What exactly are the Little Ivies?

The "Little Ivies" are an informal group of prestigious, small, private liberal arts colleges in the Northeastern U.S., known for academic rigor, highly selective admissions, and strong endowments, similar to the Ivy League but in a more intimate, undergraduate-focused setting. These schools offer close faculty-student relationships, seminar-style classes, and a high-quality liberal arts education, with common examples including Amherst, Williams, Swarthmore, and Bowdoin, often sharing membership in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC).

What schools are considered the Little Ivies?

List of Little Ivies

• Amherst College.
• Bates College.
• Bowdoin College.
• Bucknell University.
• Colby College.
• Colgate University.
• Connecticut College.
• Hamilton College.

Why are they called Little Ivies?

The Little Ivies are a group of universities in the northeastern US. Similar to the Ivy League, they're academically competitive and have an excellent reputation. They're also known for having a smaller student body — and that's where the term “Little Ivies” comes from.

Which little ivy is easiest to get into?

The "easiest" Little Ivy to get into depends on your definition, but schools like Union College, Lafayette College, and Connecticut College generally have higher acceptance rates (around 40-50% or more) compared to highly selective ones like Williams or Amherst (often 7-10%), making them more accessible target schools for strong applicants. However, all Little Ivies are selective, so "easiest" is relative; look for schools with acceptance rates above 20-30% if you're aiming for the less exclusive end.
 

What exactly are the "New Ivies"?

Our New Ivies List

• Rice University. Location: Houston, Texas. ...
• Vanderbilt University. Location: Nashville, Tennessee. ...
• University of Notre Dame. Location: South Bend, Indiana. ...
• University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. ...
• Georgetown University. ...
• Carnegie Mellon University. ...
• University of Virginia. ...
• Washington University in St.

Insider's Guide to the Little Ivies: Pros, Cons, and Key Differences Between Them

Are the Little Ivies prestigious?

The Little Ivies are a group of small, prestigious liberal arts colleges that offer exceptional academics. Though they don't quite have the prestige of the Ivy League, the Little Ivies are among the best – and most selective – in the country.

Why is MIT not an ivy?

MIT isn't an Ivy League school because the Ivy League is defined by its athletic conference (NCAA Division I, no athletic scholarships) and geographical location in the Northeast, not just academic prestige; MIT is a Division III school, focused more on science/tech, and not part of that specific athletic league, even though it rivals the Ivies academically.
 

Where do top 1% send kids to college?

The "top 1%" of students, referring to those from the highest income brackets, tend to attend elite universities like MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, and Yale that consistently rank high in national and global lists, with some even having more students from the top 1% income bracket than the bottom 60% combined, according to The New York Times data. Top-ranked institutions like MIT, Princeton, Harvard, and Stanford are frequent top contenders in various 2026 rankings from U.S. News & World Report and Times Higher Education. 

What is the cheapest Ivy to attend?

There's no single "cheapest" Ivy League as costs vary greatly with financial aid, but Harvard, Princeton, and Yale often lead in generous aid, potentially making them free for lower/middle-income families, while Cornell, Dartmouth, Brown, Penn, and Columbia also offer significant assistance, though listed sticker prices can seem high. The true cost depends on your family's income, as top Ivies now meet full need, replacing loans with grants, making them affordable for many, notes Mastersportal and Bestcolleges.com,. 

What's harder to get into, Brown or Cornell?

If you're looking at acceptance rate alone, then Brown University is more difficult to get into. However, each college is looking to fill its incoming class with a variety of students with different strengths, backgrounds, etc.

What are the 63 hidden Ivies?

The 63 "Hidden Ivies" are a list of excellent, selective colleges outside the traditional Ivy League, known for strong academics, often with liberal arts focuses, broken down into Northeast (37), South (12), Midwest (11), and West (3) regions, including schools like Amherst, Williams, Carleton, Duke, Emory, Stanford, Pomona, and UChicago, offering Ivy-level education without the traditional Ivy League name. 

Why is Stanford not an Ivy school?

Stanford isn't an Ivy League school because the Ivy League is a specific East Coast athletic conference formed in 1954, requiring members to adhere to strict athletic regulations, including no athletic scholarships, which Stanford doesn't follow, and it's geographically distant, making sports logistics impractical. While academically on par with or surpassing Ivies, Stanford is a West Coast institution that chose its own path, often considered part of the elite "Pac-12" or a standalone powerhouse. 

Is NYU or USC more prestigious?

In terms of academic rigor, both NYU and USC are highly respected universities known for maintaining a high standard of education. Notably, they both have strong programs in various areas, but you may want to consider what exactly you're planning to major in.

Why is Oxford not an Ivy League?

The term "Ivy League" is specific to the US. In the UK, there isn't an equivalent term, but universities like Oxford and Cambridge are highly prestigious.

What is the #1 hardest school to get into?

There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as it changes slightly by year and criteria, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the top with extremely low acceptance rates (often 3-4%) and intense competition for spots, though other top global universities like Oxford and Tsinghua are also incredibly selective. Harvard is frequently cited as the hardest due to its high volume of applications and focus on global leadership potential, while Caltech is known for its extreme difficulty in STEM. 

How do middle class families afford Ivy League schools?

To pay for college, middle-class families can rely on cash savings, scholarships, grants, federal student loans, and private student loans.

What's the hardest ivy to get into?

Harvard University is consistently ranked as the hardest Ivy League to get into, often having the lowest acceptance rate (around 3.6% for the Class of 2028) due to immense global competition, followed closely by Columbia University and Princeton University, with all Ivies generally showing extremely low acceptance rates under 5-6%. 

What is the easiest public ivy to get into?

The "easiest" Public Ivy to get into depends on your state residency and intended major, but generally, schools like University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), University of Maryland (College Park), Binghamton (SUNY), and University of Wisconsin-Madison often have higher acceptance rates than others like UCLA or UMich, though specific programs (like Engineering at UIUC or Business at UW-Madison) remain highly competitive; University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) also offers automatic admission for top state students. 

Where do billionaire kids go to school?

Billionaires send their children to elite private schools, both day and boarding, like Choate Rosemary Hall, Phillips Academy Andover, and The Lawrenceville School, often referred to as "Ivy League pipelines," as well as prestigious international schools like Institut Le Rosey in Switzerland, for strong academics and connections, with some also choosing top public schools for better college admission odds. Top universities like Harvard, Stanford, and Yale remain popular choices for higher education.
 

Which college is in rank 1 in Canada?

The University of Toronto remains the highest-ranked Canadian institution, consistently recognised for its research impact and academic excellence.

What might a $300,000 college cost a $200,000 family?

A $200,000 income family might pay anywhere from $20,000 to over $40,000 annually for a $300,000 (total) college, depending heavily on the school's financial aid policies (needs-based vs. merit-based), the CSS Profile vs. FAFSA, and if the school uses home equity, but many selective schools offer substantial aid, reducing the cost significantly below sticker price. Expect aid to be around 10-25% of the total cost, with specific contributions varying by institution. 

How much does 4 years at MIT cost?

For 2025-2026, the sticker price for four years at MIT is around $340,000-$360,000 (including tuition, fees, room, and board), but most families pay significantly less due to generous need-based aid, with the median aid recipient paying about $10,000-$13,000 annually, and many graduating debt-free. MIT's financial aid covers 100% of demonstrated need for all four years, making it affordable for many students regardless of family income, with some middle-class families paying very little. 

What is the smartest Ivy League?

Princeton University

A world-renowned research university, Princeton is No. 1 in our National Universities ranking. Princeton offers first-rate academic resources, from specialized libraries to state-of-the-art laboratories and even an art museum on campus.

Who is Yale's rival?

Yale's top 23 competitors are Stanford University, Princeton, Brown University, UCLA, University of Michigan, NYU, UW, Washington University, Vanderbilt University, UT, Indiana Wesleyan University, Dartmouth College, Cornell University, University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, Concordia University Irvine, ...