

  • Location – Durham, North Carolina
  • Number of Applications Received – 30,374
  • Acceptance Rate – 13%
  • Total Undergraduates – 6,655

North Dakota – North Dakota State University

  • Location – Fargo, North Dakota
  • Number of Applications Received – 5,812
  • Acceptance Rate – 84%
  • Total Undergraduates – 11,988

Ohio – Ohio State University

  • Location – Columbus, Ohio
  • Number of Applications Received – 31,359
  • Acceptance Rate – 56%
  • Total Undergraduates – 43,058

Oklahoma – Oklahoma State University

  • Location – Stillwater, Oklahoma
  • Number of Applications Received – 11,064
  • Acceptance Rate – 76%
  • Total Undergraduates – 20,323

Oregon – University of Oregon

  • Location – Eugene, Oregon
  • Number of Applications Received – 21,263
  • Acceptance Rate – 74%
  • Total Undergraduates – 20,809

Pennsylvania – Pennsylvania State University

  • Location – University Park, Pennsylvania
  • Number of Applications Received – 47,552
  • Acceptance Rate – 54%
  • Total Undergraduates – 39,192

Rhode Island – Brown University

  • Location – Providence, Rhode Island
  • Number of Applications Received – 28,919
  • Acceptance Rate – 9%
  • Total Undergraduates – 6,435

South Carolina – University of South Carolina

  • Location – Columbia, South Carolina
  • Number of Applications Received – 23,429
  • Acceptance Rate – 61%
  • Total Undergraduates – 23,363

South Dakota – South Dakota State University

  • Location – Brookings, South Dakota
  • Number of Applications Received – 4,851
  • Acceptance Rate – 92%
  • Total Undergraduates – 11,118

Tennessee – Vanderbilt University

  • Location – Nashville, Tennessee
  • Number of Applications Received – 31,099
  • Acceptance Rate – 13%
  • Total Undergraduates – 6,796

Texas – University of Texas

  • Location – Austin, Texas
  • Number of Applications Received – 38,161
  • Acceptance Rate – 40%
  • Total Undergraduates – 39,955

Utah – Brigham Young University

  • Location – Provo, Utah
  • Number of Applications Received – 11,423
  • Acceptance Rate – 49%
  • Total Undergraduates – 31,060

Vermont – University of Vermont

  • Location – Burlington, Vermont
  • Number of Applications Received – 22,381
  • Acceptance Rate – 78%
  • Total Undergraduates – 11,211

Virginia – University of Virginia

  • Location – Charlottesville, Virginia
  • Number of Applications Received – 28,984
  • Acceptance Rate – 30%
  • Total Undergraduates – 15,822

Washington – University of Washington

  • Location – Seattle, Washington
  • Number of Applications Received – 30,199
  • Acceptance Rate – 55%
  • Total Undergraduates – 29,475

West Virginia – West Virginia University

  • Location – Morgantown, West Virginia
  • Number of Applications Received – 16,521
  • Acceptance Rate – 85%
  • Total Undergraduates – 22,827

Wisconsin – Marquette University

  • Location – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • Number of Applications Received – 23,432
  • Acceptance Rate – 57%
  • Total Undergraduates – 8,293

Wyoming – University of Wyoming

  • Location – Laramie, Wyoming
  • Number of Applications Received – 4,181
  • Acceptance Rate – 96%
  • Total Undergraduates – 10,194
Brandon Wenerd is BroBible's publisher, writing on this site since 2009. He writes about sports, music, men's fashion, outdoor gear, traveling, skiing, and epic adventures. Based in Los Angeles, he also enjoys interviewing athletes and entertainers. Proud Penn State alum, former New Yorker. Email: brandon@brobible.com