lvy League schools have been ranked among the top institutions of higher education in the United States and the world. These eight private Northeastern schools have a reputation for being highly selective in admissions, for academic excellence, and for promising career opportunities for students who attend. Name recognition and social status are also a plus.

Ivy League schools were first grouped together by an athletic conference. They have been known for producing well-rounded student-athletes, future presidents, Nobel Prize winners, and other highly-achieving graduates. Ivy League schools include some of the most prestigious educational institutions, including well-respected professors and generous financial aid resources. Prospective students must submit extraordinary applications to be considered for admission to Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, and other prestigious universities.

You can check out the Ivy League school ranking based on U.S. News’ National University rankings. Compare these schools to determine the best match.

List of Ivy League Schools

Princeton University

(PRINCETON UNIVERSITY/OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS/DENISE APPLEWHITE)

Princeton University was established over 270 years ago and is the fourth oldest college in the nation. Princeton University is a world-renowned research university. Our National Universities Ranking ranks Princeton as No. 1. Princeton has many top-quality academic resources. These include specialized libraries, state-of-the-art laboratories, and even an art museum. The Princeton University Art Museum has nearly 100,000 works. Social sciences, engineering, computer and information sciences, supporting services, biomedical and biological sciences, public administration, and the social service professions are some of Princeton University's most popular majors. The university has a 4 to 1 student-faculty ratio which allows students to have small classes and one-on-1 advising. It also boasts one of the highest graduation rates for four-year students in the country. Princeton is home to Rhodes scholars as well as high-achieving students. It has also educated past presidents of the United States, Supreme Court justices, Olympic gold medalists, and Nobel Prize winners.

Harvard University

(HARVARD PUBLIC AFFAIRS & COMMUNICATIONS).

Harvard University was founded in 1636 and is the oldest college of higher education in America. It is also one of the most selective institutions in the Ivy League. The university ranks No. Our National Universities ranking ranks the university at No. 2. Harvard is a private research university with more than 100 research centers on campus. Harvard has 13 schools and institutes. These include the U.S. top-ranked medical school, highly ranked business, graduate, and engineering schools, and the John F. Kennedy School of Government. Harvard also boasts one of the highest rates for freshman retention in the country. More than 445 extracurricular, cocurricular, and athletic organizations are available to students in addition to academics. Harvard's vast library system contains the oldest national collection in the world and the largest private collection. Harvard is committed to sustainability and offers green living programs to undergraduates, graduate students, and members of the community.

Yale University

(MICHAEL MARSLAND / YALE UNIV.)

Yale University is well-known for its drama and music programs, which are offered by the highly-respected Yale School of Drama. Yale College and Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences are two of the university's 12 professional schools. These include the nation's top-ranked law school and highly ranked schools of management, medicine, art, and nursing. This research institution has made many breakthroughs in the field of undergraduate students, including patenting new species and discovering new species. Global learning opportunities are available to students, including international internships and directed study. Yale's most popular majors are engineering, history, mathematics, statistics, and social sciences. It is a university that has many firsts. For instance, Yale was the first American university to offer doctoral degrees. The Yale School of Public Health, for example, is the first of its type. The Whitney and Betty MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies, which focuses on teaching and research on international affairs, societies, and cultures, allows students to do research abroad.

University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania was founded in part by Benjamin Franklin. It offers both world-class liberal arts courses and preprofessional education. Penn is home to the largest number of international students among all Ivy League schools. 12% of undergraduate and graduate students come from over 100 countries. More than 2,500 students annually participate in international programs in over 50 countries. The Wharton School and the School of Engineering and Applied Science are Penn's top-ranked graduate schools. Other notable Penn graduate schools include the Stuart Weitzman School of Dental Medicine and the School of Dental Medicine. The School of Engineering and Applied Science boasts a distinguished faculty, state-of-the-art research labs, and interdisciplinary curricula. More than 300 student groups are available at Penn, including those involved in political action, performing arts, and student publications.

Dartmouth College

(LAURA DECAPUA PHOTOGRAPHY)

Dartmouth College was the home of BASIC, the first programming language. This led to many other innovations in computing. The college also includes the Tuck School of Business, which is highly ranked and houses the first global graduate school of management. Dartmouth was the first institution to actively recruit Native American students. It also has the highest number of Native American alumni of any Ivy League college. More than 50 institutes, centers, and groups are focused on research at Dartmouth in areas such as medicine, engineering, and business. Dartmouth has a 7:1 student-faculty ratio, and 60% of classes have fewer than 20 students. This allows students to learn in a small setting. For an immersive, global, and hands-on education that doesn't interrupt their academic plans, more than half of Dartmouth students enroll in off-campus programs. It is also No. The college is also ranked No..

Brown University

(JOHN ABRAMOWSKI/BROWN UNIVERSITY)

Brown University is a private research university that offers an open curriculum. This allows students to create a personalized course of study and become creative thinkers and intellectual risk-takers. The undergraduate program is open to all and includes rigorous multidisciplinary study in over 80 concentrations. These include cognitive neuroscience, egyptology, assyriology, business, entrepreneurship, and organizations. The highly competitive liberal medical education program allows students to earn both an undergraduate and a medical degree within a single, eight-year program. Six libraries are specialized in music and sciences. Brown University Library has more than 250 special collections. Each collection contains rare primary research materials. Students can choose from more than 500 clubs and organizations as undergraduates, while all students in their first year live on campus.

Cornell University

(CORNELL UNIVERSITY)

Cornell University was founded in 1865. It is the oldest Ivy League school. Their mission is to create and preserve knowledge and promote broad inquiry within and outside the Cornell community. Each of the seven Cornell undergraduate schools and colleges admits its students and has its own faculty. However, all Cornell University graduates receive a degree. The College of Arts and Sciences and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences are Cornell's largest undergraduate colleges. The Cornell SC Johnson College of Business is a highly-ranked college. Weill Cornell Medical College, College of Engineering, and Law School are all graduate schools. Cornell is also well-known for its highly-ranked College of Veterinary Medicine and prestigious School of Hotel Administration. Cornell has more than 100 study options and campuses in New York City, Ithaca, New York, Geneva, New York, Doha, Qatar, Washington, D.C., and Rome.

Columbia University

(VINCENT CASTILLO/COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY)

Columbia University, located on Manhattan's Upper West Side, is the oldest institution in higher education in New York. Columbia University is home to many important technologies and platforms. It includes FM radio, the nation's oldest literary magazine, and the first Black student advocacy organization on a multiracial campus. The university comprises three schools, Columbia College, Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the School of General Studies. The Teachers College, the Teachers College, and the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons are all highly-ranked professional and graduate schools. Columbia has one of the largest student populations in the country. In 1953, Columbia was the first university in the nation to admit 1,000 international students. Columbia University emphasizes teaching and research on global issues in order to foster cross-cultural academic relationships. Nine global centers are located at Columbia that offers opportunities for research, scholarship, and service in the world. There are 22 libraries on campus; over 200 research centers, laboratories, and institutes; thousands of internships through the Center for Career Education; as well as the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. Columbia offers housing guarantees for students for up to four years. More than 90% of Columbia undergraduates are able to live on campus. Many films have featured the campus, including "Spider-Man," which features scenes shot in Havemeyer Hall.