The Full Hidden Ivies List: What They Are and How To Get In
Summary
The Hidden Ivies are 63 top-tier U.S. colleges recognized for offering an Ivy League–level education and experience, despite not being part of the official Ivy League. Popularized by the Greenes' book The Hidden Ivies, these schools are known for their strong liberal arts focus, holistic student development, low student-faculty ratios, rich campus resources, and strong post-graduation outcomes. While they vary in selectivity, applying to Hidden Ivies requires a strategic, well-rounded approach to stand out in a competitive pool.
List of Hidden Ivies
| University | Region |
|---|---|
| Amherst College | Northeast |
| Barnard College | Northeast |
| Bates College | Northeast |
| Boston College | Northeast |
| Bowdoin College | Northeast |
| Brandeis University | Northeast |
| Bryn Mawr College | Northeast |
| Bucknell University | Northeast |
| Colby College | Northeast |
| Colgate University | Northeast |
| College of the Holy Cross | Northeast |
| Connecticut College | Northeast |
| Dickinson College | Northeast |
| Fordham University | Northeast |
| Franklin & Marshall College | Northeast |
| Hamilton College | Northeast |
| Haverford College | Northeast |
| Johns Hopkins University | Northeast |
| Lafayette College | Northeast |
| Lehigh University | Northeast |
| Middlebury College | Northeast |
| Mount Holyoke College | Northeast |
| Skidmore College | Northeast |
| Smith College | Northeast |
| Swarthmore College | Northeast |
| Trinity College | Northeast |
| Tufts University | Northeast |
| Union College | Northeast |
| University of Rochester | Northeast |
| Vassar College | Northeast |
| Villanova University | Northeast |
| Wellesley College | Northeast |
| Wesleyan University | Northeast |
| Williams College | Northeast |
| Davidson College | South |
| Duke University | South |
| Emory University | South |
| Georgetown University | South |
| Rice University | South |
| Sewanee: The University of the South | South |
| Southern Methodist University | South |
| Tulane University | South |
| University of Richmond | South |
| Vanderbilt University | South |
| Wake Forest University | South |
| Washington and Lee University | South |
| Carleton College | Midwest |
| Case Western Reserve University | Midwest |
| Denison University | Midwest |
| Grinnell College | Midwest |
| Kenyon College | Midwest |
| Macalester College | Midwest |
| Northwestern University | Midwest |
| Oberlin College | Midwest |
| University of Chicago | Midwest |
| University of Notre Dame | Midwest |
| Washington University in St. Louis | Midwest |
| Claremont McKenna College | West |
| Colorado College | West |
| Pomona College | West |
| Reed College | West |
| Stanford University | West |
| University of Southern California | West |
What Sets Them Apart?
While The Hidden Ivies are as diverse as they are numerous, it should be reassuring to realize that these schools also have key qualities that set them apart. In The Hidden Ivies, the authors based their list on several factors that they found prevalent across these diverse institutions. Here are the criteria they based their list on:
1. High-Quality Liberal Arts Education
All Hidden Ivies have a unique focus on liberal arts education. They encourage students to explore different fields within the liberal arts – humanities, sciences, social sciences, arts, and more!
The authors argued that a liberal arts education provides a foundation for lifelong learning and leadership — essential skills for success.
2. Holistic Development for Students
The Greenes emphasize that Hidden Ivies try to provide holistic education to help develop students as well-rounded individuals. The Hidden Ivies promote intellectual growth alongside social, emotional, and ethical growth.
These colleges assert that students are likely to cultivate critical skills like cooperation, leadership, and mentoring.
These schools also encourage an appreciation for diversity – the idea is that intelligence, combined with character and ethics, leads to meaningful contributions to society.
3. Class Size and Student-Faculty Ratio
Generally, intimate settings can help foster deeper learning, stronger faculty-student relationships, and more importantly, easier accessibility to faculty.
The Hidden Ivies have a few things in common that lead to higher faculty accessibility: the ratio of students to faculty, the percentage of full-time professors, and the presence of faculty with diverse academic and cultural backgrounds.
Because of these factors, students receive personalized attention and guidance from their professors — professors that are both accomplished scholars and dedicated mentors.
4. Campus Resources
Resources can make all the difference in having a balanced college experience.
By resources, we mean endowments, library quality, research facilities, technological sophistication, and other aspects that the authors assessed when making their list.
The Hidden Ivies are always excellent when it comes to resources. And not just academic/research ones, they have great resources in residential life, athletics, arts, and extracurricular opportunities.
5. Post-Graduation Outcomes
Like the Ivy League, The Hidden Ivies have grown to have a certain reputation that you’ll benefit from as a graduate — especially when it comes to job search.
The authors examined metrics like alumni achievements in careers or graduate studies, as well as the strength of the alumni network (the Ivy League’s alumni network makes a huge difference, for example).
The Hidden Ivies often offer excellent career services, internships, and networking opportunities that pave the way for a successful career start.
The return on investment of attending a Hidden Ivy is obvious when it comes to long-term professional and personal success.
Tips for Applying to Hidden Ivy Universities
1. Excel in Standardized Tests
Excelling in standardized tests, such as the SAT or ACT, plays a crucial role in the application process for Hidden Ivy universities.
These schools receive applications from so many highly qualified candidates, and strong test scores can help set you apart from the competition by showing your academic aptitude,
2. Apply Early
Applying early to Hidden Ivy universities can be a strategic move in the admissions process, demonstrating your strong interest in and commitment to the institution.
By submitting your application through Early Decision (binding) or Early Action (non-binding) programs, you signal to the admissions committee that the university is one of your top choices.
Applying early can also give you a slight advantage in the admissions process, as acceptance rates during these rounds are often higher than in Regular Decision.
3. Obtain Strong Letters of Recommendation
Getting a recommendation letter is an important step in the application process for Hidden Ivy universities, and these endorsements provide valuable insights into your character, work ethic, and potential to thrive in a demanding academic environment.
Admissions committees rely on these letters to better understand your personal qualities and achievements that may not be fully reflected in your grades or test scores.
4. Showcase Your Extracurricular Activities
Showcasing your extracurricular activities is essential when applying to Hidden Ivy universities, as these institutions seek well-rounded individuals who can make meaningful contributions to their campus communities.
These activities also provide evidence of your leadership skills, teamwork, creativity, and commitment to positively impacting the world around you.
5. Research Thoroughly
Thorough research is a critical aspect of applying to Hidden Ivy universities, as it enables you to make informed decisions about which institutions best align with your academic and personal goals.
Admissions committees at Hidden Ivy universities appreciate applicants who have taken the time to understand their values, mission, and offerings and can articulate how they will contribute to and benefit from the university's community.
Getting Accepted Into a Hidden Ivy
While The Hidden Ivies are competitive, they present refreshing alternatives to the "real" Ivies — offering incredible variety in terms of size, curriculum strengths, and geographic options, not to mention an escape from the daunting acceptance rates at schools like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton.
That said, it's important to realize that several of The Hidden Ivies may have admit rates just as restrictive as those at the real Ivies. Others, may offer better chances for admission, but can still be quite competitive.
The bottom line is that exploring and pursuing admissions to some of these hidden gems can be a really smart move, but you'll still want to take a disciplined approach to your application strategy and process, rather than leave anything to chance.
If you want to boost your odds, our expert strategists can help. Students working with Crimson are 7x more likely to gain admission to their dream university, thanks to our team approach and highly personalized support. Reach out today for feedback on your next steps and see for yourself what it's like to have a Crimson strategist in your corner!
