What are the 12 Ivy League Schools? They are Brown University, Harvard University, Cornell University, Princeton University, Dartmouth University, Yale University, Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania.
Before we move into what this article is specifically all about, which is to discuss the list of Ivy League schools and ranking.
The eight official schools in the list of Ivy League Schools are called Ivy League because they are among the Ivy League Athletic Conference, period! But as time went on, because of the selective nature of these universities, and how prestigious they are, people started to interpret Ivy League to be the same thing as prestigious.
No doubt, these schools are prestigious and they have a very selective admission process but that was not why they were initially called Ivy League, the name was given to them because they are among the Ivy League athletic conference.
As you read further in this article, you’ll understand that there are other universities that are not on this list but are more prestigious than some of the “Ivies”.
Bear in mind that the ivy league schools are not twelve in number – they are only 8. But a lot of people mistake the other four prestigious universities to be among the Ivies and we have also listed these four institutions in this article. You also get to see in detail the Ivy League schools ranking.
If you thinking of studying in any of the Ivies, there are factors you need to consider and we have also discussed some of those factors.
What is an ivy league school?
The Ivy League colleges are currently the most prestigious of all universities in the United States of America. The schools are so prestigious that it is a dream come true for one to get into any of them
Of all the academic institutions in the United States of America for higher learning these colleges are considered to be the top-notch universities. They are also the most sought-after schools and have a very selective acceptance rate.
Are the Ivy League Schools 12 or Just 8 in number
The truth is that Ivy League schools are only 8 in number, but most people think that they are 12 because the remaining four schools that make up the number are so prestigious that most people mistake them to be among the Ivy League Schools.
Before we go on to talk about the list of Ivy League Schools we will first take a look at the other four universities, to get them out of the way.
After we’ve talked briefly about these 4 universities, we will go on to talk about the Ivies, their rankings and all the information that will be important in this article.
Also Read: How to Get into an Ivy League School and their Acceptance Rate
Other four Schools that people mistake for Ivy League Schools
This list is not the list of Ivy League Universities. They are schools that are so prestigious to the extent they are considered to be among the Ivies, but they are not officially listed!
Stanford University
According to the US News national ranking (ref), the school ranks 3rd with Harvard and Yale in the National University Ranking. Its popularity may be due to its very competitive admission rate of only 4%.
MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) is a respected and selective school with an acceptance rate of 7%. It ranks 2nd in the US National University Rankings.
Northwestern University
Northwestern is often mistaken for an Ivy League school because of its high rank and selective acceptance. It ranks number 10 in the USNews National University Rankings and has an acceptance rate of only 8%.
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago ranks 6th, one position ahead of Penn which is in the 7th position in the USNews National University Rankings. Its acceptance rate is just 7%, which puts it on the same level as most Ivy League.
List of the 8 Official Ivy League Schools
Below is a list of the Ivies:
- Brown University
- University of Colombia
- Cornell University
- Dartmouth University
- Harvard University
- University of Pennsylvania
- Princeton University
- Yale University
#1. Brown University
Brown University is an Ivy League school. The academic institution is a research university in Providence, Rhode Island. It is known for its rigorous and flexible open courses and program of studies – a kind of program that allows students to choose an individual program of study.
In general, ivies are very selective and the Brown University is no different. The school have an average acceptance rate of only 8%, and the average SAT and ACT score of students accepted in the school is 1440-1520 and 32-35 respectively.
#2. Columbia University
Columbia University is an Ivy League school. The prestigious academic institution is located in New York. According to a 2023 Niche’s List of Best Colleges, Columbia University is ranked 2nd among the best philosophy colleges in the United States, first among the best English colleges in the United States, and also among the best art colleges in the United States.
The prestigious academic institution offers hundreds of research and study fields and more than 200 centres for research and institutes.
Columbia University is more selective in the admission process – even more than Brown University. The school has an acceptance of 7% according to Niche.
On average, students who gain admission into the school have SAT and ACT scores of 1450-1560 and 33-35 respectively. The university is one of the Ivy League schools in the United States.
#3. Cornell University
According to Wikipedia, Cornell University is a prestigious academic institution founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell. The school is located in Ithaca, New York, and has more than 15,000 students. Popular majors include biology, economics, and computer science.
According to Best Niche Colleges, the school was ranked first among the best agricultural science colleges in the United States and third among the best architecture colleges in the United States.
All the Ivies are very selective which explains why Cornell University operates on an acceptance rate of 11% and admitted students have SAT and ACT scores of 1390-1540 and 32-34 ACT on average respectively.
#4. Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is one of the Ivies. The school is very prestigious and it’s located in Hanover, New Hampshire – the first school in New Hampshire.
Compared with other schools on this list, this is a very small school with just over 4,000 students. Dartmouth follows the same route as other Ivies with an acceptance rate of 9%, making it very selective.
Admitted students at this world-class academic institution have SAT and ACT scores of 1,420-1560 and 31-35 ACT respectively.
#5. Harvard University
Harvard University is a very popular school, probably the most prestigious of all the Ivies. Harvard is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The academic institution is not too large, but medium in size, accommodating approximately 7,000 students.
Like with other Ivies, Harvard is a very select school with an acceptance rate of only 5%.
Students who usually get admitted into Harvard students usually have SAT and ACT scores of 1460 – 1580, and 33 – 35 respectively.
According to the recent Niche Best Colleges, Harvard University is one of the top universities in the US and occupies the first position in offering the best degree programs in the fields of biology and political science.
Also Read: Free Online Courses at Harvard University with Certificate
#6. Princeton University
Princeton University is one of the oldest schools in the United States. According to Wikipedia, Princeton moved to Newark in 1747 after it was initially founded in 1746. The school is the fourth of the oldest universities in the United States.
The school isn’t a very large school. Rather is a medium-sized school that accommodates only 5,000 students, and like other Ivies, the school is very selective with an acceptance rate of only 5%.
Some of the most popular degrees offered at the institution are computer engineering, economics, and public policy analysis.
The academic institution is one of the most prestigious among the Ivy League schools and ranks second among the best universities in the United States for research on political science and public policy analysis.
SAT and ACT scores of students range from 1440 to 1570, and 32 to 35 respectively.
#7. University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is also popularly referred to as Penn. The school is an Ivy League school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Unlike some of the medium-sized Ivies. The school is a fairly large school, with an average of 10,000 students enrolled. The school follow the same route of selectivity in admitting students as the acceptance rate of the school is 8%.
Popular degree programs offered by the prestigious University of Pennsylvania include finance, nursing, and business. It is one of the most popular Ivies. The school ranks first among American business universities. The average range of SAT and ACT scores are 1420 – 1550, and 32 – 35 respectively.
#8. Yale University
Yale University is an Ivy League liberal arts and research college located in New Haven, Connecticut. It ranks first among the best universities in the United States and has an acceptance rate of 6%.
The school ranks first among the best universities for studying history. Like other prestigious schools on the list, the school ranks are very selective with respect to their acceptance rate.
The school admits students with average SAT and ACT scores of1460-1570 and 33-35 respectively.
Also read: Indiana University Bloomington: Admissions, Ranking, Requirements
Where are the 8 Ivy League schools located?
- Brown University is located in Providence, Rhode Island.
- Columbia University is located in New York City, New York
- Cornell University is located in Ithaca, New York
- Dartmouth College is located in Hanover, New Hampshire
- Harvard University is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts
- The University of Pennsylvania is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Princeton University is located in Princeton University
- Yale University is located in New Haven, Connecticut
Ivy League Schools Ranking
The rankings below are according to data provided by the USNEWS.COM National University Rankings:
| NAME | NATIONAL UNIVERSITY RANKING | |
| Princeton University | 1 | |
| Harvard University | 3 (tie) | |
| Yale University | 3 (tie) | |
| University of Pennsylvania | 7 (tie) | |
| Dartmouth College | 12 | |
| Brown University | 13 (tie) | |
| Cornell University | 17 | |
| Columbia University | 18 (tie) |
Also read: Admission in US Universities for International Students
Why should you pay attention to Ivy League universities?
When you start looking for undergraduate and graduate degrees, these universities are likely to catch your attention first for a variety of reasons.
The first thing is that the resources owned by these universities are what they use to attract young hardworking and enterprising students from all over the world like you. The second thing is that these schools are prestigious and will help any student who graduates from any one of them be at the top of their professional careers.
As a student, you can vigorously advance your career in law, medicine, electrical engineering, business, etc. with the recourses these prestigious schools offer.
Ivy League universities truly dominate the fields mentioned above when it comes to producing world-class students in those fields. When you students those degrees in any of the ivy league colleges you will become very valuable after graduation.
It is also important that you know that these schools are not cheap. In fact, they are among the most expensive schools in the – if you’re hoping to attend any of these prestigious institutions then you be ready to pay something between US$55,000 and US$60,000 per year.
Fortunately, they also provide a lot of financial aid to the best students in the form of scholarships. You may be one of them!
Average Cost of an Ivy League College
In the 2020-21 school year, the average tuition fee for an Ivy League school is US$56,746. The following table shows the tuition fees charged by each of the eight schools and the overall estimated fees. These universities are listed in order from the cheapest to the most expensive tuition.
| Ivy League School | 2020-21 Tuition | 2020-21 Average Attendance Fees |
| Harvard College | $49,653 | $76,479 |
| University of Pennsylvania | $53,166 | $79,635 |
| Princeton University | $53,890 | $83,241 |
| Dartmouth College | $57,796 | $79,525 |
| Cornell University | $58,586 | $77,952 |
| Brown University | $59,254 | $80,448 |
| Yale College | $59,950 | $77,750 |
| Columbia University | $61,671 | $80,339 |
| Average | $56,746 | $78,417 |
Also Read: Why Are Stanford Duke and MIT not Ivy League Schools?
Is an Ivy League school right for you?
Because of the low acceptance rate of Ivy League colleges, you need more than just a good academic resume to get into any of these universities. You need a lot of hard work commitment and dedication to come through for yourself
If you started thinking of any of these prestigious Universities after you have completed high school then you may have started very late as to get into any of these schools you need to start very early to prepare for it.
These early preparations to get into these schools may include attending AP classes in your high school and making sure you work extremely hard for a particular SAT grade, and also if it is your goal to be a student of a school in the Ivy League team then you need to sacrifice social time.
No need to say that these Ivy League institutions will guarantee you a successful career and it is not a new thing that to achieve a successful career in life you need to work very hard and make some notable sacrifices.
What to consider before applying to any of the 12 Prestigious Schools Listed Here.
There are definite things to bear in mind before applying to any of the ivy league Universities on this list.
Irrespective of the ivy league schools ranking on this we have discussed a few points of the things one should consider before thinking of applying to study in any of these universities.
Consider the Environment of the School
For example, if your child is interested in studying political science or theatre, Yale is a good choice. Cornell, on the other hand, might be the best option if your child is looking to get into tech or hotel management.
It is important to consider each school’s environment when applying for Ivy League schools. Penn, for example, may offer more immediate access to work with low-income communities than Princeton. Additionally, the decision on where your child wants to apply should affect whether your child wants to go to school in an urban, suburban, or rural setting. For example, would you like to live in a big city or be closer to nature?
Consider the Ivy League School Student Body
Another important variable for your child to think about is the size of the student’s body. 6 of the 8 schools enrol between 4,000 and 7,000 students while only 2, Penn and Cornell, enrol more than 10,000 students. Whether your child wants to be part of a relatively small or large student body can add to their overall happiness and social opportunities at school.
After all, campus culture varies from school to school. For example, Harvard encourages close student relationships through its boarding system, while Brown is widely recognized as the most progressive school in the Ivy League.
Conclusion
We have discussed some of the most important information about Ivy League universities and colleges, including why people think that there are 12 ivy league schools.
Since you have come to understand that these schools are prestigious and very selective in offering admission, you need to start preparing early and make sure that you worked extremely hard to get in.
Another important thing you should take note of is the competitive nature of the schools. If attending an Ivy League school is your dream then take advantage of the 12 schools discussed here.
All you need to do is check the average number of students applying to each institution and choose the one with the list number of applicants and then work very hard, you might end up getting in.
Your own need and academic priorities should not be trivialised. Make sure that the school you want to choose meets your academic ambitions so that you will not end up studying in a big school without meeting your personal academic goals.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Ivy League Schools
What is Ivy League?
The term “Ivy League” appeared in 1954, when the NCAA First Athletic Conference was established. At the time, the elitism of the participating schools was truly attributed to their prestige in sports such as basketball.
But recently, schools have been considered to be ivy league if they are academically prestigious
Where are the 12 Ivy League schools located?
Brown University is located in Providence, Rhode Island. Columbia University is located in New York City, New York; Cornell University is located in Ithaca, New York; Dartmouth College is located in Hanover, New Hampshire; Harvard University is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts; The University of Pennsylvania is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Princeton University is located in Princeton; Yale University is located in New Haven, Connecticut.
Are there 8 or 12 Ivy League schools?
The Ivy League Schools are 8 in number. We only included the extra four schools in this article because they are prestigious and people always mistake them for Ivies.
Why is MIT not an Ivy League?
The only reason Duke University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Stanford University are not Ivy League colleges is that they were not good at sports when the Ivy League were founded.
These 3 universities easily rank among the best 15 schools in the United States and offer similar career prospects and educational standards.
Is Stanford an Ivy League School?
Stanford University is not technically an Ivy League school. This is because Stanford University did do well in sports and was not included as the group were created to include academic institutions that were prowess in sports activities.
The Ivy League school was formally established in 1954 and consists of eight universities: Harvard University, Yale University, Columbia University, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, Brown University, Dartmouth University and Cornell University.
Which Ivy League school is the best?
For example, Harvard ranks first in the United States in the Wall Street Journal rankings – this actually tells us that Harvard is also the highest-ranked Ivy League college.
What is the easiest Ivy League school to get into?
According to some stats, Cornell, Dartmouth and the University of Pennsylvania are by far the easiest ivies to enter. The aforementioned school have the highest acceptance rate for the class of 2025.
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References:
- Wikipedia.org: Ivy League
- Usnews.com: Ivy League Schools
- Uopeople.edu: What Are The 12 Ivy League Schools To Pay Attention To?
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