Are you looking forward to attending public Ivy League Schools, colleges and universities and don’t know which of the Schools or Ivies to choose?
Do you want to know the difference between Ivy League schools and public ivies? Or like Sally, do you want to find out what the cost of studying in a public Ivy League school can be? Do you want to know the schools listed as part of the public ivies and their acceptance rate?
You can agree with me that attending an Ivy League school is the dream of every student. The reason is that Ivy League schools have a standard of prestigious and top-notch academic programs.
However, the major challenges to making that dream come true are the tuition rate and a low acceptance rate. Nevertheless, we have come up with research that will help you achieve an education that’s on par with Ivy League schools without breaking the bank.
That sounds interesting!!! Well, you can do so by attending Public Ivy League Schools.
Public ivies are schools with similar standards of education as that of ivy league colleges and universities. Their educational standards are equivalent to those of the Ivy League.
In this article, we have made a list of the top 8 public ivy league colleges and universities that you can choose to study at a low cost. Also, you get to find out the acceptance rate and why you should study in public Ivies.
Sit tight and have all your questions answered!!!
Also Read: What Are The 12 Ivy League Schools and Their Ranking?
What Is a Public Ivy League School?
The Public Ivy schools are prestigious public colleges and universities in the United States of America that provide a collegiate experience like those in the Ivy League.
Although Public Ivy schools offer high-quality education, they tend to mimic or offer a fraction of the Ivy League education at a lesser cost.
These public Ivy schools, colleges and institutions are known to have a strong academic reputation even though they are public.
What’s The Difference Between Ivy League Colleges or Schools and Public Ivies?
Just like we earlier stated, public Ivy League colleges or universities tend to mimic the educational standards of the actual Ivy schools.
However, it’s ideal to compare and contrast the experiences of attending a Public Ivy and an Ivy League school. We embarked on research to find out what differs between these schools.
Here’s what we found out;
#1. Difference in Financial Assistance.
Although Public Ivies have lower tuition than their Ivy League college counterparts, public Ivies give less financial help.
At Ivy League schools, students can receive large financial assistance because they have huge endowments. And because they do not rely on the ever-changing governmental financing, they tend to have enough to help their students in need.
Also, in-state students are eligible for need-based financial aid but out-of-state students are not eligible for such at UC Berkeley.
#2. Difference in Size
Another significant distinction we found between public Ivies and Ivy League universities is the student population.
Public Ivy schools have a student population in the tens of thousands whereas Ivy League colleges have smaller student bodies and lower student-to-faculty ratios.
#3. Selectiveness and Acceptance Rates.
Compared to the Ivy League colleges, the acceptance rates at public ivies are considerably high. Usually, the majority of public Ivies have an acceptance rate between 20-35%.
For instance, the acceptance rate at UCLA is 12.3%. However, the University of Arizona has a high acceptance rate of 84.6%.
When it comes to the acceptance rate for Ivy League colleges most are under 5%. As a result, even the most stringent Public Ivy has a higher acceptance rate than all Ivy League institutions combined.
#4. Tuition Cost.
Tuition costs at public Ivy League schools are generally less expensive than Ivy colleges, especially for in-state students.
On average, in-state students at public universities pay tuition ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 per year. However, Ivy League in-state students pay about $50,000.
Out-state students get to pay higher at both schools.
Also Read: How to get into an Ivy League School and their Acceptance Rate
Why Should I Go to Public Ivy Universities?
Just like we earlier stated, public ivies help you get quality education at a lesser cost.
Besides that major contribution to the life of students, we have made a list of the benefits you stand to gain by attending a public Ivy school.
Here are some of the advantages of going to any of the Public Ivy League colleges, universities and schools in the USA;
- First, you stand a chance to get a top-tier educational experience at public Ivy schools.
- Degrees and certificates from these prestigious universities are internationally recognised. Therefore, it will assist you in getting a job upon graduation.
- Another great advantage of attending these low-budget Ivy League schools is the opportunity to network and work with future industry leaders, students and academics.
- Lastly, you get to get the best study experience at a less expensive cost compared to the actual Ivy League Schools.
With these being stated, you will agree with me that making a choice to study in either of the public Ivy League universities and colleges we will list is a step in the right direction.
However, it wouldn’t be wise to run off with these advantages if you have no idea of the cons of being in a public Ivy League college.
Find out about that below!!!!
Why Going to Public Ivy League Schools is a Bad Idea.
Without a doubt, public Ivy colleges are a great place to be. However, some factors do not suit all students.
Below are some of the reasons why you should consider twice or more before applying to attend a public Ivy school;
- The acceptance rate in Public Ivy League schools is considerably high. In fact, the actual Ivy League schools have a lower acceptance rate than its lookalike.
- Although they tend to mimic the high-class ivies, some Public Ivies do not have the exact illustrious reputation as Private Ivies.
- Also, getting financial aid is more difficult than in private universities (Unless you are in-state)
Having the pros and cons into perspective is needful in making a choice of which of the public ivies is for you.
To also guide you into making the right choice, you will find a list of the top public Ivy League schools and colleges in the United States.
Also Read: US University Application Deadline for International Students 2024
List of the Public Ivy League Schools and Universities.
Following the list made by Richard Moll, there are eight Public Ivies. This includes the full University of California school system.
However, in 1985, there were 7 additions to the UC campuses, bringing the total number of original Public Ivies to 15.
Here is a list of Public Ivy League Colleges and Universities;
#1. College of William and Mary.
- Founded: 1963
- Acceptance Rate: 37.7%
- Location: Williamsburg, Virginia.
- Tuition: $23,628 (In-state), $46,854 (Out-state).
College of William and Mary is a public research university with a medium-sized residential population. The University’s focus is on its 4-year, full-time undergraduate program.
As a major point of focus, the college undergraduate major courses are arts and sciences. Although they have a small range of graduate degree programs, the subjects of interest in this level range from American colonial history, to marine science and STEM subjects.
During the 2016–17 school year, 1,591 undergraduate, 652 master’s, and 293 doctoral degrees were awarded.
#2. Miami University
- Founded: 1809
- Acceptance Rate: 80.4%
- Location: Hamilton, Middletown, and West Chester, Ohio.
- Tuition: $15,911 (In-state), $35,937 (Out-state).
Miami Institution is an Oxford public research university with eight schools and colleges. Miami institution is one of the public Ivy League schools.
At Miami University, students have over 120 programs to choose from to get a degree at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The major courses include architecture, business, engineering, humanities, and sciences.
As a well-reputed institution, the college ranks in the top positions in university rankings in the US and the world at large.
#3. The University of California
- Founded: 1868
- Acceptance Rate: 22.6%
- Location: California, United States.
- Tuition: $8,980 (In-state), $36,159 (Out-state).
Talking about one of the public ivies of repute is the University of California (UC). The 10 campuses under the UC school system in Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz are all part of the system.
As a public land-grant research university system, this public Ivy school has affiliations with other research institutions and academic abroad centres.
9 of its campuses offer undergraduate and graduate programs. However, the UC San Francisco campus accepts solely medical and health-related graduate and professional students.
#4. University of Michigan
- Founded: 1817
- Acceptance Rate: 22.9%
- Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan.
- Tuition: $15,558 (In-state), $51,200 (Out-state).
The University of Michigan I’d another public research university on the list of Public Ivy League universities. If you’re looking to study at a public Ivy school-university that has a large residential research area the University of Michigan will do the job.
The major courses offered by the school are over 200 four-year degree courses approved by the Higher Learning Commission. Also, there are over 90 master’s and 100 doctoral study programs in various courses of study.
In 2011–2012, the University of Michigan conferred 6,490 undergraduate degrees, 4,951 graduate degrees, and 709 first-professional degrees.
Also Read: 45 Affordable Online Masters Programs in 2024
#5. The University of North Carolina.
- Founded: 1789
- Acceptance Rate: 80.4%
- Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
- Tuition: $15,911 (In-state), $35,937 (Out-state).
The University of North Carolina is one of the public ivies that has the highest acceptance rate in the Richard Moll list. This public research university is the flagship of the University of North Carolina system.
UNC-Chapel Hill offers 71 undergraduate programs, 107 master’s programs, and 74 doctoral degree programs with a student population of over 28,000.
#6. University of Texas–Austin
- Founded: 1883
- Acceptance Rate: 31.8%
- Location: Austin, Texas.
- Tuition: $10,824 (In-state), $38,326 (Out-state).
The Institution of Texas at Austin is a public research Ivy League university with a student population of over 50,000.
At the University of Texas–Austin, there are more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degrees available for students.
With a long-standing reputation of excellence as one of the public ivies, the university awards degrees every year. In 2009–2010, the University of Texas–Austin issued 13,215 degrees.
That includes 67.7% bachelor’s degrees, 22% master’s degrees, 6.4% doctoral degrees, and 3.9% professional degrees in different courses.
#7. University of Vermont
- Founded: 1791
- Acceptance Rate: 67.3%
- Location: Burlington, Vermont.
- Tuition: $18,802 (In-state), $43,630 (Out-state).
The University of Vermont (UVM) is also known as The University of Vermont and State Agricultural College: a public land-grant research university.
This college is one of the eight original “Public Ivy” universities or schools in the United States. Under this college, there are 7 undergraduate schools, a graduate college, an honours college, and a medical college.
#8. University of Virginia
- Founded: 1819
- Acceptance Rate: 23.9%
- Location: Charlottesville, Virginia.
- Tuition: $17,798 (In-state), $50,900 (Out-state).
The University of Virginia is a flagship institution and the site of the Academical Village, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Besides an excellent academic education, the University of Virginia is known for its historic roots, student-run honour code, and secret organizations.
As one of the colleges of repute in Virginia, the University of Virginia has been a member of the research-driven Association of American Universities for 117 years.
Amongst its study program categories are 48 bachelor’s, 94 master’s, 55 doctoral, 6 educational specialists, and two first-professional degree programs (medicine and law).
Also Read: 20 Boarding Schools in Virginia 2024
Frequently Asked Questions On Public Ivy League Schools.
The FAQ below has been put together to bring more understanding of this topic, making it more comprehensive and ultimately answering some of the pressing questions students and non-students ask about public ivies.
What is the University of Virginia Acceptance Rate?
University of Virginia’s acceptance rate is 23.9%.
What do public Ivy Schools mean?
Public Ivy is a term that indicates a public university that delivers an Ivy League-level educational experience.
Who Should Be Looking To Attend Public Ivy Schools?
Only students who have great high school grades but cannot afford to go to an Ivy League School can attend public Ivies.
What Other Schools Can I Go to Aside From The Public Ivies and Ivy League Schools?
Some other universities are good for consideration just in case you did not make it to any of the Ivy League or public ivies.
According to Richard Moll, here are some runner-up colleges you can apply to!
- New College of Florida
- The University of Pittsburgh
- University of Colorado Boulder
- University of Washington (Seattle)
- The University of Wisconsin–Madison
- The University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign
- Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta)
- State University of New York at Binghamton
- Pennsylvania State University (University Park)
Also Read: 15 Best Schools In Florida for Computer Science 2024
Conclusion
No doubt you can find what you’re looking for in Ivy League Schools at public universities too, even at a lower cost.
If you’re looking forward to going to any of the public ivies we have listed, consider the acceptance rate, location and tuition fees.
We wish you luck!!!!
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References
- https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Ivy
- https://kiiky.com/public-ivy-league-schools/
- https://blog.prepscholar.com/public-ivy-league-schools
- https://pythagurus.in/blogs/public-ivy-league-schools-why-you-should-apply/