Though the term “Ivy League” is ubiquitous in college application land (welcome, we spend most of our time here), what it actually refers to seems—based on questions we get from students and parents—to be somewhat unclear.
For example, many students and parents are often left asking even simple questions, like “what are the Ivy League schools?” To begin to clarify, “Ivy League” isn’t just a term for “good, prestigious American college.” (More on that below.)
So if you’re sweating for answers to all things Ivy League, we’re about to help you cool off. In the guide below, we’ll talk through
What makes a college “Ivy League”?
Which colleges are part of the Ivy League, and some of their key characteristics?
What the “Public Ivies” are
What colleges are frequently confused for being in the Ivy League?
And one of the most common questions we see: Should I apply to the Ivy League or not?
Read on, and you’ll be better prepared to continue your college application journey.
What is the Ivy League?
The “Ivy League” is the name of an athletic conference that counts as members eight specific private research universities (Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, UPenn, Yale) in the Northeastern United States that have a reputation for being some of the greatest colleges in the world. In addition to the fact that these schools offer students the chance to learn from world-class professors, simply being an alum of one of these prestigious schools can open many doors.
Though to be blunt, we’re wary of how much pressure some students and families seem to feel regarding admission to an Ivy League school—yes, attending one of these schools can definitely be a leg up in life, because of various ways our society functions. But keep in mind things like the fact that (at time of publication) only around 10% of CEOs of Fortune 100 companies were Ivy League graduates. (Currently, Boston College and Texas A&M actually have more CEOs at top 100 companies than any Ivy League school.)
So, does attending an Ivy League school give you a leg up? Probably.
Is it a requirement to do well in life? Clearly not.
To clear up one major common misunderstanding: “Ivy League” is not simply a term used to refer to a great college. But, as mentioned above, the Ivy League is simply the name of the athletics conference that these schools (see list below) belong to, akin to the ACC or SEC. (See below for more.)
Where’s the name “Ivy League” come from? If you’ve looked at the famous college buildings of these institutions, you might have noticed that the buildings and campuses feature plenty of ivy. Going back to the 19th century, it became a tradition at places like Harvard to plant ivy each year. By the 1930s, this resulted in these schools being collectively referred to as the Ivy League, and the name has been commonly used ever since.
What are the Ivy League schools?
The Ivy League schools:
Brown
Columbia
Cornell
Dartmouth
Harvard
Princeton
UPenn
Yale
Below, we have a breakdown of each of the Ivy League schools, including some of the most important things to know about each one.
How many ivy league schools are there?
There are only eight Ivy League schools. But our guide will later touch on the public institutions sometimes referred to as “public Ivies” (so named because they are public US colleges that offer incredibly strong educations.) Though if people are using “Ivy League” precisely (instead of the common misunderstanding above), the private institutions discussed below are what they’re referring to.
List of Ivy League schools
While all of the Ivies are prestigious and academically rigorous, they each have unique strengths and weaknesses. (Yes, Ivy League schools can have weaknesses, as in, things that might make one not a great school for you, specifically. E.g., some may not offer a major you want at all, some programs may be far weaker than those at other schools, etc.)
Below, we have more information about each of the Ivies. Keep reading to learn more about which institution might be the best choice for you (if any—there could easily be many other universities that better fit your needs and desires).
Two important notes:
See links within each school subsection for a guide to how to apply/write the school’s supplemental essays.
Data below are from the US Department of Education and College Scorecard
Brown University
Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island, famously offers its Open Curriculum that helps each student to fully customize their own college education. Students can choose from over 80 specializations, helping them to learn more about everything from business to cognitive science (with things like CS and Econ being very popular).
In particular, prospective medical students may be particularly attracted to Brown because they can complete one eight-year BS/MD program that confers both an undergraduate degree as well as a medical degree.
One particularly useful fact: according to Brown, 100 percent of its faculty teach undergraduate students.
Students interested in research may be drawn to Brown because its library has over 250 special collections (and has worked on research around things like Arctic sea ice and removal of space debris). And just about everyone else is likely to enjoy the social scene of the college because they have a whopping 500 different clubs and other organizations to join.
One really nice fact: Brown is a “need-blind” school, meaning for students/families under certain income brackets, the school covers most or all of tuition, fees, room and board.
Brown quick facts:
Tuition/costs:
Avg. cost before aid: ~$84,000 (per year)
Avg. cost after aid: ~$26,000 (per year)
Undergraduate enrollment: ~7,500
Endowment: ~$6.6 Billion
Acceptance rate: ~5%
Columbia University
Columbia University has become one of the most famous institutions in New York thanks to it being the oldest college in the state. Plus, its Upper West Side location makes it a solid choice for students who either already live in New York or who dream of moving there. (But if you’re not so excited about attending college in a major metropolis, Columbia might be an iffy choice.) While Columbia provides plenty of things to see and do both inside and outside the venerable college halls, the main thing attracting students to Columbia is the rigor of its academic education.
Students attending Columbia have access to major resources, including a network of nine different centers around the world. The campus provides 22 different libraries for students who are hoping to dive into various topics, and with more than 200 research labs, centers, and other institutes at their disposal, Columbia students often emerge as some of the sharpest academic minds in the country. In particular, its programs in Political Science, Computer Science, and Econ are well-respected and highly popular.
Columbia has an interesting (and perhaps complex) history with student advocacy: Columbia had the first Black student advocacy group on a multiracial campus, and it had the first college gay rights advocacy group, but it has also encountered some controversy over its handling of student protests concerning the Israel-Hamas conflict.
One great fact: Columbia is also a need-blind school, meaning for students/families under certain income brackets, the school covers most or all of tuition, fees, room and board.
Columbia quick facts:
Tuition/costs:
Avg. cost before aid: ~$89,000 (per year)
Avg. cost after aid: ~$13,000 (per year)
Undergraduate enrollment: ~8,800
Endowment: ~$13.6 Billion
Acceptance rate: ~4%
Cornell University
Located in scenic Ithaca, New York, Cornell University is more than just the college beloved by Andy from The Office. Cornell provides very thorough academic training, proving that this youngest of the Ivies is just as rigorous and prestigious as the rest of the League.
It does so through eight colleges, each of which admit their own students (and have different supplemental essay questions—see guide linked above).
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
College of Arts and Sciences
SC Johnson College of Business
College of Architecture, Art, and Planning
College of Human Ecology
College of Engineering
School of Industrial and Labor Relations
Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy
Within those colleges, and in pursuit of its motto (essentially: “any person…any study”) Cornell offers more than 100 special fields of study for students to choose from, allowing students to find the perfect professors to help nurture their passions. For example, many would-be business leaders sharpen their entrepreneurial skills at the SC Johnson College of Business, and some of the most accomplished doctors in the world learned to hone their craft at the Weill Cornell Medical College.
Fun fact: Cornell is also the only “elite” university in the US that offers a four-year program in hotel administration.
In particular, and more so than other Ivy League colleges, Cornell emphasizes making contributions across fields of knowledge in ways that prioritize public engagement and promote well being. (Which is probably a part of why Cornell is well known for its various environmental initiatives.)
Cornell quick facts:
Tuition/costs:
Avg. cost before aid: ~$83,000 (per year)
Avg. cost after aid: ~$29,000 (per year)
Undergraduate enrollment: ~15,500
Endowment: ~$10 Billion
Acceptance rate: ~7%
Dartmouth College
Hanover, New Hampshire, may seem like an unassuming place, but it’s the home to Dartmouth College, which is an institution that has managed to change the world several times over. For instance, this college is famous for being the birthplace of the computer programming language BASIC, and the school created the very first graduate program focused entirely on management. (With Dartmouth’s physical setting, if you’re someone who was iffy on Columbia’s location within a major city, New Hampshire might be more your speed.)
From programming to business leadership, Dartmouth College is one of the best places a student can attend. There are more than 50 different research centers to choose from, and over 60 percent of classes have fewer than 20 students enrolled. The seven-to-one student-to-faculty ratio is difficult to beat anywhere else, allowing you to get the most from your education.
In particular, Dartmouth’s 4 10-week terms per year allow for greater flexibility than most if not all other Ivy League schools, enabling students to pursue opportunities like internships or travel.
Useful side note: Dartmouth has made it fairly clear that it would love to have more activists and community-builders as part of its student body.
Dartmouth quick facts:
Tuition/costs:
Avg. cost before aid: ~$84,000 (per year)
Avg. cost after aid: ~$33,000 (per year)
Undergraduate enrollment: ~4,500
Endowment: ~$8 Billion
Acceptance rate: ~6%
Harvard University
Harvard University likely needs no introduction… but I guess we’ll introduce it anyway. The oldest institute of higher education in America, this college has been around since 1636. To state the obvious, this university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is more than just a pretty campus and a famous name: The school provides more than 100 research centers on its campus and has 13 different institutes and schools for its students to choose from.
Many of these schools are among the most well-regarded in the nation, including the famous Harvard Medical School and the John F. Kennedy School of Government. (Which is probably why Political Science and Government, Econ, and Evolutionary Bio are among the school’s most popular majors.)
The private collections in Harvard’s libraries are the envy of researchers the world over, and the institution also provides abundant social opportunities for students to choose from. This includes more than 400 organizations that help you find like-minded students focused on athletics, hobbies, academics, and everything in between.
One really nice fact: Harvard is also a need-blind school, meaning for students/families under certain income brackets, the school covers most or all of tuition, fees, room and board.
Harvard quick facts:
Tuition/costs:
Avg. cost before aid: ~$84,000 (per year)
Avg. cost after aid: ~$13000 (per year)
Undergraduate enrollment: ~8,000
Endowment: ~$50 Billion
Acceptance rate: ~3%
Princeton University
Princeton University (located in, of course, Princeton, New Jersey) is one of the most rigorous places in the world to study. One reason Princeton’s students learn so much is because of the breathtaking four-to-one student-to-faculty ratio. This allows students to find mentors more easily and locate the advisors they need.
Princeton University has five colleges and schools:
Undergraduate College
Graduate School
Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs
School of Architecture
School of Engineering and Applied Science
Interestingly, that means Princeton University doesn’t have a law school, medical school, or business school.
According to Princeton, students may pursue either a Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) or the Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.S.E.), choosing from among 37 concentrations (computer science offers both A.B. and B.S.E.) and over 50 minors and interdepartmental certificate programs.
The university also has over 100,000 works spread across various collections in the Princeton University Art Museum, allowing students to get up close and personal with culturally relevant historical, artistic, and social artifacts from throughout the centuries.
One really nice fact: Princeton is also a need-blind school, and has done away with loans, meaning for students/families under certain income brackets, the school covers most or all of tuition, fees, room and board.
Princeton quick facts:
Tuition/costs:
Avg. cost before aid: ~$81,000 (per year)
Avg. cost after aid: ~$11,000 (per year)
Undergraduate enrollment: ~5,200
Endowment: ~$34 Billion
Acceptance rate: ~6%
University of Pennsylvania
In Philadelphia, few things connect you to America’s unique history as much as the University of Pennsylvania. Benjamin Franklin himself helped create this school, but don’t expect an institution that seems old-fashioned or out-of-date. In fact, this institution is filled with specialized colleges on the cutting edge of research, technology, and innovation. This includes the famous Wharton School as well as the highly-pedigreed Perelman School of Medicine and School of Engineering and Applied Science.
The school also offers several highly renowned (and highly competitive) specialized/dual degree programs, such as the Huntsman Program or the Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology. (For a guide to writing the extensive essays for these programs, see the guide linked above.)
On top of being an amazing place to learn about your field of study, the University of Pennsylvania is also a wonderful place to learn about other people. Over a tenth of the student body is composed of international students, and all students have the opportunity to study abroad and travel to any one of fifty different countries around the world.
One really nice fact: Like most of the other Ivies, UPenn is also a need-blind school, meaning for students/families under certain income brackets, the school covers most or all of tuition, fees, room and board.
Upenn quick facts:
Tuition/costs:
Avg. cost before aid: ~$86,000 (per year)
Avg. cost after aid: ~$15,000 (per year)
Undergraduate enrollment: ~10,500
Endowment: ~$21 Billion
Acceptance rate: ~7%
Yale University
Yale University, located in New Haven, Connecticut, made history by becoming the first college to offer doctoral degrees. Additionally, the Yale School of Public Health was the first college to offer a master’s degree in public health in the entirety of the United States.
Don’t worry, though: Yale has plenty of amazing opportunities for undergrads as well as graduate students.
There are 14 constituent schools that make up the university, such as the (original) undergraduate college, Yale Law, and the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Students will find the arts and drama programs to be just as competitive and rigorous as fields such as biomedical science. Ultimately, Yale is at the forefront of many discoveries each year responsible for changing life as we know it for the better (which is part of the school’s stated mission).
Yale's University Library is the third-largest university collection in the United States, with over 15 million volumes. Fun fact: The library is so secure that, in the event of a fire, it can suck out oxygen, release a fire-suppressing gas, and fall into an underground vault within 30 seconds.
One really nice fact: Like most of the other Ivies, Yale is also a need-blind school, meaning for students/families under certain income brackets, the school covers most or all of tuition, fees, room and board. About 50% of students receive some financial aid, and around 15% are expected to have zero parental contribution.
Yale quick facts:
Tuition/costs:
Avg. cost before aid: ~$85,000 (per year)
Avg. cost after aid: ~$16,500 (per year)
Undergraduate enrollment: ~6,500
Endowment: ~$41 Billion
Acceptance rate: ~5%
What are the Public Ivies?
By strict definition, an Ivy League school is a private institution in the aforementioned sports conference. However, you may have heard people sometimes refer to colleges and universities outside of the eight schools we listed earlier while still using the term “Ivy League”. Collectively, this group of schools is referred to as the “public Ivy League.” (Check that link for a full guide.)
Why call public colleges “Ivy League,” though, when that term traditionally only refers to a handful of schools in the Northeast? The short answer is that these schools are considered the best of the best among public schools, just as the original Ivy League is often considered the best of the best among private schools.
Generally speaking, it can be a great idea to apply to public Ivies as well as the traditional Ivy League. This helps to maximize the chance that you end up in a top-notch institution, and for many students, attending a college closer to their existing support system of friends and family may be both more convenient and more beneficial, especially when the students don’t have to trade quality for proximity.
Schools frequently mistaken for Ivy League
We have covered both the traditional Ivy League schools as well as so-called “public Ivies.” However, there are other schools that are often mistaken to be part of the original Ivy League. These schools include Stanford, MIT, Northwestern University, and the University of Chicago.
In many ways, this is a mistake that flatters these universities. Frankly, the reason these places are confused for Ivy League institutions is that they feature very selective programs with worldwide reputations that sometimes equal or surpass those of the Ivy League (Stanford, for example).
This serves as a reminder that you definitely don’t have to attend an Ivy League to get a high-quality education.
Is Stanford Ivy League?
No, Stanford is not in the Ivy League, because “Ivy League” does not simply mean “really good college”—the Ivy League is a sports conference, and Stanford has historically played in the Pac-10/12, and, as of August 2024, will join the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), which is a little odd, since Stanford is on the west coast, but it should lead to some fun competition. (For a guide to Stanford’s supplemental essays, check out that link.)
Should I apply to Ivy League schools?
As always, there is no “one size fits all” answer. Instead, you should be aware of the different pros and cons of applying (see below for some big ones). This can help you examine the various benefits and drawbacks and make the call as to whether Ivy League life is right for you or not. (Again, it may not be.)
Ivy League School Pros
By now, you may be aware of some of the top benefits of attending an Ivy League institution. For example, there is the sheer power of name recognition. If you are applying to a job along with several other qualified applicants, the simple (though in some ways sad) truth is that having gone to somewhere like Harvard or Yale can help you secure that job.
And while the schools’ sticker prices are very expensive (more on that in a minute), the high tuition as well as massive endowments from alumni mean that these schools have better resources than most other colleges. Bigger libraries, grander theaters, cutting-edge research labs… that’s part of what the Ivy League offers. And on top of that, attending an Ivy League school allows you to take your networking to the next level. By making connections with fellow students, teachers, and alumni, you can snag competitive internships and references to help launch your career.
Major Pros:
Excellent faculty
Potential networking
Resources (both educational, e.g. libraries, and financial, e.g. endowments)
Social prestige/conceptions
Ivy League School Cons
With all that being said, there are some drawbacks to Ivy League schools you should be aware of.
The biggest and most obvious drawback is thepotential cost: right now, you can expect to pay around $80,000 per school year for tuition, room, and board, and those costs are always rising. Additionally, these schools are so competitive that it can be difficult to get admitted, an issue made worse by things like schools favoring “legacy” admissions (children of former students).
But, as you may have noticed in the data above, costs will vary greatly from student to student, depending on need, since most (but not all) of the Ivy League schools are need-blind.
Major potential cons:
Potential costs
Lack of diversity (some schools more than others)
Potential to suddenly feel like a small fish (if you’re going from being the best student in your high school to a school where virtually everyone was the best student at their high school)
Key takeaway: make sure you do your homework on how much you’re likely to actually have to pay each year, since the sticker price and the price your family actually pays can potentially be drastically different.
Taking the Next Step On Your Higher Education Journey
Now you know what the Ivy League schools are and what they are all about. And while the Ivies aren’t for every student, simply knowing more about them can help to make you a more informed and competitive applicant to any institution.
As with any other college, the most important thing about attending an Ivy League is understanding what your own interests and passions are as well as your long-term goals. By finding the perfect match to your own academic and social needs, you can take the next step on one of the most rewarding journeys of your life.
Chris Snellgrove is an English Professor at Northwest Florida State College who specializes in literature, rhetoric, and business writing. As a freelance writer, Chris specializes in sales, marketing, pop culture, and video games. He has a B.A. in English from Troy University and both an M.A. and Ph.D. in English from Auburn University. When he’s not writing or talking to others about writing, Chris loves reading books, playing video games, watching horror movies, and disappearing into a comic book. He currently lives in Northwest Florida and would probably rather be at the beach right now.
Top values: Diversity / Equality / Social Justice
