Special Report

Colleges Where Applications Are Skyrocketing

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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 

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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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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

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

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

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

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

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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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

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

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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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

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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

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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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

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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

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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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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

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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

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

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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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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

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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

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

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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

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

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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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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

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

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

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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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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

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

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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

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

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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

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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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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

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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

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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

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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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

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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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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

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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

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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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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

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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

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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

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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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

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

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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

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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

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

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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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

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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

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

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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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

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

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

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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

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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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

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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

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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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

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

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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

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

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

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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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

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

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

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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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

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

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

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

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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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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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

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

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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