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List of Ivy League Schools: Colleges, Admissions & Rankings 2024

Updated on 23 February, 2024

Neha Uppal

Neha Uppal

Sr. Content editor

Every student dreams of getting into the best school and fulfilling their career objectives. Higher education does not get better than Ivy League. These schools are one of the best schools in the world and can become perfect study destinations for students aiming for top-ranking jobs. 

 

Ivy League universities

offer top-level industry connections at some of the top industries in the world.

Ivy League universities can prove to be apt institutes to justify your academic efforts. But, before applying to such top educational colleges, it is vital to know basics like ‘what is IVY League?’ 

This article explains the concept of the Ivy League and lays down all the vital details in a streamlined way.

What are Ivy League schools?

The Northeastern US region has eight elite private research universities. These Ivy League schools are the most prominent institutes due to the following reasons:

  • Top-notch academic standards
  • Selective admission process
  • Excellent career opportunities
  • Well-equipped infrastructure and facilities

If you are a curious student, it is natural to wonder about the term ‘Ivy.’ You might be thinking — doesn’t Ivy relate to sports?

In a word, yes. The Ivy League universities are under the sports conference called National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Here is a glance at the basic details of each Ivy school:

Name of college

Location

Year of establishment

Acceptance rate

Yale University

Connecticut

1701

5%

Princeton University

New Jersey

1746

4%

Harvard University

Massachusetts

1636

4%

Dartmouth College

New Hampshire

1769

6%

Columbia University

New York

1754

6%

Brown University

Rhode Island

1764

6%

Cornell University

New York

1865

9%

University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

1740

6%

This information can give you a glimpse of the rich heritage of these Ivy League schools. So, acquiring admissions to these universities can prove as a cornerstone for your career advancement. 

Did you notice the low acceptance rate of these prestigious colleges? 

Well, the numbers show how challenging it is to gain admission to these universities. So, proper planning and high academic scores are the best facets to enter these colleges. 

Ivy League schools - Rankings by different organizations 

The ranking is a crucial facet that offers a general idea of the quality of these institutes. This section explains the Ivy School universities rankings by prominent bodies. 

The universities compete against each other across a wide range of student athletic and academic activities. 

Ivy League schools and their recent rankings

Sr. No.

Name of Ivy League Schools

QS World University Rankings 2024

1

Yale University

#16

2

Princeton University

#17

3

Harvard University

#4

4

Dartmouth College

=237

5

Columbia University

#23

6

Brown University

#73

7

Cornell University

#13

8

University of Pennsylvania

#12

The list of Ivy League schools is important to decide on your choice of college. Every university has several residential colleges that cater to specific educational domains. 

Here are some of the prominent colleges under each university:

Well-known colleges under each university

Name of university

Residential colleges

Yale University

Benjamin Franklin College

Branford College

Pierson College

Davenport College

Berkeley College

Grace Hopper College

Ezra Stiles College

Princeton University

Butler College

Forbes College

Princeton University Graduate College

Mathey College

Rockefeller College

Yeh College

Harvard University

Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Harvard Extension School

Harvard Business School

Harvard School of Dental Medicine

Harvard Graduate School of Design

Harvard Kennedy School

The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study

Dartmouth College

Geisel School of Medicine

Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies

Tuck School of Business

Thayer School of Engineering

Columbia University

Columbia Law School

School of General Studies

Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

Jewish Theological Seminary

Columbia Climate School

School of International and Public Affairs

Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science

School of Social Work

Columbia Business School

Brown University

School of Engineering

School of Professional Studies

Warren Alpert Medical School

Graduate School

School of Public Health

Cornell University

College of Arts and Sciences

SC Johnson College of Business

College of Engineering

College of Human Ecology

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy

Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration

College of Architecture, Art, and Planning

University of Pennsylvania 

The Wharton School

School of Dental Medicine

School of Arts & Sciences

Annenberg School for Communication

Stuart Weitzman School of Design

School of Engineering and Applied Science

Perelman School of Medicine

School of Social Policy & Practice

Ivy League schools- Optional Exam Score Requirements

The Ivy League universities require you to score well in certain exams and become eligible for admission. However, the exam requirements differ from course to course.

Still, a standardized chart of eligible tests will help you plan the admissions at these prestigious colleges in a better way. Here are the common exams that you can opt for to gain an edge during admissions:

  • American College Testing (ACT)
  • Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT)
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
  • Duolingo English Test (DET)

Note: Most of these tests are crucial to establishing your proficiency in English. In addition to the valid scores, the admission committee evaluates your score in the previous education level.

Ivy league schools required exams

Name of the university

Exams or tests required

Yale University

ACT

SAT

TOEFL

IELTS

Princeton University

ACT

SAT

GRE

TOEFL

IELTS

GMAT

Harvard University

ACT

SAT

Dartmouth College

ACT

SAT

TOEFL

IELTS

Duolingo

Columbia University

ACT

SAT

TOEFL

IELTS

Duolingo

Brown University

ACT

SAT

TOEFL

Cornell University

ACT

SAT (Essay discontinued) 

University of Pennsylvania

ACT

SAT

TOEFL

IELTS

Duolingo

Do you need to appear for all these tests?

Absolutely not! In fact, some Ivy League schools do not ask for tests like ACT or SAT. 

Now you must be thinking — then what is the use of scoring high grades in such tests? Well, depending on your academic program, some exams can become mandatory. On the other hand, in case of a tough choice between two applicants of the same level, the admission committee will always prefer a candidate with good test scores in such exams.

Ivy League Schools- Application Requirements

The application requirements to acquire admissions in public Ivy League schools vary as per the following factors:

  • Level of education: Diploma, Undergraduate, postgraduate, PhD, etc.
  • Field of the program: Engineering, Law, Medical, Commerce, Social Services, etc.
  • Type of course: Conventional, Hybrid, Online, etc.

However, as an international student, certain factors remain the same for all types of academic programs. Here are the application requirements for different universities:

Application requirements for different Ivy League universities

Sr. No.

Name of the Ivy League university

Application requirements

1

Yale University

Application fees

Two teacher recommendations

Transcripts of school or college mark sheets

ACT/SAT scores

English proficiency exam scores

Final report (if applicable)

2

Princeton University

Application fees

Princeton supplement and form

Graded written paper

School or college transcripts

Letter of recommendations

SAT or ACT scores

3

Harvard University

Application fees

Common application

Supporting materials like a secondary school report, teacher recommendations, etc.

Harvard supplement questions

SAT scores

4

Dartmouth College

Online form

Valid SAT or ACT scores

Application essay

Previous year academic transcripts

Letters of recommendation

5

Columbia University

Common application

Columbia-specific application questions

School report and transcripts

Two letters of recommendation from teachers

Application fees

English language proficiency scores

6

Brown University

Application form

Supplemental essays

Application fees

School transcripts

Recommendations from counsellor and teachers

Early decision agreement

7

Cornell University

Common application

School reports and transcripts

Counsellor and teacher recommendation letters

High school transcript

Application fees

Cornell university questions

Writing supplement

8

University of Pennsylvania

Common application form

School reports and transcripts

Mid-year report

Recommendation letters

Fine arts supplements (depend on the programs)

SAT or ACT scores (if required)

Application fees

Source: University official website

Overall, the list of application requirements for such esteemed institutes remains similar in most cases. Did you notice one aspect of the requirements?

Each university requires you to answer some school-specific questions. So, ensure that you go through the Ivy League schools' websites before answering the common queries. 

Ivy League Schools- Popular Programs

After reading all the information on these reputed Ivy League schools, one thing might be certain. You must be excited to know the best programs at each university.

Well, each of these institutes is the top-ranked one. So, you can expect high-quality education for any course of study. However, some educational programs are always more prominent at an institute.

Want to know about them? Scroll below and read the table that can prove as a game-changer.

Popular programs at Ivy League universities

Name of the university

Well-known programs

Yale University

Economics

Political Science

Biology

History

Psychology

Princeton University

Social Science

Engineering

Biological and Biomedical Science

Literature

History

Harvard University

Social Science

General Biology

Mathematics

Computer Science

Psychology

Dartmouth College

Computer and Informational Science

Engineering

Mathematics and Statistics

History

English language

Columbia University

Computer Science

Economics

Political Science

Social Science

History

Brown University

Computer Science

Political Science

History

Public Health

Biological Science

Cornell University

Engineering

Management

Marketing

Social Science

Architecture

University of Pennsylvania

Business Management

Social Science

Biological Science

Philosophy

Mathematics and Statistics

Source: University official website

Ivy League Schools- Tuition fees for programs at all levels

The Ivy League universities are choosy in terms of admissions. Only the best students across the globe can gain entry to the various schools under these institutes.

However, even if you are an academically gifted individual, it is vital to plan the economic aspect profoundly. Here is a general glimpse of the academic costs at each university:

Ivy league universities tuition fees

Name of the university

Undergraduate fees (General)

Postgraduate fees (General)

Yale University 

USD 84,000 per annum

USD 24,000 per term

Princeton University

USD 80,000 per annum

USD 57,000 per annum

Harvard University

USD 77,000 per annum

USD 57,000 per annum

Dartmouth College

USD 61,000 per annum

USD 21,000 per term

Columbia University

USD 65,500 per annum

USD 31,300 per term

Brown University

USD 65,000 per annum

USD 64,000 per annum

Cornell University

USD 75,000 per annum

USD 62,000 per annum

University of Pennsylvania

USD 63,000 per annum

USD 30,000 per term

Source: University official website

Note: These tuition costs are rounded-off approximate values of the two prominent levels of education. You can witness variations in the original fees depending on your choice of program.

Ivy League Schools- Popular Alumni

Well, once you study at these esteemed Ivy League schools, it is possible to initiate a wonderful career. In fact, some of these notable professionals made remarkable contributions to their respective fields.

This section includes one popular alumnus from each university to catalyze your inspirational juices!

Popular alumni of Ivy League universities

Name of the university

Alumni name

Known as

Yale University 

Indra Nooyi

Former CEO, Pepsico

Princeton University

Sridhar Vembu

Founder, Zoho Corporation

Harvard University

Rahul Bajaj

Former Chairman, Bajaj Group

Dartmouth College

Mindy Kaling

Actress, The Office

Columbia University

Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar

Indian Economist

Brown University

Bobby Jindal

Former Governor of Louisiana 

Cornell University

Ratan Tata

Former Chairman, Tata Sons

University of Pennsylvania

Anil Ambani

Former Chairman, Reliance Group

Source: University official website

Ivy League Schools- Median base salary

On an average, an Ivy League graduate earns more than graduates from non-Ivy universities. This data is supported by PayScale, its recent study of over 1500 schools.

Let’s take a look at some Ivy League Universities with a median base below!

Ivy University Name

Early-Career Median/Base salary

Princeton University

USD 81,800

Harvard University

USD 80,900

University of Pennsylvania 

USD 78,300

Yale University

USD 78,000

Dartmouth College

USD 77,600

Brown University

USD 74,700

Cornell University

USD 75,800

Columbia University

USD 78,200

Source: Payscale

Conclusion

That is it! These Ivy League universities are the top institutes that can transform your career. With experienced faculty, top-notch infrastructure, and amazing self-development opportunities, you can become a prolific professional after passing out of these schools.

Well, if you have the academic potential and zeal to study at these institutes, wait no more. Plan effectively and shortlist your favorite Ivy League college. After all, an advanced and methodical approach toward Ivy League admissions will offer an edge over other competitors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are schools like Stanford and MIT not in the Ivy League?

Esteemed institutes like the University of Chicago, Stanford, and MIT are not in the Athletic Conference of Ivy Leagues. So, they are excluded from the prestigious list.

Which is the easiest Ivy league school that I can target?

You can plan to acquire admissions at Cornell University. It has a comparatively high acceptance rate than other Ivy League universities.

Which Ivy league university has the smartest students?

Harvard University is the top-rated Ivy League school. So, the probability of smart students at the institute is high. This school has a ranking of five on the global stage.

Neha Uppal

Sr. Content editor

Neha Uppal is a passionate content creator and editor. She carries 7.5+ years of experience working with leading edutech companies where she worked as a Faculty, Community Manager, and Content Marketeer. At upGrad, she is helping out people keep informed about the scopes and opportunities of studying abroad via informational articles/blogs.

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