What are Ivy League Universities in USA?
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The term “Ivy League” comes up often when discussing the best universities in the US. Rather, not just the US, this term defines the best quality academics the world over. For an international student getting accepted into one of the Ivy League Universities is nothing short of his version of the American Dream. Check out about all Ivy League schools in USA in this article in detail.
Applicants who plan to study in USA, definitely plan on studying at one of the Ivy Leagues. Ivy Leagues is a set of colleges in USA which are premium colleges known for their quality education, low acceptance rates and high involvement in sports or extracurriculars. While these colleges may be a hard nut to crack, they are the most popular choice among international applicants. Want to know more about which colleges make it to the Ivy League schools and how they were formed? Read this article and understand everything about Ivy League schools.
What are Ivy League Universities in USA?
Formed in 1954, the cluster of Ivy League Universities was an inter-college athletic group of eight colleges of the Northeastern United States of America aimed at promoting sporting and athletic ties between member colleges. Ivy League schools also have ideas of academic excellence, selectivity in admissions, and social elitism related to it.
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At present, the athletic connotation has lost its hold over the definition of Ivy League and academic excellence has taken over in its place. Seven colleges out of the eight were formed before The American Revolution (1776), so the Ivy League also represents the oldest universities in the United States of America. Ivy League Universities have always ranked among the top universities in the world and the country and students aim to apply at these universities if they want to study abroad. Let us take a closer look at the application process for US Universities.
List of Ivy League Universities in the USA
What is this Ivy League? And what is the hype around it? Here is the list of 8 top universities in the USA that belong to the Ivy League Universities in the USA. Detailed information about each university along with its eligibility guidelines, popular courses, and fee structure are mentioned below. Candidates can also click on the college name to be directed to the particular college for more information.
The above-given universities are part of the Ivy League schools and fall in the category of most reputed universities in the USA. Their rankings are also top-class, within the top 50 to 200+ globally in all possible cases.
List of Top Ranking Ivy League Schools in USA 2025
The 8 Ivy League schools or universities that are ranked as per QS World University Ranking 2025, and Times Higher Education 2024 ranking for a better understanding of each university and how they fare in the global education map.
| University |
QS World University Ranking 2025 |
Times Higher Education (THE) 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| #4 | #4 | |
| #34 | #17 | |
| #11 | #16 | |
| #23 | #6 | |
| #22 | #6 | |
| #16 | #20 | |
| #79 | #64 | |
| #243 | #161 |
Please note, that the rankings are subject to change each year and are not consistent usually. all the Ivy League schools are top-ranked annually.
Ivy League Schools: Detailed Analysis
Check out all about the Ivy League universities of the USA and their course offerings, along with their fees.
Harvard University
Harvard usually ranks at number 1 or 2 of all US schools and in the top 10 internationally. This Ivy League school has an endowment of around $35 billion, and Harvard has more financial resources than any other university. That is the reason behind its world-class faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, and free tuition for students from families with modest incomes. Harvard is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts and is one of the oldest universities in the US. Get more details below:
- Harvard Acceptance Rate: 3.4% (class of 2027)
- Total Enrollments Annually: 1,900+
- Popular Courses at Harvard: Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science, LLM, MS in Computational Science and Engineering, MBA, Doctor of Medicine, and others
- Average Tuition Fee at Harvard: UG: USD 82,866 (with living costs) | PG: USD 56,000 - USD 74,000
Columbia University
Like all the Ivy League schools, Columbia has an important pedigree of research and instruction. It is located in upper Manhattan, New York, which is a very urban setting. The college is known for its courses in liberal arts and sciences.
- Columbia University Acceptance Rate: 3.85% (class of 2027)
- Total Enrollments Annually: 2,200+
- Popular Courses at Columbia University: BE/BTech, MBA, MS in Nursing, MIM, BBA, MS in Business Analytics, LLM and others.
- Average Tuition Fee at Columbia University: UG: USD 60,000 - USD 64,321 | PG: USD 27,400 - USD 119,114
University of Pennsylvania
The courses U Penn is most well-known for are medicine, dentistry, design, business, law, communications, nursing, veterinary, social sciences, and humanities, as well as biomedical teaching and research capabilities. Penn is consistently included among the top five research universities in the United States, and the top research universities in the world. It is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. With nearly 25,000 students in undergraduate and graduate courses, Penn has a diverse and bustling urban campus.
- UPenn Acceptance Rate: 5.9% (class of 2027)
- Total Enrollments Annually: 3,300+
- Popular Courses at UPenn: BBA, MBA, Masters in Nursing (MSN), MDS, BE/BTech, etc.
- Average Tuition Fee at UPenn: UG: USD 87,860 | PG: USD 60,000
Yale University
This Ivy League School has an endowment of over $16 billion and a 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Yale's library holds over 12.7 million volumes. Yale is located in New Haven, Connecticut. In athletics, Yale fields 35 varsity teams. Yale, established in 1701, is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the US plus, a renowned Ivy Leagu school. The university has three major academic schools: Yale College (the undergraduate program), the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and the professional schools which together offer specialised courses.
- Yale University Acceptance Rate: 4.5% (class of 2027)
- Total Enrollments Annually: 2,200+
- Popular Courses at Yale: BBA, MBA, MSN, EMBA, B.Arch, and others.
- Average Tuition Fee at Yale: UG: 67,250 | PG: 49,500
Princeton University
Princeton is one of the popular ivy league universities and offers undergraduate and graduate courses in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering. It does not have schools of medicine, law, divinity, education, nor business. Princeton is located in Princeton, New Jersey.
- Princeton University Acceptance Rate: 5.8% (class of 2027)
- Total Enrollments Annually: 1,700+
- Popular Courses at Princeton: BA in Politics, BA in Psychology, MBA, MIM, MEng, M.Arch and others
- Average Tuition Fee at Princeton: UG: USD 62,500 | PG: 60,410
Cornell University
Cornell is unique among the Ivy League universities because its agricultural program is part of the state school system. Cornell is well known for its schools of engineering and hotel management. Cornell is located in the Finger Lakes region of central New York in a small city called Ithaca, which is a beautiful location. Cornell is also a popular Ivy League school for international students as thousands of applicants apply here.
- Cornell Acceptance Rate: 3.6% (class of 2027)
- Total Enrollments Annually: 5,000+
- Popular Courses at Cornell: MS in Computer Science, MBA, MEng, M.Arch, M.Agri, etc.
- Average Tuition Fee at Cornell: UG: 68,380 | PG: 29,500 - USD 105,500
Brown University
Out of all the Ivy League colleges Brown is considered the most liberal. Brown is located in Providence, Rhode Island and is well known for its open curriculum in which students craft and figure out their study plan. Brown University focuses more on undergraduate courses than other universities which prefer focusing on Graduate studies. Check out the top reasons to study at Brown University.
- Brown University Acceptance Rate: 5% (class of 2027)
- Total Enrollments Annually: 1,700+
- Popular Courses at Brown University: MS in Civil Engineering, MS in Mechanical Engineering, MBA, BBA, MIM and others.
- Average Tuition Fee at Brown University: UG 82,762 | PG: USD 25,000 - USD 75,500
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth is the smallest of the Ivy League schools. It provides the curricular breadth of its larger rivals with a feeling of a liberal arts college. Dartmouth leads the Ivy League for the percentage of international students. Dartmouth has a strong athletics culture; 75% of students participate in athletics. It is located in Hanover, New Hampshire.
- Dartmouth College Acceptance Rate: 6% (class of 2027)
- Total Enrollments Annually: 4,500+
- Popular Courses at Dartmouth College: Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering, MS in Computer Science, MBA, MIM, MPH and others.
- Average Tuition Fee at Harvard: UG: 87,768 | PG: USD 24,885 - USD 33,180
Admission Requirements for Ivy League Colleges in the US
The Ivy League Universities in the USA continue to be ranked top among all universities in the world. No matter which field you choose, the top universities in the USA would feature in that list for sure. So be it a bachelor's, master's or even a doctorate, when the admissions open, students start with the lengthy process of applying. In case you are planning to do the same, here is a checklist of documents you must have before you start the application process for American Universities.
1. A Valid Passport
Ideally, you should have a valid passport until about 6 months after your intended course completion date. For instance, if you are applying for a 2-year course, starting August 2025, which would end by August 2027, then your passport should be valid at least till February 2028.
2. Academic Transcripts
You would need your marks/results officially referred to as academic transcripts for all classes from class 9 and upwards. If you are still in class 12, then you would need the result of classes 9, 10, and 11. If you are applying for PG courses, you would also need the mark sheets or your bachelor's degree (all-year scores, as well as a cumulative score, would be required). A student need not worry about getting the marks converted to GPAs as per the American Credit System.
3. Standardized Test Scores
While many universities might accept applications in case you are still intending to write your SATs/ ACTs for your undergraduate or GMAT/GRE for graduation studies respectively, it is always advisable to have your score ready with you before you start your application process. You might have to share the reference number of your scorecard with the University.
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4. Proof of Funds
This is a rather important aspect of your application. While you need not provide actual proof, you would still need to fill in rather detailed financial information about your family. This information is used by the University for determining both your eligibility (sometimes for a scholarship) as well as the ability to afford the education. So, you need to have all the relevant information like Tax Returns, etc. handy as well as a clear understanding of how much funding you would be looking forward to.
Still, have some queries? Get in touch with us in the comments below. Or sign up for free counselling for US university admissions here - https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/apply.
What are Ivy League Universities in USA FAQs
Q. How can an Indian get into the Ivy League?
A. Getting into one of the Ivy League universities is extremely competitive. As the admission decisions are taken based on a holistic approach, you must be an all-rounder and excel academically, as well as in activities outside class to secure an admission. Some extracurricular criteria such as community involvement, leadership and distinction in extra-curricular activities, character, personal qualities and more also play a very important role. We have listed below the general admission requirements for Ivy League schools:
- Bachelor’s degree in the relevant subject
- Academic transcripts
- Statement of purpose
- Essay
- Recommendations letters
- GPA of 2.5 - 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
- SAT or ACT (UG) | GRE or GMAT (PG)
- IELTS / TOEFL / PTE
- Other course specific requirements
Q. Is Harvard better than IIT?
A. Harvard University and IIT are very well-known institutions worldwide and have their own strengths as well as weaknesses. According to the QS World University Rankings 2024, Harvard University has claimed the spot #4 in Best Global Universities, whereas IIT Bombay ranks #149 in the same category. On the basis of world workings, Harvard University has an upper hand.
Mentioned below is the comparison between both the universities on the basis of some other parameters that can help you choose the better university for you:
| Parameters |
Harvard University |
IIT |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance Rate |
4% |
<1%* |
| QS Rankings | #4 |
#149 - IIT Bombay #197 - IIT Delhi #271 - IIT Kharagpur |
| Annual Tuition Fee (B.Tech) |
INR 45.1 L |
8 L - 20 L |
| Average Package | $175,000 = INR 14.5L |
INR 21.82 LPA |
*the acceptance rate of IIT is much lower than that of Harvard since the number of applicants applying to IIT is much larger.
Students at Harvard can choose their major according to their preference. However, IIT's majors are allotted according to the candidate's score/percentile. Also, Harvard accepts applicants on the basis of their overall profile. Whereas, IITs accepts candidates solely on the basis of their score/percentile.
Q. What are the Ivy League schools locations?
A. We have listed below all the eight prestigious Ivy League schools and their location:
| Ive League Universities |
Location |
|---|---|
| Harvard University |
Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States |
| Columbia University |
New York City, United States |
| University of Pennsylvania |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Yale University |
New Haven, Connecticut, United States |
| Princeton University |
Princeton, United States |
| Cornell University |
Ithaca, New York, United States |
| Brown University |
Providence, Rhode Island, United States |
| Dartmouth College |
Hanover, New Hampshire, United States |
Q. Why is Stanford not Ivy League?
A. Technically, Stanford University is located on the West Coast of USA, however, all Ivy League schools are located in the Northeast of USA. Hence, this is the reason why Stanford is not a part of Ivy League. Even when a lot factors match - like low acceptance rate at Stanford, importance for extracurriculars and other coincinding parameters, Stanford is not an Ivy League.
Q. Why are they called Ivy League?
A. Some of the most sought after colleges in USA, that are also elite schools are called Ivy League schools. Why they are called Ivy League, is because this term originated from inter-college athletic rivalries and traditions of planting ivy. This term "Ivy League" was used first in 1933, which later became official. Finally becoming an official athletic conference in 1954.
Q. What are the top 4 Ivy League schools?
A. The top 4 Ivy League schools are - Harvard University, Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania and Yale University. All four of these Ivy League universities globally rank within the top 50 institutions. Also, all four ivy league universities are some of the oldest universities in the US, thus, they are known for their education, research and low selectivity rates.
Q: What GPA is required for the University of South Dakota?
The University of South Dakota expects a GPA score of 2.5 from undergraduates and 3 from postgraduates on the 4-pointer scale. Along with the GPA scores, undergraduates must meet the basic eligibility and submit an ACT score of 21 or higher and an SAT score of 1070 or higher. In addition, they must submit the required documents, such as academic history, transcripts, letters of recommendation, English language scores, and more.
Q: What GPA is needed to go to Ohio State?
There is no minimum GPA score for UG admission at Ohio State. However, International students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale or equivalent) for graduate admission. Applicants may submit a standardized test score (GRE or GMAT) if their cumulative GPA is below 3.0 for the last degree.
Q: Is MIT costly for Indians?
MIT is not costly for Indian students. Applicants can study BTech program at affordable tuition fees as compared to other BTech colleges in the USA. The MIT BTech fees is around INR 50 L to INR 52 L.
Q: Can I get into Oregon State with a 3.5 GPA?
International students must have at least a GPA between 2.5 and 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 for UG and PG admission at Oregon State. Therefore, candidates are eligible to get admission to the university with a 3.5 GPA in their academics. Oregon State University GPA requirements are different for undergraduate and graduate admission. Mentioned below is the range of GPA required for Oregon State University admissions:
| Program | Minimum GPA Required (on a scale of 4.0) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 2.5 - 3.0 |
| Graduate | 2.5 - 3.0 |
Read about the Grading System in the USA
Q: What is the decent score required on the ACT test to get a good university in the USA?
The definition of a good ACT score varies from university to country. However, to get into the top 100 universities, you must aim for a score higher than 31 on the ACT.
Q: Why choose Snead State Community College for B.Tech in USA rather than University of Toledo?
Snead State Community College is a better option for acquiring your B.Tech than the University of Toledo because here you can find a better selection of engineering, computer science, and information technology degrees and courses, along with a strong emphasis on hands-on learning and practical skills. Furthermore, Snead State Community College has lower tuition costs than the University of Toledo, with an average annual cost of living of $7,877 or 7,00,000 INR, while the University of Toledo's tuition and living costs are much higher.
Q: What is the maximum and minimum score in GRE to get admission for MS in USA?
GRE is a popular standardised test for getting admission in MS program in the world. However, there are many universities in the USA that offer admission to MS courses without GRE scores. There is fixed minimum or maximum GRE score for admission. However, even if your GRE score is below the average for a particular program, you may still be considered for admission if you have strong qualifications in other areas. It is adviseble to check university website for the exact information.
Q: Is it hard to get into the UTSA in San Antonio Texas?
According to various sources, University of Texas San Antonio has an overall acceptance rate of around 87% which makes it somewhat selective for international student admissions. Some of the general requirements to be considered for admission are given as follows:
- SAT/ACT scores
- Overall Student's GPA
- Letters of Recommendation
- High School Class Rank
- Additional Academic Records
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Statement of Purpose
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