Ivy league is an elite group of universities or institutes in the United States that every study abroad aspirant dreams of getting admitted into. Some of these universities are consistently ranked among the top 10 Universities in USA as well as among the top 20 globally. These institutes generally have a selective admission process, exceptional academic requirements, and non-academic requirements.
The Ivy League was initially established in 1954 at the Athletic Conference of the NCAA. These colleges were always the first ones to participate in inter-college athletics. Ivy league universities are preferred by most of study abroad aspirants seeking to study their bachelor's or master's degrees in the United States.
Why are Ivy League Universities so famous?
Ivy league universities are globally recognized for being prestigious educational institutions with academic excellence. The admission rate is generally lower in Ivy league universities, making it harder for students to get admitted into.
Many top companies prefer Ivy league graduates over graduates from other institutions as they are aware of their academic performance and how they remained among the top in their respective classes. Some major reasons why Ivy League Universities are famous:
- Reputation: Most of the Ivy League Universities in USA carry their roots from colonial or even middle age, meaning they took longer enough to build up their reputations.
- Academic Guidance and Excellence: There is no doubt that the Ivy league offers the best academic guidance along with excellence. Almost everyone connected to these universities poses the same level of talent whether faculties, research schools or students.
- Divers Alumni: having a large alumni network, the current students may seek guidance from the graduates regarding career options and job opportunities.
List of Ivy League Universities in USA
Below we have listed some of globally renowned Ivy league Universities:
- Harvard University (Cambridge)
- Princeton University (Princeton)
- Yale University (New Haven)
- University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia)
- Columbia University (New York)
- Cornell University (Ithaca)
- Dartmouth College (Hanover)
- Brown University (Rhode Island)
Harvard University
Harvard is currently the number University in the United States as per QS Global. It is recognized for being a prestigious educational institution in the world. Harvard offers bachelor, masters to doctorate degrees in a diverse range of disciplines. Admission at Harvard University are the most selective among the 8 ‘Ivy League’ institutes for the class of 2026.
QS Ranking | #5 |
QS National Ranking | #1 |
Acceptance Rate | 4.6% |
GPA Required | 4.18 |
Top Programs offered at Harvard | Master of Business Administration | M.S Data Science | M.Eng Computational Science and Engineering | B.A Applied Mathematics |
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Princeton University
Princeton University is globally renowned for offering a diverse range of academic resources such as state-of-the-art libraries, art museums, and laboratories. It primarily focuses on undergraduate studies offering a variety of financial assistance. Those seeking graduate studies at Princeton can pursue their studies either with minimum or zero debt.
QS Ranking | #16 |
QS National Ranking | #8 |
Acceptance Rate | 5.5% |
GPA Required | 3.9 |
Top Programs offered at Princeton | M.S Computer Science | Master of Finance | M.Eng Electrical Engineering | B.S Computer Science |
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Yale University
Yale is the oldest among all the Ivy universities. It is a home to over 12,000 students and offers courses in a variety of fields where music and drama are the most popular ones. Also, its law college is among the top-ranked in the United States. Admission to Yale University is very competitive with an acceptance rate of 6.3%.
QS Ranking | #18 |
QS National Ranking | #6 |
Acceptance Rate | 6.3% |
GPA Required | 4.19 |
Top Programs offered at Yale | Master of Business Administration | M.S Computer Science | M.S Statistics and Data Science | B.S Computer Science |
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Columbia University;
Originally established as the King's College, Columbia University is one of top 5 oldest universities in the country. Columbia is primarily known for its research and high-quality teaching. Also, it is among the first Institutes which granted admissions to international students in the United states. It has a total student population of over 30,000 students. and is popular for majors like liberal arts and science.
QS Ranking | #22 |
QS National Ranking | #7 |
Acceptance Rate | 5.5% |
GPA Required | 4.12 |
Top Programs offered at Columbia | Master of Business Administration | M.S Data Science | M.S Management Science and Engineering | B.S Computer Engineering |
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University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania is home to the most international students among all the Ivy league schools. UPenn offers admission to 13% international out of the total students population from 100 countries all over the world. Some of its schools Schools ranked among the top including school of education, school of Law, Perelman School of Medicine and Penn’s Wharton School and the school of engineering.
QS Ranking | #13 |
QS National Ranking | #10 |
Acceptance Rate | 8.4% |
GPA Required | 3.9 |
Top Programs offered at UPenn | M.S Computer and Information Science | Master of Business Administration | M.S Robotics | B.S Computer Science |
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Cornell University
Based in Ithaca, New York and established in 1865, Cornell is the newest among all the Ivy league Universities. Many notable people graduated form Cornell University over 55 Nobel prize holders, 55 olympic medallists, 4 Turing Award winners and 30 Rhodes scholars. Cornell University admissions are highly stringent with an acceptance rate of 8.6% for the class of 2025
QS Ranking | #20 |
QS National Ranking | #12 |
Acceptance Rate | 8.6% |
GPA Required | 4.07 |
Top Programs offered at Cornell | M.A Human Resource Management (Executive) | Master of Business Administration | M.Eng Engineering Management | B.S Computer Science |
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Dartmouth University
The smallest among the Ivy league, Dartmouth University is home to only 6,400 students. The University has achieved enormous excellence in areas like medicine, liberal arts and international relations. It is the easiest to get admitted into as compared to other Ivy leagues in terms of acceptance rate. Dartmouth University offers admission into undergraduate and graduate programs but only is popular for undergraduate-level courses.
QS Ranking | #205 |
QS National Ranking | #32 |
Acceptance Rate | 7.9% |
GPA Required | 4.11 |
Top Programs offered at Dartmouth | Master of Business Administration | M.S Computer Science | M.Eng Biological and Chemical Engineering | B.A Computer Science |
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Brown University
Established in 1764 and later renamed to Brown University in 1804. Brown is one of top research-based institutions and one a kind where undergraduates can opt for personalized courses. For admissions, Brown University prefers those that have exceptional performance both inside and outside of the classroom. The admission process at Brown University is highly comprehensive and is based on the evaluation of transcripts.
QS Ranking | #63 |
QS National Ranking | #19 |
Acceptance Rate | 7.2% |
GPA Required | 4.08 |
Top Programs offered at Brown | Executive Master of Business Administration | Master of Public Health | M.S Materials Science and Engineering | B.S Mechanical Engineering |
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Comparison of MS Tuition Fees at Ivy League Universities
Besides their lower acceptance rate and higher academic requirements, Ivy League Universities in USA are also listed among the expensive universities of USA. Also, their ROI is quite higher and most of their graduates are employed in the top MNCs all over the globe. The below graph shows the comparison of annual tuition fees for international students in Ivy League Universities.
How to Apply for Ivy League Universities in USA?
Admission to Ivy League is highly competitive and has higher academic requirements due its global reputation. Follow the below steps to apply for admission to Ivy League colleges. More than 400,000 applicants apply for Ivy League universities every year. The acceptance range in these universities is generally under 10% and ranges between 4% to 8%. Even with a higher GPA and exceptional academic record, admission to these institutes is not guaranteed as there are others factors beyond that.
Admission Requirements for Ivy League Universities
The Ivy League Universities offer admissions in undergraduate programs, graduate programs, and doctoral level courses. The admission requirements vary from university to university. Below are the general admission requirements:
- Exceptional academic performance from class 9 to till the last degree or diploma achieved.
- A GPA of 4.0 or higher
- Higher score on Standardised tests such as GMAT/GRE for graduate admission and SAT/ACT scores for undergraduate admission
- ACT Range: 33-36 at 25th percentile and 35-36 at 75th percentile
- SAT Range: 1460-1510 at 25th percentile and 1530-1600 at 75th percentile
- High Score in English Proficiency tests like TOEFL or IELTS.
- Involvement in Extra curricular activities
- Letters of Recommendation
- Resume
- Impactful Essay in 650 words or more
- Financial Proof
- Valid Passport
- Statement of Purpose
- Visa
Factors to be considered before applying to Ivy League Universities
Below are the factors that one must consider before planning to apply for admission in any of the Ivy leagues universities:
- The acceptance is rate at Ivy league universities in USA is generally lower even below 10%, due to higher level of competition.
- The desired candidate must possess higher academic performance including high GPA in high school, bachelor’s along with high test scores such SAT/ACT or GMAT/GRE.
- Also provide evidence of involvement in sports, cultural activities and other achievements outside the classroom.
- Before selecting a particular university, make sure your are eligible enough to be considered for admission in that university. For instance, an MBA degree at Harvard is good choice but if you are willing to pursue master’s degree in engineering then consider going for MIT or related institute.
- The last but not the least is the financial factor. If you are not capable enough to meet financial expenses at Ivy league schools, then go for other well recognised universities like TAME, UT Austin or others with lower tuition fee.
Every many desired aspirants apply for admission into Ivy league universities in USA but hardly 10% of them get through. For those seeking admission in these universities must maintain exceptional performance since their high school through graduation. Do yoru complete research before picking the university of your choice and also go through the previous year class profile in order get insight into average GPA, test scores accepted and number of applicants selected by the university.
FAQ’s
Ques. Why is the Ivy League called the Ivy League?
Ans. Ivy League refers to the eight elite research universities that make up the Ivy League community – Harvard, Yale, UPenn, Princeton, Columbia, Brown, Dartmouth, and Cornell. The Ivy League is called the Ivy League because of an alliance between Harvard, Princeton, Yale and Penn, known as the Ivy League after the Roman numeral four.
Ques. Which universities are better than Ivy League?
Ans. Top five universities in USA which are not a part of Ivy League universities, however are considered equally, if not more, prestigious.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Stanford University
- University of Chicago
- California Institute of Technology
- Johns Hopkins University
Ques. How many universities are there in Ivy League?
Ans. There are many prestigious colleges across the United States which are mistaken for Ivy League schools. However the original ivy league universities are:
- Harvard University
- Princeton University
- Yale University
- Columbia University
- University of Pennsylvania
- Cornell University
- Brown University
- Dartmouth College
Ques. Which Ivy League is easiest to get into?
Ans. While all Ivy League schools are incredibly difficult to get into, Cornell University is likely be considered the easiest since, with an acceptance rate of 8.6%, it has the highest acceptance rate of all iIvy league Universities.
Ques. Are there Ivy Leagues in Canada?
Ans. There are no Ivy League schools in Canada. The eight members of the Ivy League are all in the USA. Although there are no Ivy League Canadian Universities by definition, a few top universities have the same characteristics as American universities:
- University of Waterloo
- University of Toronto
- University of Ottawa
- University of Calgary
- Dalhousie University
- University of Alberta
- University of Montreal
- University of British Columbia
- McGill University
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