What Are Ivy League Schools and Ivy Equivalents?

Most students are aware of the Ivy League, even if they aren’t entirely sure which schools qualify. Generally, Ivy League institutions have an air of prestige simply by their association with the concept, as they’re broadly considered some of the most elite and selective colleges and universities in the nation. As a result, going to an Ivy League school is often quite appealing to students.

If your student wants to attend an Ivy League school or an Ivy equivalent, scholarships can make it much more affordable. If you and your student want to learn about college scholarships, sign up for our free college scholarship webinar! Take a quick trip over to http://thescholarshipsystem.com/freewebinar to reserve a spot today.

However, before students launch their college search, it’s helpful to understand what Ivy League schools are and whether attending one comes with any unique benefits. Additionally, students should explore Ivy equivalents, as they often offer exceptional educational experiences. If your student is curious about the Ivy League, here’s what they need to know.

What Is the Ivy League?

Table of Contents

The Ivy League is a set of eight private colleges and universities, all of which are located in the Northeastern part of the United States. Generally, they’re collectively considered to be highly prestigious, as they have a long-standing reputation for academic excellence. Plus, they’re recognized for having highly selective admissions processes.

Ivy League institutions are also some of the oldest schools in the nation. They often attract highly respected professors, conduct cutting-edge research, and produce high-achieving graduates. Finally, Ivy League schools can come with opportunities to make exceptional social or career connections, particularly since many students and alumni achieve great success.

Why Is It Called Ivy League?

The term “Ivy League” was originally a reference to an athletic conference that brought together the eight universities that are still referred to as the Ivy League. The reason that “ivy” was chosen as part of the description is that many of these schools had ivy planted on their campuses. During the 1800s, classes would often plant Ivy near campus buildings during the spring, so the act of planting the ivy turned into a tradition.

Due to the age of many of the schools, ivy was clearly visible along various building walls, making the name feel apt. Today, there are still ivy-covered surfaces at these institutions, so the name remains as appropriate now as it was when it was coined.

What Is the Most Prestigious Ivy League School?

Generally, Harvard is considered the most prestigious Ivy League school. It’s the oldest higher educational institution in the nation. Plus, it’s the most selective when it comes to admissions. It’s also known for exceptional academics, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a school with more name recognition than Harvard.

What Are the Eight Ivy League Schools?

In total, there are eight Ivy League schools. Here is a list of the colleges and universities that are part of the Ivy League:

Brown University
Columbia University
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Harvard University
Princeton University
University of Pennsylvania
Yale University

Is The Ivy League Still Relevant Today?

Many students wonder if the Ivy League remains relevant, particularly in a landscape with so many colleges and universities with strong reputations. While it’s undeniably possible to find an exceptional academic program at a variety of other schools, there are some advantages to attending (and graduating from) an Ivy League institution.

Ivy League universities are classically known for offering some of the highest quality educational experiences around, and they commonly rank among the best colleges on nearly any list. Additionally, students who graduate from them are potentially seen as more employable in their fields. Name recognition plays a factor when credentials are reviewed by recruiters or hiring managers, and few school names are as well known as those associated with the Ivy League.

On average, an Ivy League education is also associated with higher earning potential when compared to other four-year institutions. Plus, alumni are typically highly supportive of their associated school, and that helps the college and university secure more funding and different types of support.

Due to their prestige, Ivy League schools are also known for attracting some of the best professors in their respective fields. There are also more opportunities to participate in intriguing research, and many facilities are better equipped at Ivy League universities than in some non-Ivy counterparts.

However, that doesn’t mean an Ivy League education is the best fit for every student. Similarly, there is a slew of other schools with excellent reputations. As a result, not going to an Ivy League university doesn’t mean career success isn’t possible, so students should keep that in mind.

Other Ivies: What Are the Ivy League Equivalent Schools?

What Are the Public Ivies?

Ivy League universities are all private institutions, so they don’t receive any public (or government) funding to operate. Public Ivies are schools that offer an Ivy League-style educational experience through a public institution instead of a private one. Often, they include long-standing institutions with reputations for academic excellence that happen to rely on public funding.

Many schools are classically considered Public Ivies. Here is a list of the colleges that are generally considered Public Ivies:

Binghamton University
Indiana University-Bloomington
Miami University
Michigan State University
Ohio State University
Pennsylvania State University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
University of Arizona
University of California-Berkeley
University of California-Davis
University of California-Irvine
University of California-Los Angeles
University of California-San Diego
University of California-Santa Barbara
University of Colorado-Boulder
University of Connecticut
University of Delaware
University of Florida
University of Georgia
University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign
University of Iowa
University of Maryland-College Park
University of Michigan
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
University of Texas-Austin
University of Virginia
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin-Madison
William & Mary

As public institutions, Public Ivies are usually larger than Ivy League schools. Additionally, tuition rates are typically lower at Public Ivies, though endowments are generally smaller.

What Are the Little Ivies?

Little Ivies are a set of liberal arts colleges known for an Ivy League-like experience, including strong academics and highly selective admissions processes. They include every school in the New England Small College Athletic Conference, as well as some other elite liberal arts schools.

Here is a list of Little Ivies:

Amherst College
Bates College
Bowdoin College
Colby College
Connecticut College
Hamilton College
Haverford College
Lafayette College
Middlebury College
Swarthmore College
Trinity College
Tufts University
Vassar College
Wesleyan University
Williams College

As smaller liberal arts colleges, the student bodies at Little Ivies have fewer students than you find at Public Ivies. They also focus heavily on undergraduate education, while Ivy League schools and Public Ivies often have graduate programs.

It’s also critical to note that Little Ivies are sometimes referred to as Baby Ivies. However, using Baby Ivies isn’t as popular since that phrase is also used to describe elite preschools or K-12 schools that help students increase their odds of getting accepted at an Ivy League institution.

What Are the Hidden Ivy Schools?

Hidden Ivies consist of highly selective schools that offer top-quality educational experiences. The category includes a variety of institutions, ranging from small institutions to massive universities.

Generally, the Little Ivies are included on Hidden Ivy schools lists, as well as some additional institutions. Here’s a list of what many consider the Hidden Ivies:

Amherst College
Barnard College
Bates College
Boston College
Bowdoin College
Brandeis University
Bryn Mawr College
Bucknell University
Carleton College
Case Western Reserve University
Claremont McKenna College
Colby College
Colgate University
College of the Holy Cross
Colorado College
Davidson College
Denison University
Dickinson College
Duke University
Emory University
Fordham University
Franklin and Marshall College
Georgetown University
Grinnell College
Hamilton College
Haverford College
Johns Hopkins University
Kenyon College
Lafayette College
Lehigh University
Macalester College
Middlebury College
Mount Holyoke College
Northwestern University
Oberlin College
Pomona College
Reed College
Rice University
Skidmore College
Smith College
Southern Methodist University
Stanford University
Swarthmore College
Trinity College
Tufts University
Tulane University
Union College
University of Chicago
University of Notre Dame
University of Richmond
University of Rochester
University of Southern California
University of the South
Vanderbilt University
Vassar College
Villanova University
Wake Forest University
Washington and Lee University
Washington University in St. Louis
Wellesley College
Wesleyan University
Williams College

What Are the New Ivy League Schools?

New Ivies is a relatively recent concept, and it focuses on schools that have exceptional academic experiences and highly talented faculty members but don’t typically secure the same endowments that genuine Ivy League colleges receive. New Ivies also aren’t limited to New England, and the schools include a mix of private and public institutions.

Here is a list of the New Ivy League schools:

Boston College
Bowdoin College
Carnegie Mellon University
Colby College
Colgate University
Davidson College
Emory University
Harvey Mudd College
Kenyon College
Macalester College
New York University
Olin College of Engineering
Pomona College
Reed College
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rice University
Skidmore College
Tufts University
University of California-Los Angeles
University of Michigan
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
University of Notre Dame
University of Rochester
University of Virginia
Vanderbilt University
Washington University-St. Louis

If you and your student want to learn about college scholarships, sign up for our free college scholarship webinar! Take a quick trip over to http://thescholarshipsystem.com/freewebinar to reserve a spot today.

The post What Are Ivy League Schools and Ivy Equivalents? appeared first on The Scholarship System.

Source link