Last updated: April 2026 · 8 min read · Audience: Authors, students, early-career researchers · Reading level: Introductory
Introduction
Authors searching for accessible publishing venues often look at acceptance rates as a primary signal. The signal is genuinely informative but harder to interpret than it appears. A 70% acceptance rate at a small specialty journal with a focused, well-prepared submission pool is very different from a 70% rate at a venue accepting almost anything submitted.
This page is concerned with the interpretation. The goal is to identify journals where a higher acceptance rate reflects real fit between submitters and scope, not journals where the number reflects absent editorial standards.
Why this problem exists
Acceptance rates are computed differently across publishers and are rarely audited externally. Some publishers count desk rejections in the denominator; others exclude them. Some count revised resubmissions as new submissions; others do not. Two journals quoting the same rate can have very different editorial selectivity in practice.
Predatory venues exploit this ambiguity. A claim of 'over 90% acceptance' is straightforward to make and difficult to refute, particularly when the journal's editorial process is undocumented. The visible number becomes a marketing tool detached from the editorial reality.
Available solutions
Three patterns explain most high acceptance rates.
| Pattern | Why the rate is high | Verification |
|---|---|---|
| Scope self-selects submitters | Authors only submit if fit is strong | Editorial board active; recent articles match scope |
| Specialty journal with small pool | Submitters know the field intimately | Identifiable editors, transparent process |
| Predatory or low-quality venue | Most submissions are accepted | No indexing, no real review, no transparent board |
| Mid-tier journal in growth phase | Lower selectivity to build content | Documented review, modest indexing |
All four are real. The first two are honest signals; the third is the trap; the fourth is acceptable depending on goals. Differentiating them requires looking past the headline rate.
Best options based on situation
If speed is the primary driver
High-acceptance journals at the legitimate end often publish faster simply because fewer submissions get sent back for revision. Continuous-publication open-access journals in this category can be quick and serviceable. Avoid trading credibility for marginal speed.
If cost is the primary constraint
Cost and acceptance rate are independent. Some free-to-author journals are highly selective; some high-APC journals accept widely. Evaluating both dimensions separately gives a clearer picture than treating one as a proxy for the other.
If acceptance probability matters most
Even when probability is the priority, indexing should not be sacrificed. A journal with a 60% acceptance rate that is indexed in major databases is a stronger venue than a 90% acceptance journal with no indexing. The publication record is what authors carry forward; an unindexed paper produces little long-term value.
Practical recommendations
- Verify the journal independently: indexing, editorial board, recent published articles.
- Read three recent articles to gauge the level of work being published.
- Check whether the journal publishes substantive revisions (often visible in version histories or response letters).
- Prefer journals that disclose their acceptance rate calculation method (with vs without desk rejections).
- Treat 'over 90% acceptance' claims as a question to investigate, not a feature to celebrate.
What to avoid
Other patterns: journals quoting acceptance rates without specifying the time period; titles whose 'acceptance' arrives within hours of submission; venues whose published articles all have similar structure suggesting templated rather than substantive content.
Decision guidance
If a journal's high acceptance rate is the most attractive feature, that is usually a warning sign. Strong journals are recognised primarily for indexing, scope alignment, and reputation; acceptance rate is one factor among several. When the rate is the headline claim, the rest of the offering is often weaker than the number implies.
| High-rate signal | Likely honest | Likely warning |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial board | Named scholars verifiable through institutions | Generic names or unreachable members |
| Recent articles | Substantive, varied, edited | Templated, similar across topics |
| Review process | Documented, with reviewer comments visible | Vague references to 'editorial review' |
| Indexing | Listed in DOAJ / Scopus / WoS | Logos pasted but not verifiable |
| Submission to acceptance | Multiple weeks | Days or hours |
Example scenarios
Scenario: an author seeking publication on a deadline
Authors under deadline pressure are particularly susceptible to high-acceptance promises. The realistic path is a continuous-publication journal with a documented, moderate acceptance rate (50–70%) and short median timelines, rather than a venue claiming near-universal acceptance. The deadline is better met by a verified faster journal than by a venue that accepts the manuscript but does not produce a useful publication record.
Scenario: a student submitting a first paper
A first-time author choosing a journal on acceptance rate alone risks publishing in a venue with no indexing record, which limits the long-term value of the publication. A mid-tier journal with a 50–60% acceptance rate, real reviewer feedback, and documented indexing is a stronger first-publication choice even though it requires more effort.
Scenario: a budget-limited researcher with limited bandwidth
Authors with limited bandwidth often want to minimise revision cycles. Targeting a journal with high but verified acceptance rate (where the rate reflects scope alignment, not absent review) is reasonable; the verification step takes less time than rewriting after a rejection from a misfit journal.
What to do next
If a high-acceptance journal is on the candidate list, the most useful next step is verification: indexing, editorial board, recent articles, and review process documentation. If all four pass, the high rate is probably honest. Authors targeting EP Journals Group venues can use the central submission form; the editorial process is documented on each journal site.
Frequently asked questions
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Related reading and next steps
- Submission portal — Submit a manuscript through the central form
- Journals list — Six peer-reviewed journals across disciplines
- Journals with high acceptance rates — What acceptance rates do and don't signal
- How to check if a journal is legitimate — Verification before submission
- Reputable vs predatory journals — How to spot the difference
- Publishing in medical research — Field-specific scope and submission notes
- Journals for first-time authors — Submission process for first publication
Editorial enquiries
Questions about this guide or about preparing a manuscript for submission may be directed to the editorial office. Where a query relates to a specific journal in the portfolio, please indicate the journal abbreviation in your message.
Email: editor@ep-journals.org