While the term "safety school" may have a negative connotation, it's unquestionably a smart decision to apply to at least one college you'll likely be accepted to.
To make the most out of this strategy, we've partnered with Niche to bring you the top schools in the country with great academics and high acceptance rates. To compile this list, Niche used its data for highest academics rankings, acceptance rates, and in-state population.
Oftentimes, these schools' strong academic programs are overshadowed by the popular perception that a college is better if it's tough to get into. These colleges challenge that myth, and are smart — and potentially safe — options for student applicants.
We've included one school from each state in our list, as well as a bonus university from Washington, DC. Check out the full list below:
Alaska — University of Alaska Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Undergraduates: 7,861 Acceptance Rate: 72%
Alabama — University of Alabama at Birmingham Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Undergraduates: 8,270 Acceptance Rate: 72%
Arkansas — Arkansas Tech University Location: Russellville, Arkansas
Undergraduates: 7,068 Acceptance Rate: 88%
Arizona — Arizona State University Location: Tempe, Arizona
Undergraduates: 50,484 Acceptance Rate: 89%
California — University of California, Santa Cruz Location: Santa Cruz, California
Undergraduates: 15,677 Acceptance Rate: 68%
Colorado — Colorado State University Location: Fort Collins, Colorado
Undergraduates: 20,336 Acceptance Rate: 75%
Connecticut — University of Connecticut Location: Storrs, Connecticut
Undergraduates: 16,736 Acceptance Rate: 45%
Delaware — University of Delaware Location: Newark, Delaware
Undergraduates: 15,558 Acceptance Rate: 58%
Florida — University of Florida Location: Gainesville, Florida
Undergraduates: 30,241 Acceptance Rate: 44%
Georgia — University of North Georgia - Gainesville Location: Oakwood, Georgia
Undergraduates: 5,181 Acceptance Rate: 99%
Hawaii — University of Hawaii at Manoa Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Undergraduates: 11,975 Acceptance Rate: 78%
Iowa — Iowa State University Location: Ames, Iowa
Undergraduates: 26,103 Acceptance Rate: 85%
Idaho — Brigham Young University - Idaho Location: Rexburg, Idaho
Undergraduates: 15,235 Acceptance Rate: 99%
Illinois — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Location: Champaign, Illinois
Undergraduates: 31,118 Acceptance Rate: 63%
Indiana — Indiana University Bloomington Location: Bloomington, Indiana
Undergraduates: 30,949 Acceptance Rate: 74%
Kansas — Kansas State University Location: Manhattan, Kansas
Undergraduates: 17,245 Acceptance Rate: 99%
Kentucky — University of Louisville Location: Louisville, Kentucky
Undergraduates: 12,192 Acceptance Rate: 73%
Lousiana — University of Louisiana at Monroe Location: Monroe, Louisiana
Undergraduates: 5,116 Acceptance Rate: 91%
Massachusetts — University of Massachusetts Lowell Location: Lowell, Massachusetts
Undergraduates: 8,724 Acceptance Rate: 66%
Maryland — University of Maryland, Baltimore County Location: Baltimore County, Maryland
Undergraduates: 9,371 Acceptance Rate: 60%
Maine — University of Maine Location: Orono, Maine
Undergraduates: 7,549 Acceptance Rate: 78%
Michigan — Michigan Technological University Location: Houghton, Michigan
Undergraduates: 5,196 Acceptance Rate: 75%
Minnesota — University of St. Thomas Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota
Undergraduates: 6,046 Acceptance Rate: 87%
Missouri — Missouri University of Science and Technology Location: Rolla, Missouri
Undergraduates: 5,260 Acceptance Rate: 89%
Mississippi — Mississippi State University Location: Mississippi State, Mississippi
Undergraduates: 15,004 Acceptance Rate: 62%
Montana — University of Montana Location: Missoula, Montana
Undergraduates: 9,941 Acceptance Rate: 81%
North Carolina — University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Undergraduates: 17,437 Acceptance Rate: 33%
North Dakota — North Dakota State University Location: Fargo, North Dakota
Undergraduates: 10,718 Acceptance Rate: 84%
Nebraska — University of Nebraska - Lincoln Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Undergraduates: 18,039 Acceptance Rate: 59%
New Hampshire — University of New Hampshire Location: Durham, New Hampshire
Undergraduates: 12,342 Acceptance Rate: 78%
New Jersey — Seton Hall University Location: South Orange, New Jersey
Undergraduates: 5,023 Acceptance Rate: 84%
New Mexico — New Mexico State University Location: Las Cruces, New Mexico
Undergraduates: 11,673 Acceptance Rate: 80%
New York — College of Staten Island Location: Staten Island, New York
Undergraduates: 9,917 Acceptance Rate: 99%
Nevada — University of Nevada, Reno Location: Reno, Nevada
Undergraduates: 12,411 Acceptance Rate: 82%
Ohio — Ohio University Location: Athens, Ohio
Undergraduates: 16,862 Acceptance Rate: 78%
Oklahoma — University of Oklahoma Location: Norman, Oklahoma
Undergraduates: 18,111 Acceptance Rate: 79%
Oregon — Oregon State University Location: Corvallis, Oregon
Undergraduates: 17,794 Acceptance Rate: 78%
Pennsylvania — University of Pittsburgh Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Undergraduates: 17,256 Acceptance Rate: 58%
Rhode Island — University of Rhode Island Location: Kingston, Rhode Island
Undergraduates: 11,923 Acceptance Rate: 85%
South Carolina — Clemson University Location: Clemson, South Carolina
Undergraduates: 15,643 Acceptance Rate: 63%
South Dakota — South Dakota State University Location: Brookings, South Dakota
Undergraduates: 8,562 Acceptance Rate: 92%
Tennessee — Tennessee Technological University Location: Cookeville, Tennessee
Undergraduates: 8,923 Acceptance Rate: 93%
Texas — Texas A&M University Location: College Station, Texas
Undergraduates: 36,219 Acceptance Rate: 67%
Utah — University of Utah Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Undergraduates: 17,518 Acceptance Rate: 83%
Virginia — Virginia Tech Location: Blacksburg, Virginia
Undergraduates: 23,366 Acceptance Rate: 70%
Vermont — University of Vermont Location: Burlington, Vermont
Undergraduates: 9,956 Acceptance Rate: 77%
Washington — Washington State University Location: Pullman, Washington
Undergraduates: 20,082 Acceptance Rate: 76%
Washington, DC — American University Location: Washington, DC
Undergraduates: 6,970 Acceptance Rate: 44%
Wisconsin — University of Wisconsin - Madison Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Undergraduates: 28,167 Acceptance Rate: 69%
West Virginia — West Virginia University Location: Morgantown, West Virginia
Undergraduates: 21,118 Acceptance Rate: 85%
Wyoming — University of Wyoming Location: Laramie, Wisconsin
Undergraduates: 8,311 Acceptance Rate: 96%
By Business Insider | 
