The Ivy League is an American collegiate sporting association made up of eight Northeastern private academic universities. Beyond the context of sports, the eight schools are commonly referred to as the Ivy League, an exclusive set of colleges with associations with academic brilliance, selective admissions, and social exclusivity. Its members include Yale University, Harvard University, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth College, Columbia University, and Cornell University.
Ivy League institutions have some of the highest endowments of any universities in the world, which enables them to offer a wealth of resources for their research, financial aid, and academic programs. Harvard University had the greatest endowment of any university as of 2021, valued at $53.2 billion. Each institution receives millions of dollars in financing for research every year from both public and private sources.
What Is The List Of Ivy League Schools?
Here’s the list of the 8 Ivy League schools along with some general information about them-
| Institution | Founded as | Founded | Chartered | First instruction | Founding affiliation |
| Harvard University | New College | 1636 | 1650 | 1642 | Nonsectarian, founded by Calvinist Congregationalists |
| Yale University | Collegiate School | 1701 | 1701 | 1702 | Calvinist (Congregationalist) |
| Princeton University | College of New Jersey | 1746 | 1746 | 1747 | Nonsectarian, founded by Calvinist Presbyterians |
| Columbia University | King’s College | 1754 | 1754 | 1754 | Church of England |
| University of Pennsylvania | College of Philadelphia[33] | 1749 or 1755 | 1755 | 1755 | Nonsectarian, founded by Church of England/Methodist members |
| Brown University | College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations | 1764 | 1764 | 1765 | Baptist, founding charter promises “no religious tests” and “full liberty of conscience” |
| Dartmouth College | 1769 | 1769 | 1768 | Calvinist (Congregationalist) | |
| Cornell University | 1865 | 1865 | 1868 | Nonsectarian |
| Institution | Location | Undergraduates | Postgraduates | Endowment | Academic staff | Nickname |
| Brown University | Providence, Rhode Island | 7,043 | 3,214 | $4.7 billion | 736 | Bears |
| Columbia University | New York City, New York | 6,398 | 24,412 | $14.35 billion | 4,370 | Lions |
| Cornell University | Ithaca, New York | 15,043 | 8,984 | $7.23 billion | 2,908 | Big Red |
| Dartmouth College | Hanover, New Hampshire | 4,459 | 2,149 | $5.49 billion | 943 | Big Green |
| Harvard University | Cambridge, Massachusetts[c] | 6,788 | 13,951 | $38.30 billion | 4,671 | Crimson |
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 10,019 | 12,413 | $13.78 billion | 4,464 | Quakers |
| Princeton University | Princeton, New Jersey | 5,428 | 2,946 | $25.92 billion | 1,172 | Tigers |
| Yale University | New Haven, Connecticut | 6,092 | 7,517 | $29.35 billion | 4,140 | Bulldogs |
- Harvard University
Typically, Harvard is ranked first or second among all US and international universities. Harvard has more financial resources than any other university in the world, with an endowment of almost $35 billion. Its top-notch instructors, cutting-edge facilities, and tuition-free program for students from low-income households are all due to this. Massachusetts’s Cambridge is home to Harvard. Biology, Economics, English, History, Political Science, Psychology, and Social Sciences are the most popular majors at Harvard.
● Columbia University
Columbia University has a distinguished history of research and education, just like all other Ivy League institutions. It is situated in upper Manhattan, a relatively urban area of New York. The liberal arts and sciences programs of the college are well-known. Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Science, Civil Engineering, Economics, English, History, Neuroscience, Nursing, Operations Research, Political Science, and Psychology are popular majors at Columbia.
● University of Pennsylvania
Medicine, dentistry, design, business, law, communications, nursing, veterinary medicine, social sciences, and humanities courses, as well as biomedical teaching and research skills, are the academic specialties for which U Penn is most well-known. Penn consistently ranks among the top research universities in the world and among the top five in the United States. It is situated in Pennsylvania’s Philadelphia. Penn offers a vibrant and diverse urban campus with up to 25,000 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs.
● Yale University
This Ivy League school boasts a 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio with an endowment of nearly $16 billion. The library at Yale has more than 12.7 million books. Connecticut’s New Haven is home to Yale. Yale fields 35 varsity sports teams. The third-oldest higher education institution in the US is Yale, founded in 1701. Yale College (the undergraduate program), the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and the professional schools make up the university’s three main academic divisions.
● Princeton University
Humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering courses are offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels at Princeton. It lacks medical, legal, religious, academic, and business schools. New Jersey’s Princeton is where Princeton is situated. Economics, English, History, Molecular Biology, Political Science, Psychology, and Public Policy are popular majors at Princeton.
● Cornell University
The fact that Cornell University’s agricultural program is a component of the public education system sets it apart from other Ivy League colleges. Cornell’s engineering and hotel management programs are well-known. Ithaca, a small city in central New York, is where Cornell University is situated, and it is a stunning area. Agricultural Business, Animal Science, Biology, Economics, Hotel Management, Human Development, Industrial and Labor Relations, Mechanical Engineering, and Political Science are Cornell’s most popular majors.
● Brown University
Brown University is regarded as being the most liberal of all the Ivy League schools. The open curriculum at this university, where students design and choose their own course of study, is well-known. Compared to other colleges, which prefer to concentrate on graduate studies, Brown University places more of an emphasis on undergraduate courses. Providence, Rhode Island is where Brown is situated. Biology, Economics, Engineering, English, Entrepreneurship, Human Biology, International Relations, Neuroscience, and Political Science are the most popular majors at Brown.
● Dartmouth College
Of all the Ivy League institutions, Dartmouth is the smallest. It gives the larger rivals’ more extensive programs the appearance of a liberal arts college. The Ivy League’s highest percentage of overseas students attend Dartmouth. 75% of students at Dartmouth participate in sports of some kind, demonstrating the school’s strong athletic culture. It is in the New Hampshire town of Hanover. Biology, Economics, Engineering, English, History, Political Science, and Psychology are the most common majors at Dartmouth.
Why Are There Ivy League Schools?
When the Division I NCAA athletic conference was established in 1954, the title “Ivy League” came into use. The exclusivity of these schools at the time was largely a result of their fame in sports like basketball. Many of these universities were founded before John Harvard became the founding patron of Harvard University in 1636, albeit the title “Ivy League” was not coined until the 1950s.
Top 4 Benefits of an Ivy League Education
- Powerful Networking Opportunities
The Ivy League has alumni going all the way back to the 1700s. The strength of the alumni network is one of the Ivy League’s greatest advantages. All graduates from a specific university make up the alumni network, which often goes far beyond simple college acquaintances. Your first job after graduation is frequently found through alumni contacts.
The alumni networks of the Ivy League are regarded for being strong and friendly. You join an exclusive community of alumni after graduating and are also given a top-notch education. Keeping in touch with Ivy League alums can have a big impact on your life and your future job.
Students can use this network to find internships before they graduate, which may result in future employment prospects. Attending an Ivy can provide you with the resources and contacts needed to get your foot-in-the-door at world-renowned companies and agencies.
- World-Class Resources
You can access research and study materials created by the brightest brains by enrolling at an Ivy League school. Ivy League professors are highly educated and enthusiastic about specific subjects and causes. Research on these subjects for the institution is encouraged and frequently required of these professors. These thinkers produce novel hypotheses on subjects that students are already studying, giving them access to cutting-edge information at the right time.
- Higher Starting Salaries
According to a US Department of Education survey, graduates with a bachelor’s degree earn an average of $54,700 annually, while those with a master’s or higher earn an average of $65,000. Statistically, going to an Ivy League school can enhance your earnings even more than getting a college degree.
These are the figures:
Ivy League Graduates’ Average Income
| Ivy League School | Average Salary per annum |
| Brown | $67,500 USD |
| Columbia | $83,300 USD |
| Cornell | $77,200 USD |
| Dartmouth | $75,500 USD |
| Harvard | $89,700 USD |
| Penn | $85,500 USD |
| Princeton | $74,700 USD |
| Yale | $83,200 USD |
If you attend an Ivy League, you have the potential to secure an above-average salary. Except for MIT, Harvard graduates make more money after college than graduates from any other college.
- Head Start on a Career Path
High-stakes professions like finance, law, and business consultancy might benefit from an Ivy League degree. Top international corporations frequently employ directly from the source since they recognize that Ivies are home to some of the best and brightest pupils.
Look at some of these compelling employment figures:
- Of the 114 justices on the Supreme Court, more than half attended Ivy League schools.
- All nine of the current justices graduated from Yale or Harvard law schools.
- 34 of the CEOs of the top 100 startups listed by CNN attended Harvard, while UPenn is the top institution from which graduates go to firms like Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Citigroup.
Disadvantages Of Attending An Ivy League
While it’s hard to find substantial disadvantages to graduating from an Ivy League university, there are a few reasons another reputable university might be better for you.
- High Price
An Ivy League education is not inexpensive. Although tuition can be pricey overall, many US institutions provide top-notch instruction at reasonable costs. Scholarships and grants are available if you’re set on graduating from an Ivy League institution. Examine the financial aid options provided by the Ivy League school of your dreams.
Ivy League Tuition Costs
| Ivy League School | Tuition 20/21 (USD) |
| Brown | $59,254 |
| Columbia | $61,671 |
| Cornell | $58,586 |
| Dartmouth | $57,796 |
| Harvard | $49,653 |
| Penn | $53,166 |
| Princeton | $53,890 |
| Yale | $59,950 |
| Average | $56,746 |
- Low admission rates in a highly competitive environment
Only a small portion of candidates are accepted by Ivy League universities. High test and grade point averages, relevant extracurricular activities, strong essays, and more are all things admissions committees look for when reviewing student applications.
- World-Class Schools are available
The Ivy League offers top-notch educational possibilities, but so do many other universities in the US and around the world. Although not the Ivy League institutions, schools like Stanford, MIT, Rice, and CalTech frequently outperform several Ivy League institutions in particular programs. Many of them also have higher admission rates and lower tuition. Examine other top schools in your field of study to determine whether they offer chances that will help you succeed.
List of Ivy League schools acceptance rate
Here’s a list of the acceptance rate of the Ivy League Schools over the last seven years-
| Class of: | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
| Harvard | 5.2% | 5.2% | 4.6% | 4.5% | 4.9% | 3.4% | 3.2% |
| Princeton | 6.5% | 6.1% | 5.5% | 5.8% | 5.6% | 4.0% | ~4.0% |
| Columbia | 6.0% | 5.8% | 5.5% | 5.1% | 6.1% | 3.7% | 3.7% |
| Yale | 6.3% | 6.9% | 6.3% | 5.9% | 6.5% | 4.6% | 4.5% |
| Brown | 9.0% | 8.3% | 7.2% | 6.6% | 6.9% | 5.4% | 5.0% |
| UPenn | 9.4% | 9.2% | 8.4% | 7.4% | 8.1% | 5.7% | 4.4% |
| Dartmouth | 10.5% | 10.4% | 8.7% | 7.9% | 8.8% | 6.2% | 6.2% |
| Cornell | 14.1% | 12.5% | 10.3% | 10.6% | 10.7% | 8.7% | ~8.0% |
Why Are Ivy League Acceptance Rates So Low?
Once again, this year has shown to be among the Ivy League’s most competitive. All Ivy League universities are seeing declining acceptance rates or maintaining record-low levels.The following factors are probably contributing to this ongoing trend:
- Uncertainty of the pandemic
- Pent-up demand
- test-optional regulations, and
- More student applications
- “Free” online visits
What Ivy League School Has The Highest Acceptance Rate?
Cornell University is the Ivy League institution with the highest admission rate. Cornell is the easiest Ivy League school to get into, with an average admission rate of around 12% (based on data from the last ten years).
What Ivy League School Has The Lowest Acceptance Rate?
Harvard has the lowest acceptance rate among Ivy League schools. Harvard is the most difficult Ivy League school to get into, with an average acceptance rate of about 4.8% (based on data from the last ten years). The aforementioned graph displays the ten-year average acceptance rates for all eight Ivy League institutions, including those for the most recent class of 2026.
Will The Ivy League Ever Expand?
Well, the chances of the Ivy League to expand is quite less, reason being the league was formed over a 100 years ago to bring the universities with best sports clubs together.
So unless one of these eight Ivy League schools decide to excel only at academics and show a drastic decrement in sports rankings, ( which is almost next impossible) the possibility of the expansion or contraction of the Ivy League is quite unlikely.
