Ivy League schools are often talked about as the best universities in the nation. With overall acceptance rates averaging around 5%, only a fraction of the most elite students gain admission to Ivy Leagues each year. But, what exactly is an Ivy League school and why do people talk about them like they’re the end-all and be-all of college admissions?
In this article, we’ll explain what makes a school an “Ivy League.” We’ll also discuss strategies for How to Get Into an Ivy League School, as well as share key Ivy League admission statistics, such as Ivy League acceptance rates (2027).
How many Ivy Leagues are there?
To start off, how many Ivy League colleges are there? Believe it or not, there are only eight Ivy League colleges:
What makes a school an Ivy League?
The Ivy League is a Division I athletic conference made up of eight schools. All this means is that they happen to play sports against each other, just like the Atlantic Coast Conference, or the Big Ten conference. (If you’re an athlete, check out our article, Do Ivy League Schools Give Athletic Scholarships?).
So, the underwhelming truth is that being part of the Ivy League doesn’t necessarily make a school “better” than a school outside of the Ivy League. There are plenty of schools with similar academic rigor and prestige that aren’t part of the Ivy League, many of which you’re probably familiar with, like Stanford University or MIT.
That being said, all eight Ivy League schools do share a set list of characteristics that make them highly sought after. This will help give you a more complete Ivy League schools definition. Let’s break them down:
Ivy League schools are some of the oldest in the country.
One reason you’ve probably heard so much about Ivy League schools is because they’ve been around for a long time. Cornell University, the “youngest” of the Ivy League, was founded in 1865. Harvard University, by comparison, was established in 1636. That’s 140 years older than the U.S. itself!
Why does that matter? This means Ivy League schools carry a lot of recognition and have a vast network of alumni all over the world. If you attend one of these schools, you become part of that network and the many opportunities they have to offer. And remember, networking is the cornerstone to any successful career.
Ivy League schools are highly selective.
This is probably the most important distinction to make about Ivy League schools. Because of their prestige and recognition, these eight schools receive the most applications in the country. In 2024, Brown and Harvard received 51,316 and 56,937 applicants, respectively.
However, seats at these schools are obviously limited, which means only a small percentage of students are admitted. The acceptance rates for Ivy League schools are notoriously low — typically less than 10%, and sometimes less than 5%. These rates have been even lower post COVID-19 as well.
While there are plenty of other highly selective schools across the U.S. (MIT’s acceptance rate in 2024 was less than 5%), all Ivy League schools are extremely selective and should be considered “reach schools” on your college list. For information on how to create a balanced college list, click here.
Being highly selective schools means that these schools are extremely competitive to get into — meaning that while the admissions process is still holistic, your high school GPA and SAT do play a crucial role in proving you are equipped to handle the academic rigor at these schools.
At Columbia, for example, 95% of freshman students admitted in 2020 were in the top ten percent of their class, with the middle 50% of students scoring between 1450 and 1570 on their SATs. If you’re interested in applying to any of the Ivy League schools, competitive grades and test scores play a large role.
However, seats at these schools are obviously limited, which means only a small percentage of students are admitted. The acceptance rates for Ivy League schools are notoriously low — typically less than 10%, and sometimes less than 5%. These rates have been even lower post COVID-19 as well.
While there are plenty of other highly selective schools across the U.S. (MIT’s acceptance rate in 2024 was less than 5%), all Ivy League schools are extremely selective and should be considered “reach schools” on your college list. For information on how to create a balanced college list, click here.
Being highly selective schools means that these schools are extremely competitive to get into — meaning that while the admissions process is still holistic, your high school GPA and SAT do play a crucial role in proving you are equipped to handle the academic rigor at these schools.
At Columbia, for example, 95% of freshman students admitted in 2020 were in the top ten percent of their class, with the middle 50% of students scoring between 1450 and 1570 on their SATs. If you’re interested in applying to any of the Ivy League schools, competitive grades and test scores play a large role.
Ivy League schools are private universities.
All Ivy League schools are private institutions, which means these schools are funded mainly, if not entirely, from tuition costs and donations, as opposed to public universities which are funded by their state government. Because Ivy League schools don’t receive public funding, their tuition rates are significantly higher than the lower tuition rates you’ll find at public universities.
However, this doesn’t mean that affording and attending an Ivy League school has to be out of reach. Through private contributions and donations, these schools are more likely to have enough funding to offer generous financial aid packages to students, with substantial money set aside for those who demonstrate financial need.
You’d be surprised to find that in many cases, attending an Ivy League school can cost about the same, or even lower than, a public university through the grants and scholarship opportunities they offer.
2024 Ivy League statistics
So now that we’ve discussed some of the characteristics that set Ivy League colleges apart, let’s take a quick look at some Ivy League admission statistics. Visit each college’s website for a more thorough understanding of their demographics, financial aid awards, academic programs, etc.
| Name of School | Location | Undergrad Population | Acceptance Rate | Early Admissions Rate | Tuition & Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown University | Providence, RI | 7,639 | 5.08% | 12.98% | $68,230 |
| Columbia University | New York City, NY | 8,832 | 3.93% | 11.3% | $65,524 |
| Cornell University | Ithaca, NY | 15,735 | 7% | 19% | $66,014 |
| Dartmouth College | Hanover, NH | 4,458 | 6.07% | 19.21% | $65,511 |
| Harvard University | Cambridge, MA | 7,240 | 3.41% | 7.56% | $65,511 |
| Princeton University | Princeton, NJ | 5,604 | 6% | Not available | $59,710 |
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | 9,760 | 7% | 16% | $66,104 |
| Yale University | New Haven, CT | 5,604 | 4.35% | 10.89% | $64,700 |
*Class of 2027 admission statistics have not been published; statistics are from previous year.
2024 US News rankings (Ivy League schools)
While all of the Ivy Leagues offer top-tier educations, each Ivy League university has its own unique strengths. This is why we’ve compiled a list of national rankings, compiled by the US News 2024 Best Colleges Rankings. While these lists are by no means exhaustive, they should give you a bit more insight into each school’s individual strengths.
Brown University
Columbia University
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Harvard University
Princeton University
University of Pennsylvania
Yale University
Ivy League admission strategies
As previously mentioned, Ivy League GPA requirements are incredibly rigorous, perhaps even more so since Ivy League universities adopted test-optional admissions policies at the start of the Covid 19 Pandemic. Remember, Ivy League schools admit only the most committed students, so high school GPA and evidence of course rigor are key application factors that cannot be overlooked.
That being said, thousands of qualified students apply to Ivy League universities each year, but only a small fraction are admitted. So what can you do to stand out in your college applications?
In addition to your academic profile, you’ll want to engage in meaningful extracurricular activities that reflect your personal, academic, and professional goals. For example, if you’re interested in engineering, you’ll want to participate in some of the Best Extracurricular Activities for the Engineering Applicant. Similarly, if you’re interested in studying the arts, you’ll want to participate in some of the Best Extracurricular Activities for Students Interested in the Arts. College admissions officers also admire students who participate in pre-college summer programs and design their own high school passion projects.
Next, you’ll want to focus on your Ivy League admissions essays. Choose engaging topics that show you in a positive light. College essays are meant to personalize the admissions process, so give admission officers a reason to root for you! Do your best to communicate who you are and what you care about. Avoid repeating information that can be found in other sections of your application. For a list of common mistakes to avoid when drafting your college essays, click here.
Now, let’s get to the question you’ve all been wondering: How do you get into an Ivy League college?
As previously mentioned, Ivy League GPA requirements are incredibly rigorous, perhaps even more so since Ivy League universities adopted test-optional admissions policies at the start of the Covid 19 Pandemic. Remember, Ivy League schools admit only the most committed students, so high school GPA and evidence of course rigor are key application factors that cannot be overlooked.
That being said, thousands of qualified students apply to Ivy League universities each year, but only a small fraction are admitted. So what can you do to stand out in your college applications?
In addition to your academic profile, you’ll want to engage in meaningful extracurricular activities that reflect your personal, academic, and professional goals. For example, if you’re interested in engineering, you’ll want to participate in some of the Best Extracurricular Activities for the Engineering Applicant. Similarly, if you’re interested in studying the arts, you’ll want to participate in some of the Best Extracurricular Activities for Students Interested in the Arts. College admissions officers also admire students who participate in pre-college summer programs and design their own high school passion projects.
Next, you’ll want to focus on your Ivy League admissions essays. Choose engaging topics that show you in a positive light. College essays are meant to personalize the admissions process, so give admission officers a reason to root for you! Do your best to communicate who you are and what you care about. Avoid repeating information that can be found in other sections of your application. For a list of common mistakes to avoid when drafting your college essays, click here.
Key takeaways and moving forward
So, there are a lot of specific characteristics shared by Ivy League universities. Still, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t a good number of other colleges and universities across the U.S. that share similar traits— making them just as, if not more, competitive than some Ivy League schools.
Stanford University, MIT, University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins University, Northwestern University, and Duke University are all examples of competitive, private universities with strong academic programs that are highly selective. Ultimately, it’s more important to focus on applying to schools that are the best fit for your specific goals, rather than create a list based on any special distinction or prestige.
Ivy League schools are a great goal to set your sights on and offer incredible opportunities for their students, but remember: while all Ivy League schools are elite, not all elite schools are Ivy League.
If you have high aspirations for your college career, consider reaching out to one of our professional college counselors. In the meantime, check out some more of our articles, such as: How To Get Into Harvard University: Complete Guide and What to Do After You’ve Been Waitlisted on Ivy Day.
