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

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.