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Acceptance Rate Ranking
Non-Ivy League Schools
When it comes to higher education, the Ivy League schools rank as some of the best schools in the world. Each of these world-class institutions delivers excellent education and invaluable connections to some of the world’s top companies.
In this blog, we’ll rank the best Ivy League Schools, based on top-ranking systems.
Organizations and institutions rate Ivy League schools based on their own set of criteria. Determining the best Ivy League school is subjective because each school has strengths that set them apart from the others.
While Harvard, Princeton, and Yale tend to rank near the top of most lists, Brown, Penn, and Cornell may rank highest for a particular major or program. If students apply to an Ivy League school based solely on their general rankings, they may miss out on an even better opportunity at one of the lower-ranking Ivys or even a non-Ivy League school.
Keeping that in mind, here are the best Ivy League schools based on the top-ranking systems. US News Best National Universities, QS World, and THE rank universities based on set criteria. While the Ivy League schools typically rank in the top spots on all ranking systems, there are variations from one ranking system to another.
To determine the best Ivy League schools, we averaged each school’s rankings from each of these lists.
The best Ivy League school in 2024 is Harvard, followed by Princeton and Yale.
The only notable change in rankings compared to last year is Columbia dropping below Cornell.
Nevertheless, all Ivy League schools offer great education and you should research each of these universities to find out which one is best for you!
Ivies | Crimson Ranking | US News National | QS World Ranking | THE World Rankings |
---|---|---|---|---|
Harvard | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
Princeton | 2 | 1 | 17 | 6 |
Yale | 3 | 5 | 16 | 10 |
U Penn | 4 | 6 | 12 | 16 |
Cornell | 5 | 12 | 13 | 20 |
Columbia | 6 | 12 | 23 | 17 |
Brown | 7 | 9 | 73 | 64 |
Dartmouth | 8 | 18 | 237 | 161 |
Inside The Ivy League Ep. 1: Yale
Ivy League schools share many common characteristics. For example, they are all similar-sized private institutions located on the East Coast. When it's time to decide which colleges to apply to, the ranking systems are great places to start your research.
While these lists give you basic information about the institutions and where the school ranks based on specific criteria, choosing a school should also be based on other factors:
Based on our research, here are Crimson's top-rated Ivys based on some of the most popular searched criteria:
It's also important to think about campus culture when deciding which is the best Ivy League for you. Each school has a unique history and reputation, and each Ivy is also known for attracting certain types of students. Researching, visiting the campus, and talking to students can help you decide the best Ivy League school for you.
It’s difficult to get into any of the Ivy League schools, and the best Ivy League schools (based on the various ranking systems) tend to have the lowest acceptance rates.
Our free college admissions calculator can help determine which Ivy League’s are within your reach. If you’re curious which Ivy’s have the highest and lowest acceptance rates, here are the most recent numbers.
Ivys | Class of 2025 | Class of 2026 | Class of 2027 | Class of 2028 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Penn | 5.68% | 4.4% | 4.1% | 5.4% (Projected) |
Dartmouth | 6.17% | 6.2% | 6% | 5.3% |
Brown | 5.40% | 5% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
Columbia | 3.66% | 3.73% | 3.9% | 3.8% |
Yale | 4.62% | 4.46% | 4.35% | 3.7% |
Harvard | 3.43% | 3.19% | 3.4% | 3.6% |
Princeton | 3.98% | ~4% | 5.8% | TBA |
Cornell | ~8.52% | ~8% | Withheld | Withheld |
Believe it or not, the Ivy League might not be the best place for you! If you don't like cold weather, you may want to consider a prestigious university like Stanford. It’s located in a much warmer climate.
Many top-ranked non-Ivy universities also offer specialized programs not available at an Ivy League school. Research will help you determine if an Ivy League provides the programs and opportunities you need to land your dream job.
Also, consider Ivy League acceptance rates, and don't forget to apply to a few schools that fall into your target and safety ranges.
If you dream about attending the best Ivy League school, look for the one that fits you the best. It doesn’t have to be the school the “lists” rank number one as long as it’s number one for your educational needs.
You can increase your chances of getting in by applying early and ensuring your passions and extracurriculars align with the school’s mission, research, and programs.
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