It’s common knowledge that Ivy League schools are not only some of the most prestigious schools in the US but also eight of the hardest ones to get into. The Ivies attract the brightest minds and produce graduates who solve some of the world’s toughest challenges. In this blog we’ve compiled a list of the easiest and hardest Ivy League schools to get into in 2022.
Determining the easiest and hardest Ivy League school is subjective because each school specializes in certain areas, making getting into specific programs or majors harder or easier than others. While no Ivy League school is easy to get into, some have slightly higher acceptance rates than others. This blog will use acceptance rates to determine which Ivy League schools are the easiest and hardest to get into.
Ivy League Class of 2026 Acceptance Rates
| Ivies | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|
| Cornell | ~8% |
| Dartmouth | 6.2% |
| Brown | 5% |
| Penn | 4.4% |
| Yale | 4.46% |
| Princeton | ~4% |
| Columbia | 3.73% |
| Harvard | 3.19% |
Top 3 Easiest Ivy League Schools To Get Into
1. Cornell University
Ithaca, New York
Cornell Admission Statistics
| Overall Acceptance Rate | Early Acceptance Rate | Crimson Student Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|
| ~8% | ~20% | 21% |
Cornell is considered the "easiest" Ivy League to get into because it has the highest Ivy League acceptance rate. While it's easier, statistically speaking, to get into Cornell, it's still challenging. It's also important to remember that students apply directly to one of Cornell's eight undergraduate colleges.
Each college has its own acceptance rates, and they vary by college. If you want to see which of Cornell's colleges is the easiest and hardest to get into, check out their Institutional Research and Planning page.
How Max Got Into Cornell
2. Dartmouth College
Hanover, New Hampshire
Dartmouth Admission Statistics
| Overall Acceptance Rate | Early Acceptance Rate | Crimson Student Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 6.2% | 20.13% | 26% |
Dartmouth College ranks as the second easiest Ivy League school to get into. Founded in 1769, Dartmouth honors both tradition and innovation. While it has a smaller undergraduate class size, this prestigious school offers top research opportunities, world-class faculty, and small class sizes.
One of the reasons Dartmouth is a more accessible Ivy is because many students opt to submit their applications during the early decision round. Unlike some of the other top universities, Dartmouth allows students to apply early decision to multiple schools. Students feel less pressure to choose, making Dartmouth an even more enticing choice.
How I Got Into Dartmouth
3. Brown University
Providence, Rhode Island
Brown Admission Statistics
| Overall Acceptance Rate | Early Acceptance Rate | Crimson Student Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 5% | 14.6% | 29% |
Brown University rounds out our list of the top three easiest Ivy League schools to get into. Founded in 1764, Brown offers an "Open Curriculum" that allows students to build their own core curriculum and explore any of the more than 80 academic programs Brown offers.
Like all Ivy League schools, Brown is still highly selective. Students who apply to Brown find the idea of creating their own educational path exciting. They can pursue their passions and interests without jeopardizing their career goals. If this sounds like you, talk about self-direction and your personal academic journey in your application to Brown.
How I Got Into Brown University
The Top 3 Hardest Ivy League Schools To Get Into
1. Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Harvard Admission Statistics
| Overall Acceptance Rate | Early Acceptance Rate | Crimson Student Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 3.19% | 7% | 17% |
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. Harvard is also centrally located near other prestigious universities like Boston University, MIT, Northeastern University, and Tufts University.
Harvard looks for self-motivated students who are ready to change the world. If you hope to attend Harvard, consider how you can add value to the campus community and how you'll carry the Harvard name out into the world
2. Columbia University
New York City, New York
Columbia Admission Statistics
| Overall Acceptance Rate | Early Acceptance Rate | Crimson Student Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 3.73% | ~10% | 29% |
Students from around the world dream of studying at Columbia University. This prestigious university, located in the heart of New York City, is home to Columbia College, The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the School of General Studies. Originally called King's College by the royal charter of George II of Great Britain, it was renamed Columbia College in 1784.
If you want to get into Columbia, you should be a passionate learner in and out of the classroom. You should also consider its location in New York City and how you can utilize the city's vast resources.
How Cenon Got Into Columbia University
3. Princeton University
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton Admission Statistics
| Overall Acceptance Rate | Early Acceptance Rate | Crimson Student Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 4% | ~15%* | 29% |
Princeton University is one of the hardest schools to get into and has one of the lowest acceptance rates of any college in the world. Some might argue it's the hardest Ivy to get into, even though its current acceptance rate is not quite as low as Columbia or Harvard.
Princeton University is located in Princeton, New Jersey and is an easy commute to Philadelphia and New York City. Princeton currently ranks #1 in the 2022 edition of the US Best College list. Founded in 1746, Princeton is the fourth-oldest college in the US.
Students apply to Princeton for various reasons, including its state-of-the-art research facilities, generous financial aid, and low student-to-faculty ratio. Even though Princeton has an extremely low acceptance rate, you should still consider applying if you're passionate about a specific interest, have stellar grades, and rank at the top of your graduating class.
How Peyton got into Princeton University
3 Tips To Boost Your Chances Of Getting Into An Ivy League School
Students around the world compete for coveted spots at Ivy League schools. If you want to get one of those spots, you have to stand out from the rest of the world's top students. But that's not easy! Here are three tips to boost your chances of getting into an Ivy League school.
1. Demonstrate Your Love For The School
Not all Ivies are the same. While they all share commonalities, each Ivy has its own "personality." As you research each school, you will find you're drawn to particular ones. You’ll discover certain schools offer programs that fit your career goals, clubs or organizations you're passionate about, or maybe they just feel more like home.
Don't pick a school just because it carries a prestigious name. Apply to the colleges that you can see yourself attending. Explain why that school needs you and how you will thrive on campus and in the community.
2. Apply Early
Applying early has many advantages! Statistically speaking, you'll have a higher chance of getting into an Ivy League if you apply early because the pool of applicants is much smaller. It might be challenging to get all the application pieces ready earlier, but it will be worth it. If you decide to apply early, carefully read each school's early-round requirements before applying. Some schools only allow you to apply to one school in the early round, and others require you commit to that school if you're admitted.
3. Become an Expert
Most Ivy League applicants have stellar grades and high test scores. To stand out from the rest of the elite students, consider becoming an "expert" in a particular subject or activity. Admissions teams love seeing you grow, thrive, and lead in your area of interest. The Ivy League schools want to know that you can take your passions into your own hands, find success in the work, and serve the world around you.
Final Thoughts
While statistically speaking, some Ivies are easier or harder to get into, you should apply to the Ivy League schools that fit your career goals and personality. If you apply to an Ivy only because it has the highest acceptance rate, you may miss opportunities at other Ivies and even non-Ivy League schools.
What Makes Crimson Different
Key Resources & Further Reading
- Join our free webinars on college applications
- Free eBooks and guides to help with the college application process
- What are the Ivy League Schools?
- Is an Ivy League education worth it?
- Best Ivy League Schools in 2022
- Ivy League class of 2026 acceptance rates
- How to apply to Ivy League Schools?
FAQs
What Are The Easiest & Hardest Ivy Leagues To Get Into? - Crimson Education NZ? ›
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%.
Which Ivy is easiest to get into Ed? ›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%.
What is the lowest GPA to get into Ivy League? ›None of the Ivy League schools have a minimum GPA requirement for applications, which means anyone can apply regardless of their GPA.
What colleges have the highest acceptance rate in Ivy League? ›1. Which Ivy League School has the highest acceptance rate? Recent data shows Cornell University is the Ivy League school with the highest acceptance rate.
What is the hardest non Ivy League school to get into? ›Stanford University
Stanford University has a 5% acceptance rate. The Stanford, California, college was also named by Niche as the No. 2 school for the best academics in 2023. Additionally, the school ranks high on the list of best value colleges in the country.
Dartmouth University is the Ivy League school that receives the least amount of applications. On average, they receive nearly 23,000 applications each year, and this year they received 28,841 applications.
What is the second easiest ivy to get into? ›Dartmouth College
The second-easiest Ivy League school to get into, Dartmouth College was founded in 1769. Dartmouth is the smallest Ivy League school, but don't be fooled by its diminutive undergraduate class size—the school has a large number of offerings.
Princeton. Princeton is commonly regarded as the “cheapest Ivy” thanks to its extensive financial aid offerings. 62% of admitted students receive financial aid.
What is a crimson student? ›Crimson Education Homestay Program is for overseas students to attend a private school in California to improve their English in preparation for college in the United States. Learn More.
Does Ivy accept 3.7 GPA? ›Yes, you can get into an Ivy League with a 3.7 GPA. Though, the lower your grade, the less your chances of getting into an Ivy League, but with a strong personal statement and a properly packaged application, you can get in with a grade even less than 3.7 GPA.
Which schools send most students to Ivy League? ›
- The Spence School, New York, NY. ...
- Phillips Academy Andover, Andover, MA. ...
- Roxbury Latin School, West Roxbury, MA. ...
- Horace Mann School, The Bronx, NY. ...
- Brearly School, New York, NY. ...
- Collegiate School, New York, NY. ...
- Trinity School, New York, NY.
Columbia University
The Ivy League schools, as would be expected, have excellent dorm life options. Columbia, an Ivy League school with an outstanding history and reputation, carries inclusion and diversity from the classroom to the larger Columbia community.
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.
What is the coolest Ivy League school? ›The best Ivy League school in 2023 is Harvard, followed by Princeton and Yale. The most notable changes in rankings compared to last year is Columbia dropping below Princeton, U Penn and Yale.
What is a hidden Ivy League school? ›The Hidden Ivies include many small colleges, such as Davidson College, Pomona College, Carleton College, and Oberlin College, as well as some large research universities, like Georgetown University, Vanderbilt University, Washington University in St. Louis, and the University of Southern California.
What is the funnest Ivy League? ›If you're wondering which Ivies have the best party scenes, this guide breaks it down. The best Ivy League party schools are Dartmouth and Penn, followed by Cornell. But if you put yourself out there and meet the right people, you can have an incredible social life at any of them.
Which Ivy has the smartest students? ›| Smarts Rank | Overall Smarts Rank | School |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Harvard University |
| 1 | 3 | Yale University |
| 3 | 5 | Princeton University |
| 4 | 8 | Columbia University |
What is the least "snobby" Ivy League? The correct answer is almost certainly Cornell. It's a much bigger school in terms of number of students, and includes a number of schools -- not just the core arts & science school.
What is the smallest Ivy undergrad? ›Dartmouth is the smallest Ivy, with a total enrollment of about 7,000 students.
What is the lowest GPA to get into Harvard? ›You should also have a 4.18 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score. For a school as selective as Harvard, you'll also need to impress them with the rest of your application. We'll cover those details next.
Which Ivy Leagues give full scholarships? ›
Brown, Princeton, and Columbia offer non-repayable scholarships to meet their students' financial needs. Depending on a student's demonstrated needs, this can include full tuition and a percentage of room and board costs.
What is the cheapest Ivy League school after aid? ›This immense financial support results in equivalently low tuition rates, and Yale offers the lowest average net cost among Ivy League schools, at under $18,000 per year.
Do you say go crimson for Harvard? ›"Whether you go to school here, work here, are a part of this place—it's a privilege." The cheer of the Harvard faithful has long been, "Go Crimson!" After a discordant stretch for the campus and the country, McDermott added her own unifying spin on the rallying cry this year: "Go Crimson, One Crimson!"
How do you know if you're a crimson Scholar? ›You do not need to apply to be a Crimson Scholar.
At the beginning of each semester that you qualify as a Crimson Scholar, you will receive an email message confirming your status. If you want to graduate with University Honors you may complete the University Honors Program.
Crimson Tide
UA's football team was first known as the Thin Red Line or the Crimson White. As the story goes, that changed on a soggy day in 1907, when Alabama went to Birmingham to play heavily favored Auburn. Birmingham's iron-rich soil turned to a sea of red mud which stained Alabama's white jerseys.
With a GPA of 4.18, Harvard requires you to be at the top of your class.
Is a 4.8 GPA good for Ivy League? ›However, for college applicants, the average GPA is more likely between 3.5 and 4.0. If you're aiming for a top university such as one in the Ivy League, Stanford, MIT, or others of the same caliber, a 4.0 GPA — or close to it — is expected.
Is a 4.2 GPA good enough for Harvard? ›However, unweighted GPAs are not very useful, because high schools weight GPAs differently. In truth, you need close to a 4.0 unweighted GPA to get into Harvard.
Which high school sends most kids to Harvard? ›AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) — The public Texas high school that sends the most students to Harvard, Princeton and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is right here in Austin. Westlake ranked No. 4 in the entire state for the number of students who matriculated to those elite East Coast universities and No.
Do most billionaires go to Ivy League schools? ›As you might expect, the colleges that produce the most billionaires are largely Ivy League universities. But even for those who never reach 10 figures, Ivy League universities can still generate wealth.
What do most Ivy League students major in? ›
Political science and government are popular majors across the Ivy League, according to "U.S. News and World Report." English literature and the social science majors remain very popular at Harvard, along with psychology.
What is the happiest Ivy League? ›Campus happiness: Brown is widely known as the happiest Ivy, perhaps because of students' freedom to choose courses with almost complete autonomy. Students report feeling less competition amongst themselves and an overall sense of campus community.
Which Ivy is the most generous? ›Princeton University
Princeton University is the highest scoring Ivy League to make the top ten list of universities with the best financial aid packages.
Harvard was the clear winner in our rankings, taking the top spot in half of our categories — Affordability, Campus, and Job Prospects — and never placing out of the top three. Boston is a great city to attend college, and Harvard's historic and picturesque campus makes it all the better.
Which Ivy League schools have Ed? ›Early Decision The College Board-approved Early Decision Plan, which is offered by Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, and the University of Pennsylvania, requires a prior commitment to matriculate.
Do any Ivy Leagues have Ed? ›Although none of the Ivy League schools offer ED II, the list contains other top tier national universities and liberal arts colleges such as the University of Chicago, Washington University in St. Louis, Tufts University, Swarthmore College, Wellesley College, Pomona College, Bowdoin College, and more.
Which Ivy League has Ed? ›Ivy Leagues that offer restrictive early action: Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, and Yale. Other colleges, not limited to Ivy Leagues that offer this option: Boston College, Georgetown University, and the University of Notre Dame.
Is Cornell Ed easy to get into? ›The best chance for students to get into Cornell University is through the early decision process, which has a much more generous acceptance rate of 24% compared to the regular decision acceptance rate of 8.7%.
Which Ivy doesn't have a med school? ›Among the schools comprising the Ivy League, only Princeton doesn't have a medical school. That means future physicians can choose from the following prestigious institutions: Cornell, Columbia, Harvard, Dartmouth, Yale, Brown, and the University of Pennsylvania.
Do all billionaires go to Ivy League? ›Of the top 10 Fortune 100 companies, only one CEO — Amazon's Jeff Bezos — attended an Ivy League school. Bezos graduated from Princeton University in 1988. The rest went to schools like the University of Minnesota, Illinois State University, University of Central Oklahoma, and others.
What is the hardest ivy to stay in? ›
Harvard University
You will surely have to impress its admissions officers in a grand way if you want to spend your college years there. By the way, it's not just the hardest of the Ivies to go to. Harvard University is also the oldest Ivy around. It was founded way back in 1636, which is nearly 400 years ago!
He started at Queen's University in Ontario, Canada before transferring to the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League school, on a scholarship. Musk paid his own way through college, making rent money by hosting parties with friends, he said in a December 2019 Tweet.
What GPA is for Ivy's? ›However, for college applicants, the average GPA is more likely between 3.5 and 4.0. If you're aiming for a top university such as one in the Ivy League, Stanford, MIT, or others of the same caliber, a 4.0 GPA — or close to it — is expected.
Can you get rejected Cornell Ed? ›Students are admitted or denied during early decision or are occasionally postponed to regular decision for further consideration. Students whose applications are postponed to regular decision are released from the early decision binding commitment.
What is the rejection rate for Cornell Ed? ›Recent class profile data shows that the school received 9,555 early applications and accepted 1,831 students. The Cornell early decision acceptance rate is 19.2%.