Ivy League are the most prestigious universities in the world. But is that always the case? While it guarantees quality education, there might be better universities. Some schools are better than others, which is a decisive difference when choosing your future school. Rankings help you see how employers view your university’s reputation.
But first, what is an Ivy League? They are composed of 8 universities, all located in the US. Because of their low acceptance rate and academic excellence, those institutions are considered highly prestigious, if not the most prestigious schools in the world. They have an excellent reputation in their research programs, the athletic leagues, and the job placement of their students. They do not include universities such as Standford and Duke because they differentiate themselves with a shared history and location (Northeast of the US).
What is the list of the top-ranked Ivy Leagues Universities?
This ranking is based on the one of Times Higher Education. This magazine and its orders of the best universities in the world are often quoted by universities and maintain a good reputation on its ranking methods. They specialize in higher-education topics.
The Times Higher Education World University Ranking is updated every year. It is based on a vigorous methodology that evaluates an institution’s teaching, research, knowledge transfer, and international outlook level. They look into research publications and scholars’ opinions globally to form an extensive list of the best universities. They have collected information on more than 1,799 universities from 104 countries. Here are the eight Ivy League Universities with their rankings starting with the best:
Contents
- Harvard
- Princeton
- Yale
- Columbia
- UPenn
- Cornell
- Brown
- Dartmouth
1. Harvard University
According to THE, Harvard is the best Ivy League, ranking second-best university in the world after Oxford University. Oxford has ranked first in the last seven years and is leading the way in research. As for Harvard, it ranks first in the teaching section. It is, therefore, the most prestigious Ivy League, and this will come with no surprise.
Harvard is located in Cambridge (Massachusetts) and is the oldest University in the USA. It has taught to eight U.S. presidents; some of their most well-known alumni are John F. Kennedy, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and Barack Obama. Harvard is known for its degrees in law and business, amongst other things. They have around 21,600 students each year (undergraduate and graduate students).
The ratio between men and women is precisely 50:50, and they received 25% of international students last year. Their rankings are overall excellent, but the main reason they are behind Oxford is the average alumni income, which is significantly lower than the one at Oxford.
2. Princeton University
The second Ivy League is listed with a ranking of 7th in the world. Universities like Standford, MIT, and Cambridge have outranked Princeton. This ranking shows that Ivy League isn’t always the best option. It receives around 8,278 students each year, a number significantly lower than most Universities, and only 23% of those students are from outside the US. It is interesting to see that the average alumni income is higher at Princeton than at Harvard.
Princeton University is located in Princeton (New Jersey). It is the fourth oldest university in the US. It is mainly a research-oriented university, so they consider it a central part of their mission. Their most notable alumni are U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, James Madison, and businessman Jeff Bezos. Their sports team are known to be good.
3. Yale University
Yale is in the 9th position and receives 23% of international students. It receives around 13,500 students, and it has more women than male students, with a ratio of 52:48. The most popular undergraduate degree is political science, and a lot of students continue their careers in government and politics.
It is located in New Haven (Connecticut) and was founded in 1701. Their most notable alumni are Hillary Clinton, Myrel Streep, and Lupita Nyong’o.
4. Columbia University
In the 11th position equal to ETH Zurich University is Columbia University (NYC). It receives 21,800 students per year, with 38% international students. Even tho THE has ranked them 11th in the world, Forbes magazine has placed them 5th in America Best’s Colleges. A fun fact about Columbia University is that it played a significant role in nuclear fission, and the first uranium atom split was made there. It also had an essential part during WW2 and the creation of the New Deal.
It has formed 33 heads of state. It received Franklin Roosevelt and Warren Buffet as students.
5. University of Pennsylvania
UPenn is ranked 14th in the world. It receives around 21,500 students annually, with 23% of international students.
Benjamin Franklin established this university in 1749 in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania). It is known for its graduate law and medical degree. However, Wharton School is the most well-known since it is the most esteemed business school in the US. Its most notable alumni are Joe Biden, Donald Trump, and Martin Luther King.
6. Cornell University
In the 20th position, we have Cornell University. They receive 24,027 students per year, with 26% of international students. It is located in Ithaca (New York). Some of their most notable alumni are Toni Morrison and Bill Nye, The Science Guy.
7. Brown University
Brown University is the 61st in the world. It receives 10,031 students every year, with 21% of international students. Their acceptance rate for undergraduate admission is around 5%. Some of their most notable alumni are Emma Watson and John Krasinski. It is located in Providence (Rhodes Island).
8. Dartmouth College
Far behind, there is Dartmouth which ranked 123 in the world. It receives 6,500 students per year, with 15% of international students. In the last century, Dartmouth was perceived as the most prestigious university for undergraduate students. Even if it continues focusing on the undergraduate level, it has now developed its research facilities. Their acceptance rate is 6%. It is located in Hanover (New Hampshire). Dr. Seuss has gone to this school!
The best Ivy League is Harvard, followed by Princeton, Yale, Columbia, UPenn, Cornell, Brown, and finally Dartmouth. They stand out because of their prestige but also because of their part in US history. All of them (besides Cornell) were built before the Confederation, and many of their students participated in the independence fight. The Founding Fathers went, for the most part, to those institutions.