Easiest and hardest Ivy league schools - Best Online School in US (2024)

Admission to Ivy League universities is famously competitive. These universities are highly selective, with an average acceptance rate of only 7%.

One has to choose to count themselves among the Ivy League alums, along with Jeff Bezos, Rashida Jones, and Warren Buffet. The Ivy League schools are among the most challenging to enter as students from across the world seek admission to different courses at these institutions.

The Easiest Ivy League schools to get into

Contents

  • The Easiest Ivy League schools to get into
    • 1. Cornell University
    • 2. Dartmouth University
    • 3. Brown University
    • 4. University of Pennsylvania
  • The Hardest Ivy League schools to get into
    • 1. Harvard University
    • 2. Columbia University
    • 3. Princeton University
    • 4. Yale University
  • What can one do to increase their chances of attending an Ivy League School?
  • Conclusion

1. Cornell University

Cornell is the easiest and youngest Ivy League school. It was established in 1865 and is situated in Ithaca, New York. Out of 49,114 candidates, Cornell accepted 5,330, for an admission percentage of around 10.9%. This acceptance rate is more than twice as high as the rates for our top two universities, Harvard and Columbia, and as a result, it offers prospective students the best chance of getting accepted.

2. Dartmouth University

The second most accessible Ivy League school to get into isDartmouth, established in 1769 and based in Hanover, New Hampshire. Dartmouth admitted 1,876 applicants out of 23,650, the lowest number among the eight Ivy League schools, for an acceptable percentage of 7.9%. If one chooses Dartmouth, the fewer candidates overall may give them an advantage.

3. Brown University

The third most accessible Ivy League school on the list is Brown, established in 1764 and situated in Providence, Rhode Island. With a 6.6%acceptance rate, Brown admits 2% more candidates than Harvard, which is the most challenging school to get into. Out of 38,674 applicants, that equates to around 2,552 admissions. Although Brown may accept more applicants than non-Ivy League schools, they maintain a rigorous standard.

4. University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania, which Benjamin Franklin founded in 1740, expertly balances its long history with a spirit of innovation. It is the location of the oldest medical school in the US and the Wharton School, the first collegial business school in the world. 3,304 applicants were admitted by theUniversity of Pennsylvania, with a 6.0 % acceptance rate.

The Hardest Ivy League schools to get into

1. Harvard University

The most challenging Ivy League school to get into is Harvard, established in 1636 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. According toHarvard Admissions, only 2,008 out of 43,330 candidates were accepted to the college. These figures translate into an acceptance rate of 4.6%. In addition, most admitted students received test scores between 1470 and 1570, corresponding to the 25th and 75th percentiles.

2. Columbia University

Columbia University is the second hardest university, established in 1754 and based in New York, New York. According toColumbia University Admissions, only 2,247 people were admitted to the college out of 42,569 applicants. That amounts to a 5.3% acceptance rate in actuality.

3. Princeton University

The next most challenging Ivy League school to get into was founded in 1746 and is located in Princeton, New Jersey. According to their admission records, only 1,896 of the 32,804 applicants were accepted to the college. This results in an acceptance rate of roughly 5.8%.

4. Yale University

Since its inception in 1701, Yale has been one of the top higher education institutions in the United States. With more than 800 scientific, math, and engineering facilities, Yale is a landmark for a diverse range of academics.Yale Universityadmitted6,494 students, with 4.6% of all applicants.

What can one do to increase their chances of attending an Ivy League School?

  • Observe the minimum requirements: Students should consider meeting the minimum application requirements as it is one of the best ways to improve the chances of getting accepted. Students must outperform these minimum requirements in a perfect world and crush all other applications.
  • Apply early: Students should consider applying to the early decision or action windows if they are focused on attending a specific Ivy League institution. Applying early demonstrates to institutions that students are sincere in their desire to attend college.
  • Express your desire to attend the school: The Ivy Leagues and other highly selective universities want to know that applicants are more than merely backup plans. Therefore, it’s crucial to demonstrate sincere excitement and a willingness to join.

Conclusion

Choosing the right college for oneself is difficult enough. Even more difficult conditions arise if a student decides to attend an Ivy League university. For a position in these elite universities, one will be up against the best brains. The likelihood of admission to an Ivy League school of one’s dreams is tiny, but with the appropriate knowledge, students can increase their chances of getting admitted.

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Easiest and hardest Ivy league schools - Best Online School in US (2024)

FAQs

Which Ivy League is the easiest academically? ›

Cornell University

Cornell is the easiest and youngest Ivy League school. It was established in 1865 and is situated in Ithaca, New York. Out of 49,114 candidates, Cornell accepted 5,330, for an admission percentage of around 10.9%.

Can you get into an Ivy League from online school? ›

Yes, and the number of online degrees that you can earn at the Ivy League level continues to grow. However, there are some limitations, especially where online bachelor's degrees are concerned.

What is the least prestigious Ivy League school? ›

Cornell and Brown often rank at the “bottom” of the Ivy League and switch places for “worst” Ivy quite frequently. Dartmouth however, has a different issue, it isn't as well known as the other 7.

What is the easiest Ivy League school to get into as a transfer? ›

Cornell University

With a 90.74% percentage increase in transfer acceptance rates over freshman, Cornell is a stellar option for Ivy League transfer admissions. While Cornell saw a 7.26% first-year acceptance rate in the Class of 2026 cycle, the university's transfer acceptance rate was 13.85%.

Which ivy is the most stressful? ›

In general, Ivy League students can be more susceptible to high levels of stress. College Magazine named Harvard the most stressful college in the country, and Surviving Ivy claims Ivy League students can be up to three times more likely to experience anxiety and stress than the average college student.

Which Ivy League is the hardest academically? ›

Harvard is the oldest institution of higher education in the US and consistently ranks #1 hardest Ivy League to get into. Founded in 1636, Harvard offers students a world-class education from some of the most brilliant professors in the world.

Can you go to Harvard fully online? ›

General FAQ. Do I need to come to campus to participate in Harvard Online courses? No. All of our courses are 100 percent online, and available to participants regardless of their location.

What is the cheapest Ivy League online degree? ›

Cheapest Online Master's- University of Pennsylvania

The cheapest online master's program offered by the ivy league is the Master of Computer & Information Technology by the University of Pennsylvania, which costs $32,000 for 10 courses (six core courses and four electives).

Do Ivy Leagues like homeschoolers? ›

Ivy League schools and other highly competitive colleges are generally quite open to homeschooled applicants as they appreciate the diversity and unique perspective you can bring to their campuses. However, there may be some additional requirements and steps that you'd need to be aware of.

What is the happiest Ivy League? ›

Brown is ranked as one of the happiest colleges in general, not just of Ivies, by CollegeVine Blog in its article “Which Ivy is right for you?” It's also fair to say that this article may be a little biased in Brown's favor, but qualitative surveys can have useful insight.

What is the cheapest Ivy League? ›

Which is the most affordable Ivy League school? A. Princeton is often acknowledged as the “most affordable Ivy” due to its commitment to extensive financial aid offerings.

What is the safest Ivy League school? ›

Although Cornell can be seen as the “safer” Ivy to get into because of its “higher” acceptance rate than other Ivies like Harvard or Princeton, acceptance into the university is still difficult as it offers an internationally recognized education that uniquely contributes to the Ivy League schools ranking.

Which Ivy is the easiest academically? ›

Based on the information provided above, you probably noticed that Cornell University has the highest acceptance rates out of all the Ivy League schools and can therefore be classified as the easiest Ivy league school to get into.

What is the 2nd easiest Ivy League to get into? ›

Dartmouth College is considered the second-easiest Ivy League school to get into.

What is the smallest Ivy League school? ›

Dartmouth is the smallest Ivy, with a total enrollment of about 7,000 students.

Which Ivy has the smartest students? ›

Here are America's Ivy League schools ranked by student brainpower:
Smarts RankOverall Smarts RankSchool
13Harvard University
13Yale University
35Princeton University
48Columbia University
4 more rows
Oct 9, 2015

What is the second easiest Ivy League? ›

Dartmouth College is considered the second-easiest Ivy League school to get into.

What is the most relaxed Ivy League? ›

Located in Providence, Rhode Island, Brown is more commonly known as the laid-back Ivy League.

Which Ivy League is the happiest? ›

Brown is ranked as one of the happiest colleges in general, not just of Ivies, by CollegeVine Blog in its article “Which Ivy is right for you?” It's also fair to say that this article may be a little biased in Brown's favor, but qualitative surveys can have useful insight.

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