List of New Ivies
Here is a list of the New Ivy League schools:
Boston College
Location: Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
Acceptance Rate: 17%
Boston College has a small student body of approximately 15,000 students. Located twenty minutes outside of Boston, the institution is known for liberal arts and science. The school is also well known for athletics and competes in 31 NCAA Division I sports.
Bowdoin College
Location: Brunswick, Maine
Acceptance Rate: 9%
Bowdoin College is a liberal arts college that offers students the choice of 43 majors in rural Maine. Students complete a mandatory two year curriculum that includes a wide range of subjects before declaring their major.
Carnegie Mellon
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Acceptance Rate: 11%
Well known for its computer science and engineering programs, Carnegie Mellon is a research university based in Pittsburgh. According to Carnegie Mellon, over 400 startups linked to the university have raised more than seven billion dollars of funding, and their students are known for their entrepreneurship.
Claremont Colleges
Location: Claremont, California
Acceptance Rate: 10% to 50%
There are seven colleges that makeup the Claremont colleges family, five undergraduate and two graduate. The five undergraduate colleges and their acceptance rates are as follows:
- Pomona College: 6.9% (Class of 2026)
- Scripps College: 30% (Class of 2026)
- Claremont McKenna College: 10.3% (Class of 2026)
- Harvey Mudd College: 13.36% (Class of 2026)
- Pitzer College: 15.9%
All provide a liberal arts education, and are independent bodies that act as a consortium. Located in southern California, they are all a fantastic place to both study and live.
Colby College
Location: Waterville, Maine
Acceptance Rate: 8%
Located in rural Maine, Colby College is a small liberal arts college with a student body of less than 2,500 undergraduates. It is often referred to as a ‘little Ivy’ in reference to its small student body, and is one of the most selective liberal arts colleges in the country.
Colgate University
Location: Hamilton, New York
Acceptance Rate: 12.34%
According to Colgate University, their alumni are famously loyal to their alma mater. Colgate provides a liberal arts education and prides itself on its small class size and highly educated faculty.
Davidson College
Location: Davidson, North Carolina
Acceptance Rate: 14.5%
Davidson College is currently ranked as the 16th-best liberal arts college in the country. With a small undergraduate body of approximately 2000 undergraduates, it still boasts over 200 student organizations on campus.
Emory University
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Acceptance Rate: 11%
Emory University is a research university well known for its School of Medicine and Law, as well as its Business School. Uniquely, Emory students are required to take two physical education courses, regardless if they participate in athletics.
Kenyon College
Location: Gambier, Ohio
Acceptance Rate: 34%
Well known for its English Language and Literature program, Kenyon College is a liberal arts college located in the small town of Gambier, Ohio. It is also known for its literary magazine, the Kenyon Review.
Macalester College
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Acceptance Rate: 28%
Exclusively undergraduate, Macalester College is a liberal arts college located between the twin cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Malcaster has no application fee, a quality many applicants find attractive.
University of Michigan
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Acceptance Rate: 17.69%
With approximately 50,000 students, the University of Michigan is one of the largest New Ivies. It is currently ranked the third best public university in the country. Learn more about UMichigan in our complete guide to the University.
New York University
Location: New York, New York
Acceptance Rate: 12.2%
Better known as NYU, New York University is located centrally in the bustling metropolis of New York City. NYU boasts more international students than any other American University, so you can count on a diverse student body in a vibrant city. To learn our expert tips on building an excellent NYU application, read our NYU guide.
University of North Carolina
Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Acceptance Rate: 17%
The first public university in the country, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a well respected college with the highest acceptance rate of any of the New Ivies.
It is part of the ‘research triangle’ of schools whose students are known for their research and entrepreneurship. Home of the Tar Heels, the school is also well known for its basketball team and supportive fans.
University of Notre Dame
Location: South Bend, Indiana
Acceptance Rate: 13%
Notre Dame is a research university that prides itself on its Catholic roots. According to the school's website, “Notre Dame’s Catholic character informs all it does.” Over half of its students spend at least a semester studying abroad, and it is ranked #25 by U.S. News for best study abroad programs.
Olin College of Engineering
Location: Needham, Massachusetts
Acceptance Rate: 19%
As the name suggests, Olin College of Engineering focuses on training the next generation of engineers. The school has an undergraduate body of fewer than 450 students, so is a great potential fit for students who want an intimate college experience.
Reed College
Location: Portland, Oregon
Acceptance Rate: 44%
Located in the northwest of the country, Reed College is a liberal arts and sciences college. Referred to affectionately as ‘reedies,’ all students undertake a yearlong humanities course and complete a senior thesis.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Location: Troy, New York
Acceptance Rate: 65%
America’s oldest technological research university, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was founded in 1824. The university offers various degrees, but there is a focus on science and technology. The school is located in the rural town of Troy and overlooks the Hudson river.
Rice University
Location: Houston, Texas
Acceptance Rate: 9%
Rice University is located in Huston’s museum district, an area widely considered the cultural heart of the city. A small university with a research focus, the student body is made up of about eight thousand students, of which almost half are postgraduates.
University of Rochester
Location: Rochester, New York
Acceptance Rate: 39%
The University of Rochester is yet another New Ivy located in New York state. Located on Lake Ontario, Rochester is a mid-sized city and allows students to have both a city and rural college experience. The University of Rochester is a research university that prides itself on its collegiate nature.
Skidmore College
Location: Saratoga Springs, New York
Acceptance Rate: 23%
Skidmore College is a small liberal arts college that’s proud of its commitment to green living and sustainability and has various ways for students to get involved and improve their green living habits.
Tufts University
Location: Medford, Massachusetts
Acceptance Rate: 9.5%
Located in the Greater Boston Area, Tufts University is a research university well known for its innovative research programs, and also boasts the country’s oldest school of international relations program. The University accepted a record low of 9.5% of applicants to the class of 2027, dipping further than the previous year’s record low of 9.7%
University of Southern California
Location: Los Angeles, California
Acceptance Rate: 9.9%
The University of Southern California attracts applicants both for its academic excellence and its idyllic location in Los Angeles. Students can explore more than 150 majors at USC. The college is well-known for its multiple schools, including the School of Cinematic Arts.
Vanderbilt University
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Acceptance Rate: Approximately 7%
Vanderbilt is ranked highly both for its academics and its financial aid program. Vanderbilt Opportunities is a program designed to make the university’s world class education accessible for all, and will meet 100% of a student's demonstrated financial need.
University of Virginia
Location: Charlottesville, Virginia
Acceptance Rate: 27% (in-state) and 12% (out-of-state)
Founded by Thomas Jefferson, the University of Virginia is a public university located in suburban Charlottesville. There is a mid-sized student body of approximately 17,000 undergraduates and an active Greek Life, so is a great prospect for students looking to join a sorority or fraternity.
Washington University in St. Louis
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Acceptance Rate: 11%
Known largely for its computer science, engineering and science programs, Washington University in St. Louis has a choice of over 1,500 courses. A city campus, students can immerse themselves in the vibrant city of St. Louis and the academic excellence of the university.
How to Get Into the New Ivies
Like their Ivy League namesakes, New Ivies are highly competitive and selective schools. Their acceptance rates are higher than Ivy Leagues like Harvard and Yale, but the majority still sit well below 50%.
To be considered a competitive applicant for most of these schools, your SAT score should be well above a 1400, and ideally in the 1500 range. For students taking the ACT, a score in the 30s can help bolster your application.
The middle 50% SAT and ACT scores of successful 2023 applicants to Colby College, was 1440-1530 and 32-34, respectively.
Competitive schools are looking for well rounded applicants who not only have excellent academic records, but have been involved in extracurriculars and have interests outside of school. Putting together a strong and compelling application is very important, so make sure you take the necessary time on all of your applications.
Finally, it is important to remember that every school considers different factors when looking at applicants. Doing proper research on what is required by each school is important.
Sending the same generic application to multiple schools tells the admissions officers that you either didn’t read the requirements properly, or that you simply don’t care enough to put in the effort.
