The Ivy League schools furbish an exemplary and coveted compound of excellence and educational potency, which is conspicuous from their university ranking and academic results.
They wrap productive curricula, passionate educators, and focused research involvement, which are harnessed to cultivate the best brains who outperform in diverse fields.
Grouped for certain purposes a century ago, they emerged as the globally recognized higher education institutions. Being in geographical proximity also knits them into the sacred association.
To provide a better insight into the institution, here we have a brief account exhibiting their core and peripheral facets to facilitate the students in selecting the best among them.
Let’s explore them one by one.
What is the Ivy League, and Why Are They Called Ivy League Schools?
The term “Ivy League” denotes a group of 8 private universities situated in the northeastern part of the US. They are considered highly esteemed institutions, dominating globally in academic prestige and educational standards. The IVY League schools are known for their educational eminence and distinct academic performance.
This term was coined in the 19th century from the phrase “Planting the Ivy,” which means planting an evergreen plant named Ivy on the university premises, and the planting ceremony day was recognized as Ivy Day.
Now, let’s take a thorough glance at these top universities and colleges.
List of Ivy League Schools
From a social exercise of planting ivy plants to grabbing a high position in the college and university rankings, these institutions have been the top priority of the students to transform their relentless pursuit into academic proficiency.
They have set forth a paradigm in collegiate education whose trail is chased by other eminent institutions. These awe-inspiring schools have been involved in prolific researchers in multiple fields catered by celebrated teachers, researchers, and mentors.
To maintain the repute and quality education, they have distinct criteria for admitting students, which include scoring a good GPA and having a decent educational background.
But what makes them special, and why are they numero uno in higher education rankings?
To understand it, here is the Ivy League schools list, along with the admission criteria and respective relevant information.
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Founded in 1636, Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts (US). It is the oldest institution for higher education in the US.
The applause for its performance is evident from the fact that it has produced the most US presidents, Nobel Laureates, and billionaires. It has been instrumental in research ranging from COVID-19 to space exploration.
| Admission Criteria |
| Harvard University Acceptance rate | 3% |
| Tuition fees | $56,550 |
| GPA | no minimum GPA is required. However, a GPA of 4.2 is considered good. |
| SAT | 1550 |
| ACT | 34-36 |
| QS World University Ranking 2025 | 4 |
| Alumni | Bill Gates (former CEO of Microsoft),
Mark Zuckerberg (CEO of Facebook),
Barack Obama (former US President),
Ban Ki-moon (former Secretary General of United States) |
Yale University is the 3rd oldest institute of higher education in the US. Founded in 1701, it is a renowned university in scientific research. Its offshoot organization, called Yale Daily News, is an independent student newspaper that has been consistent in informing people of contemporary developments in university research, sports, and other fields.
| Admission Criteria |
| Yale University acceptance rate | 4-5% |
| Tuition fees | $67,250 |
| GPA | 3.7 |
| SAT | 1540 |
| ACT | 33-35 |
| QS World University Ranking 2025 | 23 |
| Alumni | Paul Krugman (Nobel Prize laureate),
Hillary Clinton (former Secretary of State of the US), George W. Bush (former US President), and
Bill Clinton (former US President). |
Princeton University was established in 1746 and is located in Princeton, New Jersey (US). It is the 4th oldest higher education institute in the US, which portrays the long-drawn legacy of collegiate education. The Daily Princetonian newspaper is a medium to be aware of the prevailing scenarios and developments in the institution.
| Admission Criteria |
| Princeton University’s Acceptance rate | 4% |
| Tuition fees | $59,710 |
| GPA | 3.94 |
| SAT | 1560 |
| ACT | 33-35 |
| QS World University Ranking 2025 | 22 |
| Alumni | James Madison (former US President), Woodrow Wilson (former US President), Jeff Bezos (Executive Chairman of Amazon) |
Columbia is one of the most known institutes, but is Columbia an Ivy League? Well yes, and this prestigious university was established in 1754 and is also counted as the 5th oldest higher education institution in the US and the oldest in New York. The former president of the US, Theodore Roosevelt, who was also a Nobel Peace Prize winner, was a product of this institution. It has also been in a collaborative space act agreement with NASA to support the research and tech development in space exploration.
| Admission Criteria |
| Columbia University Acceptance rate | 4% |
| Tuition fees | $68,000 |
| GPA | 4.15 |
| SAT | 1500-1560 |
| ACT | 35 |
| QS World University Ranking 2025 | 34 |
| Alumni | Jake Gyllenhaal (Hollywood actor),
Warren Buffett (Berkshire Hathaway),
Barack Obama (former US President),
BR Ambedkar (notable Indian constitutionalist) |
Pennsylvania University is an Ivy League university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US. According to the National Science Foundation, it has been ranked 3rd in research expenditure in the US, depicting its dedicated drive to induce the will of research among young scholars. US President Joe Biden held the position of honorary professor at this university.
| Admission Criteria |
| Pennsylvania University Acceptance rate | 6% |
| Tuition fees | $66,104 |
| GPA | 3.9 |
| SAT | 1480+ |
| ACT | 34-35 |
| QS World University Ranking 2025 | 11 |
| Alumni | Donald Trump (US President) and William Henry Harrison (former US President). |
Brown University is located in Rhode Island, US, and was established as a college in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in 1764. It is also the 7th oldest higher institute in the US and became the first college in the US to come up with the codification to treat students equally without considering their religious affiliation.
| Admission Criteria |
| Brown University Acceptance rate | 5.1% |
| Tuition fees | $65,656 |
| GPA | 4.18 |
| SAT | 1540 |
| ACT | 34-36 |
| QS World University Ranking 2025 | 79 |
| Alumni | Emma Watson (Hollywood Actress),
John Krasinski (Hollywood Actor),
Ted Turner (CNN founder),
Jim Yong Kim (President of the World Bank) |
Located in Hanover, US, Dartmouth University is an esteemed research organization established in 1769. The institution is known for producing 13 Pulitzer Prize winners, of which famous poet Robert Frost (winner of 4 Pulitzer Prizes) is the most eminent. Also, 3 Nobel Prize winners have educational roots in this university, which makes it one of the best Ivy League schools.
| Admission Criteria |
| Dartmouth University Acceptance rate | 6% |
| Tuition fees | $65,739 |
| GPA | 4.11 |
| SAT | 1400+ |
| ACT | 33-35 |
| QS World University Ranking 2025 | 243 |
| Alumni | Michael Armstrong (CEO and Chairman of AT&T), Karl Sharpless (Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry) |
Based in Ithaca, New York, US, Cornell University has been in existence since 1865. It is one of the 3 land grant universities in the US. The faculty of this institute is adorned with Nobel laureates, Turing Award winners, field medal winners, and world food prize winners. Kurt Lewin, known as the father of social psychology, and Norman Borlaug, the father of the green revolution, were some recognized faculty members of this university.
| Admission Criteria |
| Cornell University acceptance rate | 8% |
| Tuition fees | $66,014 |
| GPA | 4.15 |
| SAT | 1480-1560 |
| ACT | 33-35 |
| QS World University Ranking 2025 | 16 |
| Alumni | Julian Steward (famous Anthropologist), Claudia Goldin (Economist), Richard Pipes (Historian) |
These universities have been a source of top faculty and distinguished scholars and have collectively glorified the repute of the league. They affiliate with some of the best art colleges in the US and also maintain a remarkable rapport with other top research organizations.
However, certain groups of colleges and universities have emerged on similar principles but varying common purposes. The most noteworthy group among them is Little Ivy League School.
Let’s take a look at it.
Little Ivy League School and New Ivy League Schools
Resembling the Ivy League schools, Little Ivy League School is a group of small educational institutions in the northeast of the US known for their exceptional academic performance and selective admissions akin to Ivy League schools.
There are 18 institutions included in it, which are mentioned as follows:
Certain other groups analogous to the Ivy League with different purposes have surfaced, such as the Black Ivy League, Public Ivy, Jesuit Ivy, Southern Ivy, etc. They are based on common opinions and demands derived by groups of some educational institutions.
On the same pattern, certain universities age gaining ground in collegiate education, bringing them to par with the Ivy League Schools. These universities have been bunched into a group named New Ivy League schools.
Here is a list of these universities:
- Rice University
- University of Virginia
- University of Michigan
- University of Florida
- University of Norte Dame
- Georgetown University
- University of South California
- Carnegie Mellon University
This group has come to the fore in education competencies and producing the best results year after year, bringing them at equal footing with the Ivy League schools.
Thus it can be inferred that all Ivy League schools have unmatched prestige in imparting collegiate education, making them the top choice among students aspiring for higher education.
Why Choose Ivy League Schools Over Other Institutes?
After reading about Ivy schools, you would absolutely get an idea about its reputations. Hence, one of the list of various reasons for choosing these universities is their reputation & prestige in the educational sector. Additionally, It helps students to shape their career in their interested field. Although, it is not necessary to scratch your head and be depressed for not getting admission in the university. There are numerous other well-known and enormous institutes in the United States of America where you can get admission. The list includes, Stanford university, University of Chicago, california university etc. These universities also provide incredible education, where you can build your career.
Tips to consider before applying for IVY League Leagues
As the Ivy League schools impart the best in class education and are positioned among the top universities, there is a high competition for getting into them.
- Be early and quick in applying for the respective college.
- Focus on the scoring best in the tests and get the insight about which college suits you as per your test score.
- Choose the university as per your requirements, concerning the stream of course you need, the degree you want to pursue, and the
- Prepare thoroughly for the interview. Mock interviews can supplement.
- Try achieving a letter of recommendation to elevate the chances of selection.
The Ivy League universities are highly sought after, leading to a dire need for the students to stay attentive to the applications and stay well prepared before the tests and interviews in advance.
Here the words of Bobby Unser (famous American automobile racer) who said “ Success is where preparation and opportunity meet” fit perfectly concerning the above preparation tips.
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Conclusion
The Ivy League institutions have maintained a long-drawn prestige in imparting the best education, which has a cascading effect on nurturing the best minds in the world. They have been cherishing the hegemony over research and other prominent fields, continuing the legacy of producing versatile personalities.
These flagship schools have set a precedent in the academic milieu, which has raised the bar of the education level.
FAQs
Ans: There are 8 Ivy League colleges and not 12. Some top institutions among them are
Harvard University, Yale University, and Princeton University.
Ans:
The esteemed Cornell University and Columbia University are the Ivy League universities located in New York.
Ans: No Ivy League institution is located in California, as all Ivy League institutions are
situated in the northeast US.
Ans: No, Stanford is not an Ivy League school as it is located on the west coast of the US. However,
it competes with Ivy schools in its prestige and student results, making it a potent competitor for a
position in the league.
Ans: Yes, Cornell is an Ivy League school.
