The Public Ivies, Little Ivies, and Other Ivy League Equivalents

For decades, Ivy League colleges, including Harvard, Princeton, Yale, and others, have been considered the pinnacle of higher education in the U.S. However, they aren’t the only institutions that can provide students with an exceptional education, unique research opportunities, and valuable networking connections.

Several Ivy League equivalent schools are available in the U.S., including “Public Ivies,” “Little Ivies,” “New Ivies,” and more. These colleges and universities offer an Ivy League-caliber education while being more affordable, less selective, and more geographically accessible.

What Is the Ivy League?

The Ivy League is an athletic conference of eight higher education institutions in the Northeast widely considered the most prestigious and selective in the U.S. The Ivy League consists of Brown University (Rhode Island), Columbia University (New York), Cornell University (New York), Dartmouth College (New Hampshire), Harvard University (Massachusetts), Princeton University (New Jersey), University of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania), and Yale University (Connecticut).

Except for Cornell University, all Ivy League schools were founded during the colonial period, with Harvard University being the oldest institution of higher learning in the U.S. The term “Ivy League” was used as early as the 1930s in reference to a tradition among several member institutions of planting ivy on campus in the spring. The nickname was officially adopted when the athletic conference was established in 1954.

All Ivy League institutions are private universities known for highly selective admissions, expert faculty, innovative research, notable alumni (including presidents, entrepreneurs, and artists), and professional and social prestige.

Ivy League Institutions

Public Ivies

The Public Ivies are public universities offering an Ivy League-caliber education in a public institution.

One key difference between private Ivy League schools and Public Ivies is price. Public schools in the U.S. receive funding from state and federal governments to help make them more affordable and accessible for students.

These schools typically offer a lower tuition rate to students who reside in the state where the school is located. For example, annual undergraduate tuition at Penn State University is $20,644 for in-state students and $41,790 for out-of-state students. Comparatively, undergraduate tuition at Columbia University is $71,170. However, financial aid packages may be smaller, and scholarship opportunities may be more limited at public institutions.

Because public universities are designed to serve a broad student population, Public Ivies tend to have a larger student body than private Ivy League schools. Although they may be less selective than Ivy League schools, many of the Public Ivies on our list have acceptance rates of around 15% to 30%. Unlike the Ivy League schools, which are all clustered in the Northeast, Public Ivies can be found throughout the U.S., allowing students to get an exceptional education closer to home.

Public Ivy Institutions

Ivy Plus

Ivy Plus schools are private institutions considered Ivy League schools without being part of the original eight. They are known for being highly selective and consistently ranked as some of the highest-quality degree-granting institutions in the U.S.

These institutions are more spread out than the Ivy League schools, with several located in the Midwest and Southeast. All Ivy Plus schools are research institutions, meaning they prioritize research as a key part of their mission and provide undergraduate and graduate students with opportunities to participate in research in their respective fields.

While most Ivy Plus institutions are generalized schools that offer majors in various areas, some have a specialized focus, such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and California Institute of Technology (CalTech). Ivy Plus schools have highly selective admissions processes, with most accepting 10% or less of applicants.

Ivy Plus Institutions

Little Ivies

The Little Ivies are private liberal arts colleges that offer academic rigor and selective admissions, similar to those of the Ivy League and Public Ivy schools.

Like the Ivy League, the Little Ivies are concentrated in the Northeast. Unlike Ivy League schools, most Little Ivies focus on undergraduate education. Only a few Little Ivies offer graduate degree programs, including Tufts University and Wesleyan University.

The Little Ivies also emphasize liberal arts education and may have fewer research opportunities than some other Ivy League equivalency institutions. Students seeking a high-quality education in liberal arts and humanities areas like English, psychology, political science, economics, and history may find that a Little Ivy is the right path for them.

Little Ivy Institutions

Hidden Ivies

Higher education experts Howard and Matthew Greene coined the term “Hidden Ivies” in 2000 to refer to colleges and universities that have less name recognition than Ivy League schools but provide a similar quality of education.

They include both small liberal arts colleges, such as Amherst College, Oberlin College, and Swarthmore College, as well as large research institutions, such as Stanford University, Duke University, and Johns Hopkins University. All Hidden Ivies are private institutions. Most are secular, although a few, including the College of the Holy Cross and Southern Methodist University, are religiously affiliated.

The Hidden Ivies are spread throughout the U.S., allowing students to pursue an Ivy League-caliber education without relocating to the Northeast. Some are in urban areas, like the University of Chicago and Boston College, while others, such as Bates College and Bucknell University, are in rural areas.

Hidden Ivy Institutions

New Ivies

Most colleges and universities consistently work to improve, and those that have ascended in the rankings are known as the New Ivies. This list includes both public and private institutions that have established themselves in recent years as providing high-quality education and producing driven, hard-working graduates from more diverse backgrounds than traditional Ivy League institutions.

The New Ivies are a diverse group of institutions located throughout the U.S. Some, like Olin College of Engineering and Rensselaer Polytechnical Institute, focus on specific areas of study, while others, like the University of Michigan and Tufts University, offer a broad range of programs. The list includes both undergraduate-focused private liberal arts colleges, like Skidmore College, and large public research universities, like UCLA. Admissions to New Ivies can be somewhat competitive, although these schools are typically less selective than the traditional Ivies or Little Ivies.

New Ivy Institutions

Southern Ivies

The Southern Ivies are an informal grouping of prestigious universities in the Southeastern U.S., which are a regional equivalent to the Ivy League schools in the Northeast. The group was initially created to form the Magnolia League, an athletic conference similar to the Ivy League. While the Magnolia League failed to take off, the distinction of being the top universities in the Southern part of the U.S. remains.

Most of the Southern Ivies are private institutions. However, there are few public schools in this group, including the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Virginia. The list also includes several research institutions, including Duke University and Emory University.

Southern Ivy Institutions

Black Ivies

The Black Ivies are among the most elite historically selective Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

While HBCUs are open to students of all races and backgrounds, these institutions were intentionally founded to serve Black and minority students during the time of segregated education. The Black Ivies are primarily located in the Southeastern U.S. They are all private institutions and include a mixture of liberal arts colleges, like Morehouse College and Spelman College, and research institutions, such as Howard University.

Black Ivy institutions

Seven Sisters

When the Ivy League institutions were initially established, seven of these schools only accepted men (only Cornell University has been co-educational since its founding). However, each school established a “sister” institution to educate women.

Today, five of the original Seven Sisters institutions remain. Vassar College became co-educational in 1969, and Radcliffe College was incorporated into Harvard University in 1999. The remaining five are still women-only schools. All are private institutions located in the Northeast.

Seven Sisters institutions

Ivy League Institutions and Ivy League Equivalents At-A-Glance

Type of program	Type of Institution (Public or Private)	Degrees Offered	Online Programs Offered?	Research Emphasis?	Location
Ivy League	Private	Undergraduate and graduate	Yes	Yes	Northeast
Public Ivies	Public	Undergraduate and graduate	Yes	Yes	Nationwide
Ivy Plus	Private	Undergraduate and graduate	Yes	Yes	Nationwide
Little Ivies	Private	Undergraduate	Yes	No	Northeast
Hidden Ivies	Private	Undergraduate and graduate	Yes	Varies by school	Nationwide
New Ivies	Public and Private	Undergraduate and graduate	Yes	Varies by school	Nationwide
Southern Ivies	Private	Undergraduate and graduate	Yes	Yes	Southeastern U.S.
Black Ivies	Private	Undergraduate and graduate	Yes	Varies by school	Southeastern U.S.
Seven Sisters	Private	Undergraduate	Yes	No	Northeast

How to Choose the Type of Institution That’s Right For You

Clarify your educational needs and goals

While Ivy League and equivalent schools may have the most name recognition and prestige, the best college is the one that meets your specific needs and goals. Therefore, before digging into your post-secondary education options, reflect on what is most important to you. This includes identifying your desired area of study and career field, what type of program you seek (online, in-person, full-time, part-time), and what kind of college experience you want. Establishing parameters early in your college search can help narrow your options and make the research process manageable.

Research schools and programs

Once you have your list of criteria, then you can begin researching schools and programs that fit what you’re looking for. Whenever possible, visit schools in person or participate in virtual open houses and information sessions to get a more in-depth look at the institutions you’re considering. While many Ivy League and Ivy-equivalent schools are well-known, you don’t want to rely solely on a school’s reputation and how you’ve seen it depicted in the media to decide whether it’s your ideal college. Visiting the school’s campus and speaking to representatives and students can help you form a more well-rounded opinion and determine if it’s the best fit for your needs.

Review admissions requirements and eligibility criteria

Ivy League schools and many of the Ivy equivalents are among the most selective schools in the world. If you’re considering any of the schools on this list, carefully review their admissions criteria to ensure you are the type of student these institutions seek. This may mean having a minimum GPA, standardized test scores, and a well-rounded resume demonstrating academic and extracurricular achievements. While you shouldn’t let a school’s selectiveness discourage you from applying, being as prepared as possible can increase your chances of admission.

Determine how you’ll pay for your degree

Students interested in Ivy League and Ivy-equivalent schools must also think carefully about how they will pay for their degree, as these are among the most expensive schools in the nation. If you reside in a state with a Public Ivy, you’re eligible for in-state tuition, which is often a fraction of the price of out-of-state or private school tuition. However, because they have lower tuition rates, public institutions may not offer as much financial aid, particularly for students from high-income families. On the other hand, some private Ivies and Ivy-equivalents are doing more to make their degree programs accessible to students of all income levels. For example, MIT offers free tuition to students from families with an annual household income of less than $200K.