The Hardest College to Get Into in Every State

Located in the center of Kansas, Bethel College in North Newton was the first Mennonite college founded in North America in 1887. It was established in the tradition of progressive Christian liberal arts values and the school says it tries to prepare its students to become critical thinkers and global citizens. With just 442 undergraduates, it is the smallest school on the list.

Founded in 1855 and deeply rooted in Appalachian history and culture, Berea College was the first interracial and coeducational college in the South. It is also tuition-free, relying on endowment income, gifts, and financial aid. All students must work at least 10 hours a week in jobs on campus and in the community.

Tulane University in New Orleans was founded as a medical college in 1834 to train doctors to treat diseases such as yellow fever, malaria, and smallpox that were ravaging the port city. Tropical medicine remains one of the degrees offered at Tulane, along with architecture, business, law, liberal arts, the sciences, engineering, and social work.

Colby College, a private liberal arts institution founded in 1813, is located in Waterville, Maine, about 20 miles north of the state capital of Augusta. Like most relatively selective schools, Colby College is relatively expensive — the typical cost of attending the school is approximately $68,582. Of other degree-granting institutions in the state, only Bates has a higher sticker price.

Founded in 1876, Johns Hopkins University touts itself as “America’s first research institution.” The university’s founding mission was to bring knowledge to the world. The university is well known for its medical school, which US News ranked second after Harvard University for research.

Among the extracurricular activities at Johns Hopkins is quidditch, the fictional sport in the “Harry Potter” books and movies.