In this article, we will briefly overview the global education landscape while covering the role of technology in modern learning and the 20 best colleges that are easy to get into.

Global Education Statistics at a Glance

As reported by the OECD, 20% of all 25-to-64-year-olds had not undertaken upper secondary education, the minimum requirement for labor force participation, in 2022. 40% had an upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary qualification as their highest level of education. 77% of those who engage in general upper secondary education tend to complete it on time while a further 10% complete it within the following two years. In this regard, a direct relationship between educational attainment and the employment rate has also been discovered by the OECD. This is evident from the fact that the employment rate among 25-to-64 year-olds is 59% for those with below upper secondary attainment while it is 77% for those with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary attainment and 86% for those with tertiary attainment.

Edtech Market All Set to Grow

The World Economic Forum reveals that education across the globe will see an expenditure of $10 trillion by 2030 amidst which technology will largely shape the overall sector. The global edtech and smart classroom market size was estimated at $115.80 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow from $133.55 billion in 2023 to $433.17 billion by 2030, at a compound annual growth rate of 18.3% over the forecast period, according to estimates by Fortune Business Insights. In such an extensive edtech landscape, academic learning is just a few clicks away through online edtech platforms offered by 2U, Inc. (NASDAQ:TWOU) and Udemy, Inc. (NASDAQ:UDMY). Let’s take a look at what these firms have been up to in the education domain. Simultaneously, you can take a look at some of the biggest edtech companies in the world.

2U, Inc. (NASDAQ:TWOU) is an American educational technology company that powers the global online learning platform, edX. The platform connects more than 86 million people worldwide with online learning. On May 16, 2U, Inc. (NASDAQ:TWOU) reported the expansion of its partnership with  Pepperdine University which began in 2017. Under this initiative, six online degree programs in education and healthcare disciplines will be launched. These include a Master of Science in Education, a Master of Arts in Teaching, a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, and three doctoral programs in education. The new courses aim to prepare students for roles in high-demand fields of healthcare and education. Furthermore, the development will cater to the issue of a shortage of qualified educators in the United States while fulfilling the rising demand for speech-language pathologists.

Udemy, Inc. (NASDAQ:UDMY) is another edtech company where students can avail some of the most in-demand online courses. The topics to learn are diverse ranging from programming and data science to leadership and team building. Udemy Business allows access to over 26,000 courses and top certifications in tech and business. As of March 31, the company claims to have 220,000 courses, 75,000 instructors, and 71 million learners. On April 23, Udemy, Inc. (NASDAQ:UDMY) reported its new multi-year partnership with the San Jose Earthquakes as an Official Learning and Skills Partner. The partnering firms will offer subsidized access to more than 220,000 courses available on the Udemy platform for underserved communities. This collaboration will foster learning and skills development opportunities in the Bay Area.

Now that we have analyzed the global education scenario and the learning opportunities available through edtech, we can move to the 20 best colleges that are easy to get into.

Our Methodology:

In order to compile a list of the 20 best colleges that are easy to get into, we resorted to The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 which covers 1,906 universities across 108 countries and regions. Firstly, we screened all the colleges with the highest overall ranks globally. For this purpose, we shortlisted all colleges with a rank of up to 500 among all universities around the world. Moving on, we sourced acceptance rates for the shortlisted top colleges. These rates were available on EduRank as of February 29. Finally, we ranked all the top colleges in ascending order of their acceptance rates.

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20 Best Colleges That Are Easy to Get Into

20. University of Missouri

International Rank: 401-500

Acceptance Rate: 79%

The University of Missouri is a public land-grant research university located in Columbia, Missouri. It has 13 schools and colleges which enable access to more than 300 degree programs. The university claims that 95% of its graduates end up being successful within 6 months of their graduation. It welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries globally. The University of Missouri is a reputable academic institution with a high acceptance rate.

19. University of Illinois Chicago

International Rank: 201-250

Acceptance Rate: 79%

University of Illinois Chicago is a public research university in Chicago featuring 16 colleges. The university offers 94 bachelor’s programs for undergraduates. Additionally, it offers 102 master’s and 63 doctoral degree programs. For recreation purposes, students can access the Student Recreation Facility and the Sport & Fitness Center. Housing options are available all over campus which can help students fully enjoy the university and Chicago life. With an acceptance rate of 79%, the University of Illinois Chicago ranks as one of the best colleges that are easy to get into.

18. Temple University

International Rank: 351-400

Acceptance Rate: 80%

Temple University is a public university based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The university has 17 schools and colleges with more than 600 academic programs to offer. It has a global presence through its eight campuses around the world. While the main campus is situated in Philadelphia, the university also has campuses in Rome and Japan. Students who want to pursue a renowned academic institution with an acceptance rate as high as 80% can apply to Temple University.

17. Drexel University

International Rank: 301-350

Acceptance Rate: 80%

Drexel University is a global research university that came into being in Philadelphia in 1891. The university has over 22,000 students worldwide and has an acceptance rate of 80%. Students at Drexel have access to more than 300 student clubs and organizations. In undergraduate, Drexel University has 80 majors and as many minors for its students. Furthermore, over 120 graduate and professional programs are offered.

16. University of Colorado Boulder

International Rank: 138

Acceptance Rate: 81%

The University of Colorado Boulder serves as one of only 38 US public research institutions in the Association of American Universities (AAU). In regards to academics, its 9 colleges and schools have over 4,600 courses being offered across more than 150 fields of study. The one-year retention rate for first-year students is 89%. The university has maintained an 18:1 student-to-faculty ratio and ranks 16^th among the 20 best colleges that are easy to get into.

15. Dalhousie University

International Rank: 301-350

Acceptance Rate: 82%

Dalhousie University is a public research university situated on Canada’s East Coast which has a high acceptance rate. The university is home to students belonging to more than 115 countries worldwide. Dalhousie University claims to be one of the top 12 Canadian universities with one of the lowest student-faculty ratios in the country. The institution offers over 200 programs and has more than 155,000 alumni across the globe.

14. Indiana University

International Rank: 198

Acceptance Rate: 82%

Indiana University excels in academics by offering over 380 overseas study programs, more than 100 research centers and institutes, as well as over 20 living-learning centers and thematic communities. Students can customize their degrees with more than 200 majors and 80 languages. The university has a diverse student body from over 140 countries. Indiana University has an acceptance rate of 82% and is easy to get into.

13. Washington State University

International Rank: 301-350

Acceptance Rate: 83%

The 20 best colleges that are easy to get into rank Washington State University on 13^th. Washington State University has 6 campuses, 11 academic colleges, and 4 research and extension centers. More than 200 undergraduate and graduate fields of study are available for students to choose from. The university boasts an acceptance rate of 83%.

12. University of Oregon

International Rank: 401-500

Acceptance Rate: 86%

With an acceptance rate of 86%, the University of Oregon ranks on our list. The university serves as one of the top public universities in the United States. It offers more than 300 undergraduate programs and more than 120 graduate programs. The student body at the University of Oregon comes from all 50 US states and more than 100 other countries. Furthermore, the university has the honor of being one of only two schools in the Pacific Northwest chosen for membership in the Association of American Universities.

11. University of Iowa

International Rank: 201–250

Acceptance Rate: 86%

The University of Iowa is a top-ranked public university. The university has a 97%  job or graduate school placement rate. The University of Iowa offers more than 200 majors, minors, and certificates. More than 600 on-campus student organizations enable students to find their fit. University of Iowa ranks 11^th on our list of the best colleges that are easy to get into with its acceptance rate of 86%.

10. University of Arizona

International Rank: 155

Acceptance Rate: 87%

The University of Arizona is a public land-grant research university based in Tucson, Arizona. The university claims to have a 46% diverse student body and a 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Those who wish to study at the University of Arizona can enjoy more than 400 student clubs and organizations. The university offers over 150 undergraduate majors, and more than 200 graduate programs.

9. University of Kansas

International Rank: 351-400

Acceptance Rate: 88%

The University of Kansas has an acceptance rate as high as 88%. The university has 14 academic schools and more than 400 degree and certificate programs. The University of Kansas has its main campus in Lawrence, Kansas. The student life is also good with more than 500 student organizations and 25 campus housing sites for students.

8. Michigan State University

International Rank: 116

Acceptance Rate: 88%

Students looking for good academics and easy acceptance can resort to Michigan State University. These students can select from more than 400 undergraduate, graduate, and certificate areas of study across the university’s 17 degree-granting colleges. They can also customize their degree by choosing from more than 100 minors offered by Michigan State University. The campus is referred to as a small, walkable city where students can feel at home. 99% of the first-year class at  Michigan State University tends to live on campus.

7. University of Utah

International Rank: 201-250

Acceptance Rate: 89%

The University of Utah makes it to the 20 best colleges that are easy to get into as it has an acceptance rate of 89%. The university is positioned in Salt Lake City and is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Utah. It has an 18:1 student-to-faculty ratio, one of the lowest among public institutions in Utah. The range of subject matter offered by the University of Utah is diverse with its 18 colleges and schools and 100 departments.

6. George Mason University

International Rank: 401-500

Acceptance Rate: 90%

George Mason University is a public research university located in the US state of Virginia. For those willing to join the university, it has more than 200 undergraduate and graduate degrees and various minors and certificate programs. 87% of recent graduates of the university have reported positive career outcomes. Additionally, George Mason University has an acceptance rate of 90% which ranks it 6^th on our list of the 20 easy to get into colleges that are reputable.

5. Iowa State University

International Rank: 351-400

Acceptance Rate: 90%

Iowa State University is an American public land-grant research university. Students at Iowa State University. The acceptance rate is as high as 90% which makes the university a good option for those looking forward to becoming a part of a high-ranked university that is easy to get into. The university offers over 100 majors in six undergraduate colleges to choose from.