What are Ivy League Schools in USA? - A Complete Guide

The term “Ivy League” comes up often when discussing the best universities in the US. Rather than just the US, this term defines the best quality academics worldwide. 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 all Ivy League schools in the 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 which 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.

At present, the athletic connotation has lost its hold over the definition of Ivy League, and academic excellence has taken over. 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 to these universities if they want to study abroad. Let us take a closer look at the application process for US Universities.

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List of Ivy League Schools in USA

After understanding what is Ivy League, and what is the hype around it? Here is the list of 8 top Ivy League Schools that belong to the Ivy League. 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. These Ivy Leagues are both prestigious and the hardest universities in US to get into because of their low acceptance rates. 

List of Top Ranking Ivy League Schools in USA 2025-26

The 8 Ivy League schools or universities ranked as per QS World University Ranking 2026, and Times Higher Education 2025 ranking for a better understanding of each university and how they fare in the global education map. Check out Ivy League QS ranking and THE ranking for 2025-26 below:

Ivy League QS ranking records seven Ivy Leagues in the top 100, and the same is true for THE rankings. However, please note that the rankings are subject to change each year and are usually inconsistent. 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.

1. 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

2. Columbia University

Like all the Ivy League schools, Columbia has an important pedigree of research and instruction. It is in upper Manhattan, New York, 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

3. 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 among the top five research universities in the United States and the top research universities worldwide. 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

4. 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 League 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 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: USD 49,500

5. Princeton University

Princeton is a popular Ivy League university offering undergraduate and graduate humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering courses. It does not have schools of medicine, law, divinity, education, or 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: USD 60,410

6. 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: USD 68,380 | PG: USD 29,500 - USD 105,500

7. 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, which allows students to craft and figure out their study plans. Brown University focuses more on undergraduate courses than other universities, which prefer to focus 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: USD 82,762 | PG: USD 25,000 - USD 75,500

8. 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: USD 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 worldwide. No matter which field you choose, the top universities in the USA will be on that list. So, be it a bachelor's, master's or even a doctorate, students start with the lengthy application process when the admissions open. If you plan 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, your passport should be valid until 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, you would need the results of classes 9, 10, and 11. If you are applying for PG courses, you will also need the mark sheets or your bachelor's degree (all-year and cumulative scores will 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 if you still intend to write your SATs/ ACTs for your undergraduate or GMAT/GRE for graduation studies, it is always advisable to have your score ready before you start your application process. You might have to share the reference number of your scorecard with the University. 

Also Read:

• Options to Study in USA after XII
• Top 10 SAT Accepting Colleges in USA

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. The University uses this information to determine your eligibility (sometimes for a scholarship) and the ability to afford the education. So, you need to have all the relevant information, like Tax Returns, etc., handy and 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.