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