Ivy League College Admission Summary

The following table lists the eight U.S. universities that comprise the 'Ivy League' – a small group of private universities that enjoy a reputation for providing excellent education, and attract top students.

It is interesting to note that the term 'ivy league' is said to have originally referred not to academics but to sports. The original Ivy League brought together not minds, but football teams. That said, these eight universities have some educational and institutional traits in common beyond their athletics programs. All are long-established, private universities; all are in the Northeastern U.S.; all benefit from sizeable endowments and generous alumni financial support; all are highly selective – and all are very expensive.

Is an Ivy League school right for you? If so, which one? That's a question only you will be able to answer. Factors to consider are the differences among Ivy League members (some are located in large cities, and some in small towns; some have total enrollment numbering 20,000 or more, and some are much smaller). A more important factor is what you want to get out of your college education. Although Ivy League schools generally deserve their good reputations, some of their programs are stronger than others. If you're interested in engineering, for example, you probably want to look beyond the eight universities listed below. Only a few Ivy League schools have top-rated engineering programs – and (like any school of engineering) they are stronger in some areas of engineering education than others.

* Figures are for the Fall 2007 entering class unless otherwise noted.

** Figures reflect scores for the SAT Math and Critical Reading sections only. Add 700 to each number to estimate the score range on the 2400 point scale.

*** Harvard and Princeton ended their early admissions programs after the 2006-2007 application season. 2007-2008 and later applicants will only be able to apply under the regular deadline.

Keep in mind that the qualities that make for a good education are not limited to the Ivy League. You can look for (and find) features like a low student-to-faculty ratio, high teaching standards, and strong research support at other universities as well. Moreover, non-Ivy League schools might offer things that are important to you and that you could not find at the eight universities listed below – for example, a climate that doesn't include ice and snow.

An Ivy League education has undeniable benefits. A degree from an Ivy League school will always draw attention to your resume, and you'll have entry to a valuable alumni network. You'll also receive instruction and mentoring that can help position you for competitive graduate programs and prestigious awards like the Rhodes Scholarships. But Ivy League educations come at a price – both in the tuition you pay, and in anxiety over the schools' highly competitive admissions. If an Ivy League university is the right choice for you, you'll be happy to pay that price. But even in that case, you will probably be more comfortable with having made that decision if you first go through the process of considering other options as well.

Class of 2011 early application (early action and early decision) data

Class of 2010 early application (early action and early decision) data

Class of 2009 early application (early action and early decision) data

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