Acceptance has nothing to do with how the accedemic program is.
It doesn't have "everything" to do with the academic program, but I don't think "nothing" is appropriate either. There seems to be a strong correlation between better, well respected academic programs, and acceptance rates.
Okay so by what you just said and OSU being at 49% and YSU at 84% would prove our point in saying that realistically, the harder school academic wise is in Columbus.
the 50-80 acceptance range covers almost all schools. the elite academic schools are significantly below 50%
BTW, the 84% number was 2014, the 2016 rate for YSU is 69% The current freshman class grew 5.5% AND has the highest ACT scores in school history, so YSU, after years of mediocre leadership, is responding to new, inspired leadership, but I'd be OK with thinking not all programs are on a par with other major schools. The budget and long range financial planning and endowment management are also responding under JT's leadership.
I would say this regarding YSU and OSU, I could make the argument that the football program alone could account for most of the increased interest in attending OSU. But it is also reasonable to say that the previous 10-20 years prior to Tressel's return, were years of serious neglect and decline in all facets of YSU. Academics would have to be included in that decline. Endowment and budget factors are VERY important to us all, and certainly YSU. Tressel is not a cure-all, but he sure beats the sh** of of his immediate few predecessors! I'm not about to accept the premise that YSU is far easier than OSU. But I can accept the resources and commitment to educational excellence at OSU has exceeded what YSU has been until we started back.
My family (wife, daughter son, and I) has degrees from YSU KSU BGSU and OSU. My clear best educational institution of the bunch? BGSU