What are the Ivy League Schools, and why are they called IVY League?

IVY League Schools are a group of 8 prestigious universities for higher education in the northeastern USA. These institutes are renowned for their world-class academic standards, athletic prowess, educational excellence, fascinating history, and demanding admission criteria.

Why are they called the IVY League?

The term IVY league signifies the prestigious legacy of these organizations, as it is probably named after the IVY plant that grew on the walls of these magnificent institutions of academic excellence and fascinating history.

It is also believed that the term IVY league was coined during the athletic conference in the 1930s, but now it also demonstrates not only the athletic excellence but also the academic, cultural, and historical prominence of these institutions.

Which are the eight universities in the IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS?

Find below a comprehensive list of the eight universities.

1. Harvard University

• Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
• Popular Courses: Business, Law, Medicine, Computer Science, Economics, Political Science
• Fee Range: $76,000 - $82,000 per year (including tuition, room, board, and fees). Harvard offers substantial need-based financial aid, with most students receiving significant support.
• Weather: Cambridge experiences four distinct seasons, with cold winters (average temperatures of 30-40°F) and hot, humid summers (70-85°F). Fall and spring are mild and picturesque.
• Campus & Location: Harvard's campus is a blend of historic and modern architecture, nestled along the Charles River. The main campus in Cambridge is walkable, with nearby access to Boston, providing cultural, professional, and social opportunities. Harvard Yard, its central hub, offers a collegiate atmosphere steeped in tradition.
• Other Factors: Harvard is known for its world-class research, historical significance, and global influence. The university offers a huge variety of academic programs and access to cutting-edge facilities.
• Admission Criteria: Harvard has a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate below 5%. Applicants need exceptional academic performance, strong extracurriculars, leadership qualities, and compelling personal statements.
• Famous Alumni: Barack Obama (44th U.S. President), Bill Gates (Microsoft co-founder), Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook co-founder), Natalie Portman (Actress).

2. Yale University

• Location: New Haven, Connecticut
• Popular Courses: Law, Drama, Political Science, History, Psychology, Music
• Fee Range: $75,000 - $80,000 per year. Yale offers generous financial aid, with need-blind admissions and substantial need-based packages.
• Weather: New Haven has cold winters (temperatures ranging from 20 to 40 °F) and warm, humid summers (70 to 85 °F). Fall and spring bring moderate temperatures and scenic views.
• Campus & Location: Yale’s campus combines Gothic architecture with modern facilities, spread across the city of New Haven. Its famous residential college system provides a strong community feel. The university is closely integrated into the local cityscape, offering cultural events, theaters, and easy access to nearby New York City.
• Other Factors: Yale is renowned for its law and drama schools and its strong emphasis on liberal arts education. Its residential college system creates a tight-knit community, and its alumni network is highly influential.
• Admission Criteria: Yale's acceptance rate is around 4-5%, with emphasis on academic excellence, personal achievements, leadership, and creativity.
• Famous Alumni: George H.W. Bush (41st U.S. President), Hillary Clinton (Former U.S. Secretary of State), Paul Newman (Actor), Meryl Streep (Actress).

3. Princeton University

• Location: Princeton, New Jersey
• Popular Courses: Public Affairs, Engineering, Mathematics, Economics, Political Science
• Fee Range: $74,000 - $80,000 per year. Princeton is known for its robust financial aid program, with many students graduating debt-free.
• Weather: Winters are cold (20-40°F), while summers are warm and humid (75-85°F). Fall brings crisp weather and beautiful foliage.
• Campus & Location: Princeton’s iconic campus is known for its stunning Collegiate Gothic architecture and meticulously landscaped grounds. The university offers a tranquil setting in the suburban town of Princeton, with easy access to New York City and Philadelphia. The campus’s gardens and lakes offer peaceful retreats, and the school is renowned for its close-knit, undergraduate-focused community.
• Other Factors: Known for its focus on undergraduate education and low student-to-faculty ratio, Princeton also excels in the fields of science and engineering. The university's historic architecture and idyllic campus add to its charm.
• Admission Criteria: Princeton's acceptance rate is under 5%, focusing on intellectual curiosity, academic strength, and extracurricular involvement.
• Famous Alumni: Michelle Obama (Former U.S. First Lady), Jeff Bezos (Amazon founder), Woodrow Wilson (28th U.S. President), Alan Turing (Pioneer of Computer Science).

4. Columbia University

• Location: New York City, New York
• Popular Courses: Journalism, Law, International Affairs, Economics, Business
• Fee Range: $78,000 - $85,000 per year. Columbia offers substantial need-based financial aid to meet the full demonstrated need.
• Weather: Columbia experiences cold winters (30-40°F) with occasional snow, hot and humid summers (75-85°F), and moderate, pleasant spring and fall weather.
• Campus & Location: Located in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, Columbia’s campus is an oasis in the bustling metropolis of New York. The neoclassical buildings and modern academic centers make it a beautiful yet urban campus. Students enjoy access to countless city cultural, professional, and entertainment opportunities.
• Other Factors: Located in the heart of Manhattan, Columbia offers students unparalleled access to internships, networking opportunities, and cultural experiences. Its journalism school is among the best in the world.
• Admission Criteria: Columbia's acceptance rate hovers around 4%, and the school emphasizes academic excellence, extracurricular activities, and unique personal statements.
• Famous Alumni: Warren Buffett (Investor), Barack Obama (44th U.S. President), Jack Kerouac (Author), Ruth Bader Ginsburg (U.S. Supreme Court Justice).

5. University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)

• Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Popular Courses: Business (Wharton School), Law, Nursing, Economics, Engineering

• Fee Range: $75,000 - $81,000 per year. UPenn offers a strong financial aid program, meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need.
• Weather: Winters in Philadelphia are cold (20-40°F), while summers are hot and humid (75-90°F). Spring and fall bring milder, more comfortable weather.
• Campus & Location: UPenn’s urban campus is located in West Philadelphia, with a mix of historic and modern buildings. The campus is known for its vibrant student life and proximity to Center City Philadelphia, providing a wealth of internships, cultural experiences, and social activities. UPenn’s Wharton School is particularly prestigious for business students.
• Other Factors: UPenn is best known for its Wharton School of Business, which consistently ranks among the top business schools in the world. The university has a strong focus on entrepreneurship and interdisciplinary studies.
• Admission Criteria: UPenn's acceptance rate is around 6%, with emphasis on leadership, initiative, and academic prowess.
• Famous Alumni: Donald Trump (45th U.S. President), Elon Musk (CEO of Tesla and SpaceX), John Legend (Musician), Sundar Pichai (CEO of Google).

6. Dartmouth College

• Location: Hanover, New Hampshire
• Popular Courses: Engineering, Economics, Government, Neuroscience, Environmental Science
• Fee Range: $76,000 - $80,000 per year. Dartmouth offers need-blind admissions and substantial financial aid, making it affordable for students from all backgrounds.
• Weather: Dartmouth experiences cold winters with heavy snowfall (15-30°F) and mild, pleasant summers (70-80°F). Fall is spectacular with vibrant foliage, while spring is brief and cool.
• Campus & Location: Nestled in the small town of Hanover, Dartmouth’s rural campus is surrounded by forests and mountains, providing ample outdoor recreation opportunities like hiking and skiing. The campus is known for its close-knit community, small class sizes, and strong alumni network.
• Other Factors: Dartmouth is known for its small class sizes, close faculty-student relationships, and strong emphasis on undergraduate education. Its picturesque rural campus and active student life make it a unique Ivy experience.
• Admission Criteria: Dartmouth's acceptance rate is about 6-7%, focusing on academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, and a demonstrated passion for learning.
• Famous Alumni: Robert Frost (Poet), Mindy Kaling (Actress and Writer), Dr. Seuss (Author), Nelson Rockefeller (Former U.S. Vice President).

7. Brown University

• Location: Providence, Rhode Island
• Popular Courses: Computer Science, Political Science, English, Neuroscience, Visual Arts
• Fee Range: $75,000 - $80,000 per year. Brown offers need-blind admissions and provides generous financial aid to ensure that cost is not a big hurdle to attendance.
• Weather: Providence has cold, snowy winters (25-40°F) and hot, humid summers (75-85°F), with pleasant springs and falls.
• Campus & Location: Brown’s campus is located on College Hill, offering stunning views of Providence and a mix of historic and modern buildings. The university’s open curriculum allows students to design their own education, which fosters creativity and intellectual independence. The lively, artistic city of Providence is home to many cultural institutions and offers easy access to nearby Boston and New York.
• Other Factors: Brown is famous for its open curriculum, which enables students the flexibility to design their educational experience. The university fosters a collaborative, creative environment where students are encouraged to think outside the box.
• Admission Criteria: Brown’s acceptance rate is around 5%, with a focus on academic achievements, creativity, and independence.
• Famous Alumni: Emma Watson (Actress), John F. Kennedy Jr. (Lawyer and Journalist), Janet Yellen (Former U.S. Treasury Secretary), Ted Turner (Founder of CNN).

8. Cornell University

• Location: Ithaca, New York
• Popular Courses: Agriculture, Engineering, Architecture, Hotel Management, Biological Sciences
• Fee Range: $75,000 - $82,000 per year. Cornell provides need-based financial aid and offers a variety of scholarships to help students manage costs.
• Weather: Ithaca has cold, snowy winters (15-30°F) and warm, humid summers (75-85°F). The area is known for its natural beauty, with waterfalls and gorges adding to the scenic campus environment.
• Campus & Location: Cornell’s sprawling campus is located on a hill overlooking Cayuga Lake, offering stunning views and access to nature. The university is known for its diversity of programs, including its top-ranked School of Hotel Administration and strong engineering and agricultural colleges. The surrounding town of Ithaca is quaint, vibrant, and student-focused.
• Other Factors: Cornell is unique within the Ivy League for having both public and private colleges, such as its College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. It has a diverse student body and a wide range of academic programs, including the top-ranked School of Hotel Administration.
• Admission Criteria: Cornell’s acceptance rate is around 9%, and the admissions process focuses on academic strength, extracurricular activities, and alignment with specific colleges within the university.
• Famous Alumni: Ratan Tata (Industrialist), Ruth Bader Ginsburg (U.S. Supreme Court Justice), Bill Nye (Science Educator), Toni Morrison (Author).

Though applying and getting admitted to an IVY League school looks pretty competitive, with a diligent understanding of the admission process and careful planning in advance, you can realize your dream of studying at an IVY. You should be able to demonstrate a well-rounded personality with a balance of leadership, innovation, inclusivity, and futuristic vision through an excellent academic profile, extracurricular activities, leadership endeavors, an open and inclusive perspective towards society, and either evidence of your efforts or determination to make it better through your academic passion. At Grad-Dreams, we understand the complex application-admission-visa process and assist our students in preparing for it, whether it's understanding the admission criteria or the requirements of your college essays or selecting the right course and university according to your goals and budget. Our dedicated counselors provide personalized guidance to help you build a strong profile and confidently navigate the admissions journey. Start your journey towards Ivy League success with a Free counseling session with Grad-Dreams and take the first step to achieving your dream!