Undergraduate enrollment in America’s colleges and universities has fallen for eight consecutive years. In the fall of 2017, there were 16.8 million students enrolled in undergraduate programs, a 7% decrease from the total enrollment of 18.1 million in 2010.
The decline in college enrollment is attributable to a wide range of factors, including climbing tuition costs and the threat of a lifetime paying off student loans. Here is a year-by-year look at how the cost of college has climbed in recent decades. The downward trend in interest in attending school is not universal, however, and some colleges and universities are reporting a surge in applicants.
Using data from the National Center for Education Statistics, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year changes in the number of applications submitted to nearly 600 four-year post-secondary institutions to identify the 100 colleges where applications climbed the most.
This list includes schools from all over the country: both public and private, large and small, urban and rural, nonprofit and for-profit. They also vary considerably in their selectivity, with some accepting fewer than one in every five applicants, while others accept nearly everyone who applies. Here is a look at the hardest colleges to get into.
Click here to see colleges where applications are skyrocketing
Click here to see our methodology
Source: Victorrocha / Wikimedia Commons
100. California State Polytechnic University-Pomona, California
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 45.8%
> 2017-2018 applications: 34,911
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 25,910
> Acceptance rate: 55.1%
> Annual price: $28,891
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Source: Mark Lee / Wikimedia Commons
99. Colorado College, Colorado
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 46.7%
> 2017-2018 applications: 8,223
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 2,319
> Acceptance rate: 15.1%
> Annual price: $71,642
Source: Zeete / Wikimedia Commons
98. Kean University, New Jersey
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 47.1%
> 2017-2018 applications: 8,851
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 13,725
> Acceptance rate: 82.2%
> Annual price: $30,475
Source: Gregg Erickson / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
97. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, California
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 47.2%
> 2017-2018 applications: 48,588
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 22,352
> Acceptance rate: 34.6%
> Annual price: $28,302
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Source: Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons
96. Tennessee Technological University, Tennessee
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 47.5%
> 2017-2018 applications: 7,143
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 10,103
> Acceptance rate: 64.4%
> Annual price: $26,131
Source: Peter Greenberg / Wikimedia Commons
95. Pratt Institute-Main, New York
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 48.3%
> 2017-2018 applications: 7,321
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 4,220
> Acceptance rate: 56.8%
> Annual price: $67,742
Source: Nyttend / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
94. Wittenberg University, Ohio
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 48.3%
> 2017-2018 applications: 7,249
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 1,987
> Acceptance rate: 72.2%
> Annual price: $53,056
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Source: David Paul Morris / Getty Images
93. University of California-Merced, California
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 48.4%
> 2017-2018 applications: 22,574
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 7,783
> Acceptance rate: 69.8%
> Annual price: $35,663
Source: Jennifer Williams / Wikimedia Commons
92. California State University-East Bay, California
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 48.5%
> 2017-2018 applications: 15,962
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 15,801
> Acceptance rate: 74.1%
> Annual price: $25,143
Source: Courtesy of West Texas A&M University via Facebook
91. West Texas A&M University, Texas
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 48.9%
> 2017-2018 applications: 6,116
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 8,377
> Acceptance rate: 61.4%
> Annual price: $21,285
90. Miami University-Oxford, Ohio
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 48.9%
> 2017-2018 applications: 30,255
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 18,422
> Acceptance rate: 68.2%
> Annual price: $33,229
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Source: Spencer Platt / Getty Images
89. New York University, New York
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 49.5%
> 2017-2018 applications: 64,007
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 29,431
> Acceptance rate: 27.7%
> Annual price: $73,566
Source: Raymond Boyd / Getty Images
88. Wayne State University, Michigan
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 49.6%
> 2017-2018 applications: 15,331
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 20,364
> Acceptance rate: 67.4%
> Annual price: $27,157
Source: 5thLargestinAfrica / Flickr
87. California State University-Stanislaus, California
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 49.8%
> 2017-2018 applications: 8,069
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 10,226
> Acceptance rate: 77.1%
> Annual price: $21,886
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Source: Elsa / Getty Images
86. Ohio University-Main Campus, Ohio
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 50.4%
> 2017-2018 applications: 26,263
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 25,968
> Acceptance rate: 73.9%
> Annual price: $28,986
Source: Jim Lord / Getty Images
85. Monmouth University, New Jersey
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 51.0%
> 2017-2018 applications: 9,261
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 4,965
> Acceptance rate: 73.9%
> Annual price: $56,979
Source: Lance King / Getty Images
84. Butler University, Indiana
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 51.2%
> 2017-2018 applications: 14,635
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 4,334
> Acceptance rate: 65.1%
> Annual price: $59,660
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Source: Kirby Lee / Getty Images
83. California State University-Bakersfield, California
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 51.5%
> 2017-2018 applications: 8,882
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 10,500
> Acceptance rate: 61.1%
> Annual price: $26,009
Source: Chris Graythen / Getty Images
82. Louisiana Tech University, Louisiana
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 51.8%
> 2017-2018 applications: 6,952
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 12,053
> Acceptance rate: 64.8%
> Annual price: $21,267
Source: Andrevruas / Wikimedia Commons
81. New York Institute of Technology, New York
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 51.9%
> 2017-2018 applications: 9,945
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 4,029
> Acceptance rate: 76.9%
> Annual price: $58,496
Source: KarenMassier / Getty Images
80. Washington State University, Washington
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 52.2%
> 2017-2018 applications: 22,565
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 28,198
> Acceptance rate: 73.1%
> Annual price: $27,484
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Source: raybouk / Flickr
79. California State University-Chico, California
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 52.8%
> 2017-2018 applications: 23,305
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 18,423
> Acceptance rate: 67.8%
> Annual price: $24,624
Source: Richard T Gagnon / Getty Images
78. Merrimack College, Massachusetts
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 52.9%
> 2017-2018 applications: 8,656
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 3,856
> Acceptance rate: 81.5%
> Annual price: $60,055
Source: Daderot / Wikimedia Commons
77. University of California-Davis, California
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 53.5%
> 2017-2018 applications: 70,952
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 32,197
> Acceptance rate: 43.4%
> Annual price: $35,177
Source: Streeter Lecka / Getty Images
76. Clemson University, South Carolina
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 53.7%
> 2017-2018 applications: 26,242
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 21,256
> Acceptance rate: 47.2%
> Annual price: $31,270
Source: Justefrain / Wikimedia Commons
75. California State University-Los Angeles, California
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 54.4%
> 2017-2018 applications: 37,396
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 25,757
> Acceptance rate: 46.4%
> Annual price: $26,139
Source: Sam Wasson / Getty Images
74. University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Nevada
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 55.1%
> 2017-2018 applications: 9,872
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 28,269
> Acceptance rate: 81.1%
> Annual price: $24,035
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Source: David McNew / Getty Images
73. University of California-Riverside, California
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 55.4%
> 2017-2018 applications: 43,671
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 21,540
> Acceptance rate: 56.5%
> Annual price: $35,242
Source: Nyttend / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
72. Central State University, Ohio
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 57.3%
> 2017-2018 applications: 12,517
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 2,004
> Acceptance rate: 48.0%
> Annual price: $19,278
Source: Denisonfan / Wikimedia Commons
71. Denison University, Ohio
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 58.5%
> 2017-2018 applications: 7,540
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 2,376
> Acceptance rate: 37.2%
> Annual price: $66,870
Source: Rob Carr / Getty Images
70. Purdue University-Main Campus, Indiana
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 58.6%
> 2017-2018 applications: 49,354
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 33,757
> Acceptance rate: 57.5%
> Annual price: $22,822
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Source: Kim / Flickr
69. Hawaii Pacific University, Hawaii
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 58.7%
> 2017-2018 applications: 6,551
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 4,225
> Acceptance rate: 74.7%
> Annual price: $44,414
Source: Courtesy of North Carolina A&T State University via Facebook
68. North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 59.3%
> 2017-2018 applications: 10,661
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 11,370
> Acceptance rate: 62.2%
> Annual price: $18,136
Source: Andy Lyons / Getty Images
67. East Tennessee State University, Tennessee
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 59.4%
> 2017-2018 applications: 8,169
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 12,575
> Acceptance rate: 85.5%
> Annual price: $24,068
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66. Augustana College, Illinois
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 59.6%
> 2017-2018 applications: 6,750
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 2,696
> Acceptance rate: 59.0%
> Annual price: $54,907
Source: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
65. University of California-Berkeley, California
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 60.5%
> 2017-2018 applications: 85,044
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 32,309
> Acceptance rate: 17.1%
> Annual price: $38,066
Source: Carmen Mandato / Getty Images
64. Murray State University, Kentucky
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 61.1%
> 2017-2018 applications: 6,900
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 9,087
> Acceptance rate: 86.7%
> Annual price: $23,472
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Source: santamonicamtns / Flickr
63. California State University-Channel Islands, California
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 62.2%
> 2017-2018 applications: 10,689
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 7,819
> Acceptance rate: 78.3%
> Annual price: $25,517
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
62. University of Maine, Maine
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 63.5%
> 2017-2018 applications: 13,231
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 10,265
> Acceptance rate: 92.3%
> Annual price: $25,088
Source: Rich Schultz / Getty Images
61. Seton Hall University, New Jersey
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 64.2%
> 2017-2018 applications: 16,719
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 6,328
> Acceptance rate: 73.2%
> Annual price: $59,670
Source: Michael Barera / Wikimedia Commons
60. Texas A&M University-Commerce, Texas
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 64.5%
> 2017-2018 applications: 9,520
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 9,527
> Acceptance rate: 34.5%
> Annual price: $22,983
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Source: Photo by J. Meric / South Florida / Getty Images
59. The University of Texas at El Paso, Texas
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 64.7%
> 2017-2018 applications: 9,382
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 24,925
> Acceptance rate: 100.0%
> Annual price: $23,843
Source: Leon Bennett / Getty Images
58. University of California-Santa Barbara, California
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 64.8%
> 2017-2018 applications: 81,824
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 23,559
> Acceptance rate: 32.8%
> Annual price: $36,659
57. University of California-San Diego, California
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 65.5%
> 2017-2018 applications: 88,446
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 30,143
> Acceptance rate: 34.0%
> Annual price: $32,838
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Source: Thomas / Wikimedia Commons
56. California State University-San Marcos, California
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 65.5%
> 2017-2018 applications: 16,514
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 15,748
> Acceptance rate: 56.8%
> Annual price: $25,325
Source: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images
55. University of California-Los Angeles, California
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 66.1%
> 2017-2018 applications: 102,225
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 33,160
> Acceptance rate: 16.1%
> Annual price: $34,620
Source: beklaus / Getty Images
54. University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 66.2%
> 2017-2018 applications: 36,148
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 32,113
> Acceptance rate: 79.8%
> Annual price: $31,044
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Source: Courtesy of The University of Texas at Dallas via Facebook
53. The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 66.5%
> 2017-2018 applications: 11,791
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 19,992
> Acceptance rate: 76.0%
> Annual price: $29,286
Source: j26 / Flickr
52. Clarkson University, New York
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 66.7%
> 2017-2018 applications: 7,000
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 3,154
> Acceptance rate: 65.7%
> Annual price: $68,112
Source: Elsa / Getty Images
51. University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 66.7%
> 2017-2018 applications: 35,596
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 34,253
> Acceptance rate: 53.8%
> Annual price: $26,025
Source: Amerique / Wikimedia Commons
50. Loyola University Chicago, Illinois
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 67.9%
> 2017-2018 applications: 23,571
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 13,247
> Acceptance rate: 70.6%
> Annual price: $61,328
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Source: Courtesy of Florida Memorial University - Official-FMU via Facebook
49. Florida Memorial University, Florida
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 68.1%
> 2017-2018 applications: 6,802
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 1,328
> Acceptance rate: 27.3%
> Annual price: $29,812
Source: Courtesy of Azusa Pacific University via Facebook
48. Azusa Pacific University, California
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 68.6%
> 2017-2018 applications: 8,939
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 6,239
> Acceptance rate: 60.1%
> Annual price: $54,144
Source: knowlesgallery / Getty Images
47. Boise State University, Idaho
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 71.2%
> 2017-2018 applications: 8,876
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 24,224
> Acceptance rate: 84.0%
> Annual price: $23,076
Source: warrenlemay / Flickr
46. Case Western Reserve University, Ohio
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 71.7%
> 2017-2018 applications: 25,380
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 5,275
> Acceptance rate: 33.1%
> Annual price: $67,332
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
45. New Jersey Institute of Technology, New Jersey
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 72.1%
> 2017-2018 applications: 7,254
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 9,620
> Acceptance rate: 61.4%
> Annual price: $37,738
Source: Courtesy of Le Moyne College via Facebook
44. Le Moyne College, New York
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 72.6%
> 2017-2018 applications: 7,429
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 3,005
> Acceptance rate: 64.0%
> Annual price: $51,100
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Source: Allyunion / Wikimedia Commons
43. University of California-Irvine, California
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 72.7%
> 2017-2018 applications: 85,092
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 30,865
> Acceptance rate: 36.5%
> Annual price: $34,261
Source: Photo by Steven D Starr / Corbis via Getty Images
42. University of Denver, Colorado
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 74.0%
> 2017-2018 applications: 19,904
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 6,118
> Acceptance rate: 58.0%
> Annual price: $67,656
Source: Courtesy of Texas A&M International University via Facebook
41. Texas A&M International University, Texas
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 74.0%
> 2017-2018 applications: 7,768
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 7,779
> Acceptance rate: 49.6%
> Annual price: $18,549
Source: Anh-Viet Dinh / Trinity University / Wikimedia Commons
40. Trinity University, Texas
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 74.1%
> 2017-2018 applications: 7,663
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 2,487
> Acceptance rate: 38.4%
> Annual price: $58,840
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Source: Grant Halverson / Getty Images
39. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 75.0%
> 2017-2018 applications: 39,650
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 19,773
> Acceptance rate: 24.4%
> Annual price: $23,811
Source: Peter Flass / Wikimedia Commons
38. Skidmore College, New York
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 76.3%
> 2017-2018 applications: 10,053
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 2,856
> Acceptance rate: 24.5%
> Annual price: $71,730
Source: Courtesy of Coastal Carolina University via Facebook
37. Coastal Carolina University, South Carolina
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 76.8%
> 2017-2018 applications: 18,563
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 10,708
> Acceptance rate: 61.2%
> Annual price: $25,520
Source: ablokhin / Getty Images
36. Pace University, New York
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 77.8%
> 2017-2018 applications: 20,944
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 9,652
> Acceptance rate: 79.6%
> Annual price: $66,499
Source: Daderot / Wikimedia Commons
35. Shaw University, North Carolina
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 78.3%
> 2017-2018 applications: 12,060
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 1,635
> Acceptance rate: 52.9%
> Annual price: $29,378
34. Radford University, Virginia
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 78.5%
> 2017-2018 applications: 14,620
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 8,836
> Acceptance rate: 74.3%
> Annual price: $24,088
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
33. Southern Connecticut State University, Connecticut
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 79.2%
> 2017-2018 applications: 8,922
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 8,994
> Acceptance rate: 64.9%
> Annual price: $26,810
Source: Robert_Ford / Getty Images
32. Utah State University, Utah
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 79.7%
> 2017-2018 applications: 15,555
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 28,804
> Acceptance rate: 89.1%
> Annual price: $20,504
Source: Mitchell Layton / Getty Images
31. University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Maryland
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 81.4%
> 2017-2018 applications: 7,827
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 3,138
> Acceptance rate: 39.0%
> Annual price: $24,216
30. Creighton University, Nebraska
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 81.4%
> 2017-2018 applications: 9,727
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 4,738
> Acceptance rate: 72.0%
> Annual price: $54,952
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Source: Holly Guerrio / Getty Images
29. Nova Southeastern University, Florida
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 82.7%
> 2017-2018 applications: 7,779
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 5,026
> Acceptance rate: 58.2%
> Annual price: $50,597
Source: Meganp / Wikimedia Commons
28. University of Washington-Seattle Campus, Washington
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 82.9%
> 2017-2018 applications: 44,877
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 39,015
> Acceptance rate: 46.4%
> Annual price: $27,638
Source: Jonathan Devich / Getty Images
27. Southern Utah University, Utah
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 83.4%
> 2017-2018 applications: 11,693
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 13,625
> Acceptance rate: 75.8%
> Annual price: $20,420
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Source: Beyond My Ken / Wikimedia Commons
26. The New School, New York
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 84.4%
> 2017-2018 applications: 9,056
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 8,788
> Acceptance rate: 61.5%
> Annual price: $71,361
Source: Jamie Sabau / Getty Images
25. Ohio State University-Main Campus, Ohio
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 85.1%
> 2017-2018 applications: 47,782
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 49,274
> Acceptance rate: 48.1%
> Annual price: $27,367
Source: Kelvin Sterling Scott / Getty Images
24. Howard University, District of Columbia
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 86.5%
> 2017-2018 applications: 16,815
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 6,631
> Acceptance rate: 41.4%
> Annual price: $44,651
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Source: Courtesy of UC Santa Cruz via Facebook
23. University of California-Santa Cruz, California
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 87.6%
> 2017-2018 applications: 52,969
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 18,534
> Acceptance rate: 50.9%
> Annual price: $36,217
Source: gregobagel / Getty Images
22. Central Washington University, Washington
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 89.9%
> 2017-2018 applications: 8,597
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 16,515
> Acceptance rate: 86.3%
> Annual price: $23,201
Source: EVula / Wikimedia Commons
21. Belmont University, Tennessee
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 91.2%
> 2017-2018 applications: 7,737
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 6,804
> Acceptance rate: 81.2%
> Annual price: $52,760
Source: RomanBabakin / Getty Images
20. Temple University, Pennsylvania
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 91.6%
> 2017-2018 applications: 35,880
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 31,942
> Acceptance rate: 56.7%
> Annual price: $33,004
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Source: Courtesy of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi via Facebook
19. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Texas
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 91.7%
> 2017-2018 applications: 12,464
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 11,428
> Acceptance rate: 60.5%
> Annual price: $23,337
Source: Courtesy of Metropolitan State University of Denver via Facebook
18. Metropolitan State University of Denver, Colorado
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 92.4%
> 2017-2018 applications: 11,435
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 24,266
> Acceptance rate: 64.3%
> Annual price: N/A
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
17. Clark University, Massachusetts
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 94.3%
> 2017-2018 applications: 8,355
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 2,411
> Acceptance rate: 56.3%
> Annual price: $56,650
16. Rutgers University-Camden, New Jersey
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 99.4%
> 2017-2018 applications: 11,338
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 6,354
> Acceptance rate: 69.3%
> Annual price: $31,934
Source: walencienne / Getty Images
15. University of Utah, Utah
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 101.5%
> 2017-2018 applications: 22,400
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 29,276
> Acceptance rate: 66.2%
> Annual price: $24,472
Source: Courtesy of University of Nebraska at Omaha via Facebook
14. University of Nebraska at Omaha, Nebraska
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 101.9%
> 2017-2018 applications: 9,158
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 14,566
> Acceptance rate: 86.5%
> Annual price: $22,300
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Source: Joe Murphy / Getty Images
13. University of Memphis, Tennessee
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 102.1%
> 2017-2018 applications: 13,741
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 19,958
> Acceptance rate: 84.8%
> Annual price: $25,423
Source: Jeffrey Vock Photography.
QueenCity11 / Wikimedia Commons
12. Stevens Institute of Technology, New Jersey
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 103.9%
> 2017-2018 applications: 8,335
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 3,194
> Acceptance rate: 43.9%
> Annual price: $69,292
Source: Scott Brody / Wikimedia Commons
11. Rowan University, New Jersey
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 104.8%
> 2017-2018 applications: 14,068
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 17,470
> Acceptance rate: 69.4%
> Annual price: $32,099
Source: Michael Barera / Wikimedia Commons
10. Tarleton State University, Texas
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 113.0%
> 2017-2018 applications: 10,681
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 12,644
> Acceptance rate: 50.4%
> Annual price: $21,795
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9. Colby College, Maine
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 113.5%
> 2017-2018 applications: 11,190
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 2,081
> Acceptance rate: 15.8%
> Annual price: $71,202
Source: Grant Halverson / Getty Images
8. Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus, Georgia
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 123.6%
> 2017-2018 applications: 31,497
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 17,068
> Acceptance rate: 23.4%
> Annual price: $28,776
Source: Shane Torgerson / Wikimedia Commons
7. Texas State University, Texas
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 133.0%
> 2017-2018 applications: 24,277
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 37,365
> Acceptance rate: 73.0%
> Annual price: $23,130
Source: Raymond Boyd / Getty Images
6. Clark Atlanta University, Georgia
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 140.3%
> 2017-2018 applications: 13,940
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 3,576
> Acceptance rate: 57.9%
> Annual price: $38,154
Source: Ebyabe / Wikimedia Commons
5. Stetson University, Florida
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 141.3%
> 2017-2018 applications: 11,732
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 3,232
> Acceptance rate: 67.8%
> Annual price: $63,282
Source: Gerry Dincher / Wikimedia Commons
4. Claflin University, South Carolina
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 141.9%
> 2017-2018 applications: 9,767
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 2,230
> Acceptance rate: 41.2%
> Annual price: $33,198
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Source: Courtesy of Grand Canyon University / gcu.edu
3. Grand Canyon University, Arizona
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 190.2%
> 2017-2018 applications: 32,734
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 76,300
> Acceptance rate: 66.9%
> Annual price: $32,100
Source: Courtesy of Wingate University / wingate.edu
2. Wingate University, North Carolina
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 212.6%
> 2017-2018 applications: 15,198
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 2,729
> Acceptance rate: 93.2%
> Annual price: $48,746
Source: DeLarge77 / Wikimedia Commons
1. Southern New Hampshire University, New Hampshire
> 5 yr. increase in applications: 300.9%
> 2017-2018 applications: 17,086
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 106,439
> Acceptance rate: 78.0%
> Annual price: $51,538
Methodology:
Using data from the National Center for Education Statistics, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 100 colleges and universities with the largest five-year percentage increase in applicants from the 2012-2013 school year to the 2017-2018 year.
Only schools with at least 4,000 applicants in 2012 were considered. Also from the NCES came annual price per school, which represents the cost of attendance, including in-district tuition and fees, books and supplies, on-campus room and board, and other campus expenses, for full-time, first-time degree-seeking undergraduate students living on campus. Acceptance rates were also calculated using NCES data. Total undergraduate enrollment also came from the NCES and is for the most recent available year.
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