Ivy Plus Universities
Everyone is familiar with the Ivy League, the eight universities originally named for their participation in an annual football conference. These universities are known to be some of the oldest, most highly selective, and academically respected universities in the country, if not the world.
While the Ivies are certainly impressive, they are not the only universities to pay attention to. In recent years, a handful of universities have gained a reputation of competitiveness and academic respect that match that of the Ivies. These universities are called “Ivy Plus.”
There are a handful of universities known as the Ivy Plus. These universities include Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford, Duke, California Institute of Technology (CalTech), Johns Hopkins, and University of Chicago. While these universities are not designated Ivies, they do embrace the Ivy Plus classification. Their admissions rates are comparable to the Ivies; they meet annually to compare the processes, standards, and industry trends of the Ivies; and they are part of the Ivy Plus Libraries Confederation, which ensures access to collective information to help shape research and academic discourse.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Known for their programs in science, engineering, and technology, MIT encourages a culture of research and collaboration. At MIT, students and faculty work together to make notable advancements in artificial intelligence, robotics, and biotechnology.
Stanford
Located in Stanford/Palo Alto, California. Set in the heart of Silicon Valley, Stanford is known for their impressive research facilities which draw students in the field of technology. The university is also known to be appealing to students with a strong entrepreneurial spirit.
Duke
Located in Durham, North Carolina. Duke students are privy to notable research centers including the Duke Global Health Institute and the Duke Energy Initiative. In addition to their rigorous academics, Duke is also known for their athletics. Their mascot, the Blue Devil, is one of the most recognizable mascots in the country.
California Institute of Technology (CalTech)
Located in Pasadena, California. CalTech is a private institution known for their programs in physics, astronomy, and aerospace engineering. The university is often appealing to students due to their small class sizes that focus on undergraduate research. Students often work alongside faculty members in the university's various labs, including the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a NASA facility that designs and manages robotic space missions.
Johns Hopkins
Located in Baltimore, Maryland. Johns Hopkins is a leading university in public health research and education. The university offers top-ranked programs in epidemiology, global health, and health policy. They also have a strong interdisciplinary program in Biomedical Engineering, which is jointly administered by the School of Medicine and the Whiting School of Engineering.
University of Chicago
Located in Chicago, Illinois. The University of Chicago is known for their academic rigor and intellectualism. Composed of an impressive number of Nobel Laureates, the university’s faculty mixed with the core curriculum emphasize critical thinking and analysis. They have strong programs in philosophy, economics, and political science, so students looking for a career in law or politics would do well here.
This is just a sampling of the more popular Ivy Plus universities. Each year, more schools are inching their way toward this designation. In the coming years, we expect to see Barnard, Swarthmore, NYU, and Tufts all joining this list.
If you or your child is aiming for an Ivy or Ivy Plus college, contact us below to schedule a consultation. In order to beat the odds, students need to, at least, be strategic with their classes and extracurriculars from 9th grade onward. Being valedictorian won’t be enough, acing the SAT won’t be enough, so how do you plan to stand out?
