When people talk about universities in America, they often mention the Ivy League. This group of institutions is so prestigious that its name is sometimes interpreted as shorthand for the best universities in the USA. However, the truth is more complicated. To help you understand it, we explore what the Ivy League is, what universities are part of it, and where they rank globally.
When was the Ivy League founded?
The Ivy League was established in 1954, around twenty years after its name was first used as an informal way to describe its member universities. Upon joining, each one agreed not to give scholarships to athletes who did not meet the same high academic standards they placed on other students. They felt that this would bring fairness to their college sports division.
Why is the Ivy League 'ivy'?
The reason why ivy was chosen as a motif isn’t clear, but there are a few possibilities. The most well-founded theory is that its use can be traced back to traditions that began in the middle of the 19th century.
One of these, known as "planting the ivy", involved graduating students placing the climbing plant on the outside wall of a campus building. They would sometimes also add a stone engraved with their year of graduation, and gather to listen to a speech by a fellow student. At some universities, this would happen during a ceremony known as Ivy Day.
Want to know more about US culture? Read our guide to the types of American accent.
Which universities are members of the Ivy League?
The following institutions make up the Ivy League:
- Brown University
- Columbia University
- Cornell University
- Dartmouth College
- Harvard University
- Princeton University
- University of Pennsylvania
- Yale University
These eight universities have always been the only official members of the group.
Find out where the Ivy League institutions fit into the top universities in the USA.
What is special about the history of Ivy League universities?
An interesting characteristic of Ivy League universities is that all apart from Cornell were established before the American Revolution of 1775-1783. Their long and rich history is one of the reasons why they remain so prestigious. In the USA, where centuries-old universities are less common than in some other parts of the world, it is highly valued.
You will find each Ivy League institution in the same region of America. Learn all about this area from our Northeast USA guide.
What are the current rankings of Ivy League universities?
You probably won’t be surprised that the Ivy League institutions occupy high positions in university rankings. In the 2024 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, three of the top 10 and six of the top twenty universities in the world were from the Ivy League. These are:
- Harvard University (4th)
- Princeton University (6th)
- Yale University (10th)
- University of Pennsylvania (16th)
- Columbia University (17th)
- Cornell University (20th)
Ivy League universities find similar success in the QS World University Rankings 2025. There, the same six institutions appear in the top 35 globally:
- Harvard University (4th)
- University of Pennsylvania (11th)
- Cornell University (16th)
- Princeton University (22nd)
- Yale University (23rd)
- Columbia University (34th)
Are Ivy League universities the best in the USA?
While their reputation is very strong, it is not fair to say that the Ivy League universities are the best in America. The country has many other world-class universities that do not belong to the group. Notably, it is outperformed on the QS and Times Higher Education rankings by two of these institutions.
According to QS, Massachusetts University of Technology (MIT) is the number one university in the world. Times Higher Education has it in third place, directly behind Stanford University. Both of these institutions are held in extremely high esteem, regardless of being outside the Ivy League.
Explore this topic further with our guide to the best postgraduate institutions in the USA.
What are the entry requirements for Ivy League universities?
As you may imagine, Ivy League universities have high entry requirements for all students. To gain admission, you will need to demonstrate very strong academic skills and exam results. In general, universities look for SAT scores above 1,400 and ACT scores above 31. Where required, your GPA may also need to be around 4.0 or higher.
Ivy League acceptance rates reflect just how high the bar is set. In 2024, Harvard received more than 54,000 applications, of which only 3.6 per cent were successful. This amounts to fewer than 2,000 students. The overall admission rate at Ivy League universities is below six per cent.
Don’t let this discourage you. If you’re a high academic achiever and have ambitions to attend one of these universities in the USA, you should go for it. Make sure to do your research early and polish your application to perfection. One day, you could be among the Ivy League's many famous alumni – including numerous US presidents and international Nobel Prize winners.
Now that you know more about what the Ivy League is, why not learn how to apply to study in the USA? We can also tell you lots about what the USA offers international students and give you all the latest international student news.
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