As you prepare to apply to various colleges, you’ll frequently encounter the term “Ivy League.” Though the term is ubiquitous, many students (and parents) are often left asking simple questions, like “what are the Ivy League schools?” (Hint: “Ivy League” isn’t just a term for “good college”)
If you’re sweating for the answer, we’re about to help you cool off. Our guide will provide answers to everything from “What are Ivy League colleges” to the question for anybody applying to universities: “Should I apply to the Ivy League or not?”
With these answers, you’ll be better prepared to continue your college application journey.
What is the Ivy League?
What is an Ivy League school? The “Ivy League” refers to eight specific private research universities in the Northeastern United States that have a reputation for being some of the greatest schools in the world. In addition to the fact that these schools offer students the chance to learn from world-class professors, simply being part of the alumni for one of these prestigious schools can open many doors that would otherwise remain closed. A common misunderstanding is that “Ivy League” is a term used to refer to a great college. But the Ivy League is simply the name of the athletics conference that these schools (see list below) belong to, akin to the Pac-12 or Big Ten. (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?
Strictly speaking, there are only eight Ivy League schools. But our guide will later touch on the public institutions sometimes referred to as “public Ivies.” Though if people are using “Ivy League” precisely (instead of the common misunderstanding above), the private institutions below are what they’re referring to.
List of Ivy League schools
Now you know which institutions are part of the Ivy League. However, while all of the Ivies are prestigious and academically rigorous, they each have unique strengths and weaknesses.
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).
Brown University
Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island, famously provides an 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. 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.
Veteran researchers may be drawn to Brown because its library has over 250 special collections. 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.
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. And 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.
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.
For example, 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. And speaking of passionate professors, Cornell comprises several different colleges that have become very famous in their own right. 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.
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.
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.
Harvard University
Harvard University likely needs no introduction. As the oldest institute of higher education in America, this college has been around since 1636. Fortunately, 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.
Some of these schools are the best in the nation, including the famous Harvard Medical School and the John F. Kennedy School of Government. The private collections in Harvard’s library 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 445 organizations that help you find like-minded students focused on athletics, hobbies, academics, and everything in between.
Princeton University
Princeton University (located in, of course, Princeton, New Jersey) is one of the most rigorous places 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. Because of this, Princeton has achieved something that would make many college administrators jealous: one of the highest graduation rates in the country.
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.
University of Pennsylvania
In Philadelphia, nothing connects you to America’s unique history quite 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.
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.
Yale University
Yale University is another major Ivy League institution that needs very little introduction. Located in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale 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 12 professional schools for students to choose from, and 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.
What are Public Ivies?
By strict definition, an Ivy League school is a private institution. However, you may have heard people sometimes refer to Ivy League colleges and Ivy League universities outside of the eight schools we listed earlier. 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.
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.)
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 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.
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 the 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).
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
