Ivy League Schools Ranked – 2025

By now, whether you’ve been told about them at a young age, know someone attending one of them, or just discovered them, my guess is that you’ve heard of the Ivy League schools. But do you really know them? Most often regarded as the best schools in America, if not in the world, the Ivies’ prestige has inspired countless students to aim for their dreams, but let’s go a little deeper. What are the Ivy League rankings? How are the Ivy League schools ranked? Who in the world ranks them? What is the best Ivy League school? And most importantly: What are your chances of getting in?

Try asking these questions to your family and friends, and you’ll quickly find that reaching a mutual consensus is a rather ambitious idea, much like asking them to name the same best restaurants or cities in the country. Ivy League rankings or not, the answer all depends on the person. And Ivy League school rankings depend on a variety of factors (academic reputation, students’ future careers, quality of livelihood) – but ultimately, you’ll need to figure out what works best for you. Getting into any one of these schools is a tremendous accomplishment worth celebrating, considering how difficult it is to receive that admissions letter.

How important are Ivy League rankings?

You’ll come across many lists of Ivy League school rankings that delve into the overall quality of their academics. Major publications releasing such Ivy League rankings include Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education, and other outlets that focus on education. It’s important to keep in mind, though, that these publications create their Ivy League rankings based on different sources.

For example, U.S. News & World Report focuses on the overall academic reputation of the universities; they offer peer-assessed surveys to university officials and high school counselors to make such conclusions. Alternatively, a publication like Forbes will focus on post-graduate outcomes such as salaries, student debt after graduation, and prestigious accomplishments, such as winning the Nobel Prize (no pressure). Being aware of such ranking criteria will be helpful in understanding which Ivy League school could be best for you.

How hard is it to get into the Ivy League schools?

Let’s take a closer look at what the Ivy League rankings would look like if acceptance rate was the sole factor:

1. Harvard University: 3.4%
2. Yale University: 3.7%
3. Columbia University: 3.8%
4. Princeton University: 4.5%
5. Brown University: 5.2%
6. Dartmouth College: 5.3%
7. University of Pennsylvania (UPenn): 5.8%
8. Cornell University: 7.9%

Wondering what your chances are of getting into one of the Ivies? College Transitions is pleased to offer the most accurate admissions calculator you’ll find anywhere online – the only such tool that is informed by decades of combined experience personally guiding thousands of students through the college admissions process.

College Transitions Admissions Calculator

Ivy League Rankings — 2025

If you’re planning to apply to an Ivy League school, it’s crucial to understand what makes each of these academic institutions so unique. Then, it’s best to evaluate how each school could help you grow the most, both personally and professionally. If you do use Ivy League rankings as part of your selection process, be sure to factor in multiple rankings sources.

To determine our 2025 rankings, we factored in the rankings of the most influential publications as well as our own personal insight on overall educational experience.

1) Harvard University

Harvard may very well be the first university you think of when considering Ivy League rankings. But did you know that Harvard is the oldest school of higher education in America? Founded in 1636, it’s also one of the most difficult Ivies to get into, which should come as no surprise. Today, Harvard features 13 schools and institutes, 100 on-campus research centers, and over 500 extracurricular, cocurricular, and athletic organizations. The university values sustainability. As such, undergraduates, graduates, and members of the Harvard community can find green living programs easy to access and use.

73% of classes at Harvard have less than 20 students, and with the 7-to-1 student-faculty ratio, you’ll receive an education in an interactive, immersive setting. Harvard’s medical, business, engineering, graduate education, and law schools are among the top-ranked in the country, including the John F. Kennedy School of Government. Harvard offers over 3,700 undergraduate courses across 50 areas of study, many of which are highly ranked.

2) Princeton University

There are many reasons why Princeton claims the top place in many Ivy League rankings. Ranking in first place in the U.S. News & World Report’s National Universities list, Princeton has produced Rhodes scholars and U.S. presidents, Olympic medalists, Supreme Court justices, and Nobel Prize winners. Princeton provides students with state-of-the-art academic resources and more, such as laboratories, libraries, and even its very own art museum, the Princeton University Art Museum. At Princeton, you’ll find that “smaller college”-feeling through its 5-to-1 student-faculty ratio. This benefits students to have more direct access to their professors and peers. The most popular majors at Princeton are biological and biomedical sciences, computer and information sciences, engineering, public administration and social services, and social sciences.

Ivy League Rankings (Continued)

3) Yale University

Yale is typically high on any Ivy League school rankings list. Additionally, it has many distinguishing factors. Perhaps you’ve heard of Yale’s prestigious drama and music programs offered at the Yale School of Drama, or the impressive Whiffenpoofs, the world’s oldest and famous collegiate a cappella group. Not pursuing a performance career? If you’re an undergraduate, you’re most likely considering Yale College, and if you’re continuing your education, you might have your eye on one of their 13 top-ranked professional schools, including those for law, art, management, medicine, and nursing.

Yale prioritizes international immersion, evidenced by the hundreds of exciting study abroad programs offered around the world and the fact that study abroad participation often tops 70%. Study abroad programs include Yale Summer Session Programs Abroad and Yale in London, among many others. Students can also take the opportunity to conduct research abroad or complete an international internship. Interested in studying one of Yale’s most popular majors? These include the social sciences, biological and biomedical sciences, engineering, history, and mathematics and statistics.

4) Columbia University

What often determines the Ivy League schools’ ranking is hard to boil down, but there is a uniquely multifaceted nature to institutions at the top of the list. You might recognize Columbia’s campus and its impressive columns from the Spider-Man franchise or other notable productions. Situated in one of the most exciting cities in the world, Columbia has produced changemakers and inventions that have transformed global communities. From the FM radio to the first college gay advocacy group, Columbia is New York’s oldest institution of higher education. It’s also one of the most diverse universities in the country. It’s no wonder that Columbia prizes international education through their many study abroad programs and eleven global centers around the world.

Columbia consists of two main undergraduate schools—Columbia College and the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science. Its Core Curriculum is both famous and highly intensive. Moreover, Columbia boasts some of the highest-ranked graduate schools, including its business and law schools, the Teachers College, and the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. Whether you take advantage of the thousands of internships or over 200 research institutes at Columbia, you’ll receive a global education in one of the world’s most dynamic cities.

5) UPenn

Benjamin Franklin was the primary founder of UPenn and his influence reverberates around campus to this day. With a highly esteemed reputation, UPenn is internationally recognized for its academic offerings and the makeup of its student body. One fun fact you might not have known about UPenn is that it has the most international students out of all the Ivy League schools. 13% of undergraduate and graduate students hail from over 100 countries. On top of that, you might be one of the 1,400+ students who study abroad each year in one of UPenn’s 50 study abroad programs.

Additionally, if you’re considering becoming a graduate student at UPenn, you might be among those who wish to study at the top-ranked Wharton School, the Perelman School of Medicine, or the Stuart Weitzman School of Design. Be sure to check out the over 350 student groups at UPenn. These organizations focus cater to a variety of interests, from performing acts to political advocacy.

Ivy League Rankings (Continued)

6) Brown University

Brown offers rather creative opportunities to students, which makes it such an exciting option on the Ivy League schools ranking list. One of the greatest appeals of Brown is its storied Open Curriculum that gives students the flexibility and independence to craft their own plan of study. Among the Ivies, Brown stands out as a place that prioritizes and encourages student flexibility. If you’re hoping to pursue an interdisciplinary education, Brown just might be the ideal Ivy League school for you—they offer over 80 multidisciplinary concentrations for undergraduate students. Take a look at their unique courses of study like entrepreneurship or Egyptology and Assyriology. Whatever you choose to study at Brown, you’ll have access to its six concentration-specific libraries to conduct research projects. There are also over 500 undergraduate clubs and student organizations.

Finally, Brown’s highly competitive Program in Liberal Medical Education may appeal to aspiring doctors. This program allows students to complete their undergraduate and medical degrees within eight years.

7) Dartmouth College

Located in Hanover, New Hampshire, Dartmouth is the birthplace of many historical achievements. Did you know that Dartmouth created one of the first Native American programs to recruit students, and thus has the largest number of Native American graduates compared to all the other Ivy League schools? If you’re interested in pursuing computer science or programming, Dartmouth also paved the way for BASIC, the programming language, which led to the further development of computer innovation. At Dartmouth, you’ll find one of the most intimate environments in the Ivy League as 62% of the classes have less than 20 students. Additionally, it sports a 6-to-1 student-faculty ratio. Research-oriented centers and institutes are spread across the Dartmouth campus; 60% of undergraduates participate in research. Students can also access a wide-spanning global network through Dartmouth’s many study abroad programs around the world.

8) Cornell University

Cornell is the youngest Ivy League school, founded in 1865. There are over 80 majors at Cornell. Further, students are admitted into one of seven undergraduate colleges at Cornell, the largest of which is the College of Arts and Sciences. The SC Johnson College of Business, School of Hotel Administration, Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, and School of Engineering are considered to house some of the best programs in the world. The aforementioned schools also have highly ranked graduate programs.

If you’re thinking of applying to Cornell, you’re probably already looking into what it’s like to live in Ithaca, New York. It’s important to note that Cornell is one of the few Ivies to be located in a small, rural town. Although Cornell can be seen as the “safest” Ivy to get into because of its higher acceptance rate, acceptance into the university is still incredibly difficult, particularly for majors like engineering and computer science.

Ivy League Schools Ranked – Additional Resources

Lastly, if you are aiming for Ivy Leagues, consider checking out the following College Transitions resources:

• • Best Summer Programs 
  • College Search Tool