not too tough compared to GSD, GSAAP, Michigan, Yale as far as I know

I didn't figure they would be as tough as the ones you listed but I am still wondering just how tough. 

can't help you there.. just focus on your abilities, your portfolio and keep learning.  The rest will take care :)

My best guess/ based on various things I've found both here and doing internet searches/researching different programs

1. Rice - small class size usually only like 12-15 spots and about 300 people that apply each year

 2-4 are all pretty close to the same

2. Sci-Arc ? Not sure but a lot of people apply every year

3. UCLA about 20-30% acceptance rate-- seems to be a sort of safety school to people that apply to Ivy league based on posters here

4. UT Austin 43 Slots and about 500 people that apply each year but the enrollment yield is not as strong as some of the other schools --seems to be a sort of safety school to people that apply to Ivy league so I heard the acceptance rate is like 25%

4. CUNY

5. University of Houston  40% acceptance rate, about 200- 250 people apply each year.

Take it for what its worth

Are CUNY - Spitzer and University of Houston well respected architecture schools? 

UCLA 30% really? That's great news. I figured it would've been close to 10%. 

These are the three schools I am shooting for. I also had no idea there were hardly any spots for these grad programs. M.Arch seems tough no matter where you go. 

What's the info on CUNY? Any concrete stats or you just know that it has a pretty high acceptance rate. 

Don't have anythig concrete on CUNY, I just know that based on the posters on Grad Cafe and this site, that not as many people apply to it as Rice, UT, UCLA and Sci Arc -- all of these schools have a bunch of applicants every year. I'm sure CUNY is a great school.

 UCLA has been notoriously late getting back to people on an admissions decision the past two years so if you apply there I would keep that in mind.

Houston is a good school, more centered on design than theory according to the faculty. They have some connections in the Houston area.  Honesty I wouldn't be so hung up on the name unless you are wanting to be a professor.  I would look at schools in the area where you are interested in working/living as options because the employers will be familiar with the programs in the area. 

Well depending on my work situation. I will either be in LA or Houston.

The only school I will move to is CUNY, which I am hoping to get more info on.

from the UTSOA website: 

What percent of applicants were admitted for the Fall 2011 incoming class?

Master of Architecture, first-professional: 17%

Master of Architecture, post-professional: 19%

@buff03 You'd be very surprised how many UT folks were accepted to Ivies. For many of us it was a question of the best school for the least money (and I'd argue that UT is unbeatable in that regard).

@ Minimal --- EXACTLY...thats what I'm saying jeez. A lot of people that apply to UT also apply to Ivy league schools and get accepted to them as well, thus the quality of the applicant is very high and makes UT hard to get into. Regarding the numbers, I heard that they calculate that by the number of people that matriculate from the program vs the number of applicants so its a litte bit misleading but hey even if that's NOT true I'm really not that far off-- Whether its 25% or 17% its still very low and hard to get into. I would go to a state school over an Ivy/private any day of the week in order not to be living in a mountain of debt so I'm not knocking that either. In fact that's what I plan on doing when I start my program this fall.

@buff03 Sorry man, I guess I misunderstood what you meant by 'safety school.' And I was just posting the numbers for the original poster's benefit.