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The Ivy League is a group of private universities and colleges in the northeastern US. These institutes are renowned for their academic excellence, prestigious reputation, long-standing history, and highly selective admissions. These are considered to be the most reputed and competitive universities globally. In this blog, we will discuss the Ivy League universities in USA. The Ivy League comprises 8 private research universities in the United States. Moreover, you will learn how you can apply for admission to these prominent institutions. Now, let’s begin this blog without any further ado.
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Why Are They Known as Ivy League Schools?
The Ivy League was first founded for university football in the 1950s. The Ivy Green Agreements were signed by the presidents of those 8 universities. The Ivy League gradually became synonymous with top universities as it gathered more and more attention and funds.
Also Read: Which is the Oldest Public University in USA?
List of Ivy League schools
There are a total of 8 Ivy League universities in USA, boasting outstanding reputations and prestige. Let’s explore these hallowed institutes in more detail:
Columbia University
The prestigious Columbia University has produced numerous Nobel prize winners and leaders. Established in 1754, it is among the oldest American universities. The institute offers great flexibility to its students. New students can choose to enrol in any of the three semesters of the school year. Situated in Manhattan, New York City, Columbia University is a renowned top research university, boasting the third largest library among the US universities.
| QS World University Rankings 2025 | #34 |
| THE World University Rankings 2024 | #17 |
Brown University
Another renowned university on the list is Brown University. Established in 1764 in Rhode Island, it is among the oldest research universities in the United States. It boasts a liberal campus and encourages innovation and creativity. It offers students considerable freedom to attend courses. They are free to explore different fields of learning and decide their majors with the assistance of school advisors. Moreover, they receive their degrees after acquiring enough credits.
| QS World University Rankings 2025 | #=79 |
| THE World University Rankings 2024 | #=64 |
Princeton University
Known as one of the best research US universities, Princeton University boasts an unparalleled reputation. Founded in 1746, the institute is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education and is located in Princeton, United States. The university takes only over 1,000 students each year and every student gets plenty of attention from professors.
| QS World University Rankings 2025 | #=22 |
| THE World University Rankings 2024 | #6 |
Cornell University
Cornell University is the only Ivy League school that was set up after American Revolutionary War. Established in 1865, the institute has three campuses. The main one is located in Ithaca, New York State and two satellite campuses are in New York City and Qatar. Cornell University houses the largest Southeast Asia Program in the United States.
| QS World University Rankings 2025 | #16 |
| THE World University Rankings 2024 | #20 |
Harvard University
Harvard University is among the most prominent universities in the world, boasting outstanding reputation and academic excellence. Established in 1636, it is the oldest university in the US. It is located in Boston and houses the oldest library in the United States. After students graduate from Harvard University, they are offered different distinctions based on their academic performance: magna cum laude, summa cum laude, and cum laude.
| QS World University Rankings 2025 | #4 |
| THE World University Rankings 2024 | #3 |
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College has small classes and about one teacher accompanies seven students on their educational journeys. Located in New Hampshire, Dartmouth College was founded in 1769. It is a liberal arts institution, and students usually excel in Politics and Economics.
| QS World University Rankings 2025 | #=243 |
| THE World University Rankings 2024 | #=161 |
Yale University
Founded in 1701 in Connecticut, Yale University is the third oldest American university. Students enrol in general education courses at Yale University in their freshman year. They decide their majors when they reach the second year. There is a collection of 12.5 million books in the institute’s library, the second largest in the United States. Only Harvard has more books than Yale University.
| QS World University Rankings 2025 | #=23 |
| THE World University Rankings 2024 | #10 |
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is committed to offering students cross-disciplinary skills, and thus, allows undergraduates to attend courses from other departments and graduate courses. Established in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1740, the university has a long track record of academic excellence.
| QS World University Rankings 2025 | #11 |
| THE World University Rankings 2024 | #16 |
Also Read: Masters in Computer Science in USA
Ivy League Schools vs Other Universities
Ivy League schools are considered to be among the best institutes in the United States due to their reputation, history, and impressive lists of alumni. However, numerous other prestigious universities in the US and the world are excellent options as well. So, even if you fail to get admission to Ivy League universities in USA, just relax and know that there are plenty of other options as well.
How to Get Admission to Ivy League Universities?
Getting into Ivy League universities in USA is very competitive. However, you can make it to these prestigious institutes with the right qualifications and determination. While all these universities have set different criteria, the general requirements for admission are as follows:
- An excellent GPA and great SAT score
- Reference letter(s)
- Volunteer experience
- Passion for extracurricular activities
- After you submit your application, you might be invited for an interview
A majority of the students applying for Ivy League schools have GPAs ranging from 3.85 to 4.18. However, these institutes don’t just look at your academic performance. They also consider many other areas, such as the fulfilment of social responsibilities and extracurricular activities.
FAQs
Answer: There are a total of 8 Ivy League schools in the US.
Answer: Cornell University is known to be the easiest Ivy to get into with an acceptance rate of around 8.7% to 10.9%.
Answer: Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Columbia University are known for accepting a large number of overseas students.
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So, this was all about the “Ivy League universities in USA“. Many Indian students dream of pursuing education in foreign nations due to the exposure and career growth they offer. Consider joining a free counselling session with Leverage Edu if you plan to study abroad.
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