SafekipediaIvy League
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The Ivy League is a group of eight private research universities in the Northeastern United States. These schools are known around the world for their high academic standards, very careful selection of students, and historic importance. The term "Ivy League" started being used in 1933 and became official in 1954 when the schools formed an athletic conference. Sometimes, these schools are called the "Ancient Eight."
The eight schools in the Ivy League are Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, and Yale University. Most of these schools were founded during the colonial period, making them some of the oldest in the United States. The main office for the Ivy League is located in Princeton, New Jersey.
Overview
Ivy League schools are some of the most respected universities in the world. All eight of these schools are among the top 15 in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report National Universities ranking. Each year since 2001, U.S. News has chosen an Ivy League school as the best national university. As of 2020[update], Princeton has been chosen eleven times, Harvard twice, and the two schools have tied for first place five times.
In the 2024–2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Global University Ranking, six Ivy League schools are in the top 20. These schools are Harvard (#1), Columbia (#9), Yale (#10), Penn (#14), Princeton (#18), and Cornell (#19). All eight Ivy League schools belong to the Association of American Universities, a group of top research universities in America.
The number of undergraduate students at Ivy League schools ranges from about 4,500 to 15,000. When you include graduate students, the total enrollment is from about 6,600 at Dartmouth to over 20,000 at Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, and Penn. The amount of money these schools have saved to support their work, called financial endowments, ranges from Brown's $6.9 billion to Harvard's $53.2 billion, which is the most saved money of any school in the world.
The Ivy League is similar to groups of top schools in other countries, such as Oxbridge in England, the C9 League in China, the Écoles Normales Supérieures in France, the SKY Universities in South Korea, and the Imperial Universities in Japan.
Members
The Ivy League universities have some of the biggest funds in the world, which helps them offer great learning opportunities, support for students who need help paying, and many research projects. For example, Harvard University had a fund of $53.2 billion in 2021, which is more than any other school.
These schools also get a lot of money each year for research from the government and private groups.
Current schools
Former affiliate members
In the past, before the 2000s, many Ivy League events for sports like cross country and track were open to many schools in the eastern United States. In some sports, like fencing and ice hockey, the Ivy League schools were part of other groups, and the best Ivy League team would be called the winner.
The United States Military Academy and the United States Naval Academy used to compete with Ivy League teams and even won championships. However, they left the Ivy League in the early 2000s to join another group called the Patriot League, except for football, where they are still connected to the American Athletic Conference.
History
The Ivy League is a group of eight universities in the northeastern United States that compete together in sports. These schools are known for their high academic standards and selective admissions.
The name "Ivy League" comes from a tradition of planting ivy at graduation ceremonies. Over time, sportswriters began using the term to describe these schools because of their strong sports teams and long history of competing against each other.
These universities have been competing in sports since the 1800s, with rowing being one of the earliest sports. Over the years, they added more sports like football, basketball, and wrestling. In 1954, the schools officially formed the Ivy League to keep their sports teams fair and focused on education rather than just winning. This means athletes are students first, and sports do not affect who gets to attend these schools.
| Institution | Founded as | Founded | Chartered | First instruction | Founding affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard University | Harvard College | 1636 | 1650 | 1642 | Nonsectarian, founded by Calvinist Congregationalists |
| Yale University | Collegiate School | 1701 | 1701 | 1702 | Calvinist (Congregationalist) |
| Princeton University | College of New Jersey | 1746 | 1746 | 1747 | Nonsectarian, founded by Calvinist Presbyterians |
| Columbia University | King's College | 1754 | 1754 | 1754 | Church of England |
| University of Pennsylvania | College of Philadelphia | 1740 or 1749 or 1755 | 1755 | 1755 | Nonsectarian, founded by Church of England/Methodist members |
| Brown University | College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations | 1764 | 1764 | 1765 | Baptist, founding charter promises "no religious tests" and "full liberty of conscience" Brown's website characterizes it as "the Baptist answer to Congregationalist Yale and Harvard; Presbyterian Princeton; and Episcopalian Penn and Columbia," but adds that at the time it was "the only one that welcomed students of all religious persuasions." |
| Dartmouth College | Dartmouth College | 1769 | 1769 | 1769 | Calvinist (Congregationalist) |
| Cornell University | Cornell University | 1865 | 1865 | 1868 | Nonsectarian |
Academics
The Ivy League schools are very selective, with many accepting fewer than 6 out of every 100 applicants. Students come from all over the world, but many are from the Northeastern United States.
In 2021, these schools received more applications than ever before, with acceptance rates at their lowest. The number of people applying increased a lot, from 14.5% more at Princeton to 51% more at Columbia.
There have been discussions about fairness in admissions, with some saying that certain groups face challenges. For example, in 2020, it was said that Yale may have treated Asian-American applicants unfairly, but Yale denied this. Harvard also faced similar questions.
These schools are known for their high quality and are often ranked among the best in the country. Students and leaders from these schools also work together on projects and programs.
| Applicants | Admission rates | |
|---|---|---|
| Brown | 48,898 | 5.2% |
| Columbia | 60,248 | 3.9% |
| Cornell | 61,178 | 8.4% |
| Dartmouth | 31,656 | 5.3% |
| Harvard | 54,008 | 3.7% |
| Penn | 65,236 | 5.4% |
| Princeton | 39,644 | 4.6% |
| Yale | 57,517 | 3.9% |
| University | Per FTE Student (Fall 2022) |
|---|---|
| Princeton University | $3,832,426.46 |
| Yale University | $2,781,928.04 |
| Harvard University | $2,032,820.27 |
| Dartmouth College | $1,175,878.56 |
| University of Pennsylvania | $834,978.31 |
| Brown University | $582,294.27 |
| Columbia University | $447,066.03 |
| Cornell University | $368,615.52 |
History of diversity
Racial segregation and integration
Ivy League schools have a complicated past regarding racial segregation and, later, integration. Before Cornell University, all Ivy League schools were founded during a time when slavery existed in America. In 2003, Brown University was the first to acknowledge its historical ties to slavery and the slave trade. Other Ivy schools also examined their histories and found connections to slavery. For example, Yale used money from slave traders and owners to fund its first scholarships, libraries, and faculty positions. Some of Yale's buildings are still named after these individuals.
A small number of Black students attended Ivy League schools in their early years, but they did not always receive degrees. For instance, some Black students studied privately with Princeton’s president in 1774, but the first Black student to receive a degree from Princeton did not graduate until the mid-20th century. Two Mohawk brothers were the first people of color to enroll at the University of Pennsylvania in 1755, recruited by Benjamin Franklin, but there is no proof that either earned a degree.
19th and early 20th centuries
In 1900, a study found that only 52 Black students had graduated from Ivy League schools throughout their histories. Each school had different rules about admitting Black students. Dartmouth’s first Black graduate earned his degree in 1828, while Princeton’s first Black student enrolled in the 1940s.
Early Black students at Ivy schools often faced opposition. Dartmouth initially denied admission to its first Black graduate but later allowed him to enroll after student protests in 1824. Harvard’s first Black student started in 1847, but he passed away before the school year began. The first African American to earn a degree from Harvard did so in 1870.
Cornell was more open from the start, allowing students of any race or gender. However, Black students at Cornell still faced segregation in the local community.
Princeton was the last to integrate. In 1939, Princeton revoked an offer to a Black student upon discovering his race. The student wrote to the admissions office for an explanation and received a reply saying he would feel lonely because there were no other Black students at Princeton.
Late 20th century
By the mid-20th century, some Ivy League students and alumni were pushing for more racial integration, but each school moved at its own pace. The V-12 Navy College Training Program in 1942 forced all Ivy schools to increase the number of Black students.
The 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education did not apply to private universities, but a 1976 court case did prohibit racial discrimination at private schools. By the early 1960s, some Ivy schools began actively seeking Black applicants. Efforts included support from student groups, faculty, and outside organizations. By 1965, Black students made up only 2% of admitted students across the Ivies.
Before the 1960s, most Ivy schools did not allow women, so Black women could not attend until policies changed. The first Black woman to earn a degree from Harvard did so in 1969.
As the number of Black students grew, activism increased. In 1969, students at Cornell took over a building to protest racist policies and demand a Black studies program. Similar protests happened at Yale, Brown, Harvard, and Columbia.
21st century
The number of Black students at Ivy schools continued to grow in the 21st century. From 2006 to 2018, the number of Black students increased by about 50%. In 2018, all Ivy schools supported Harvard’s approach to considering race in admissions to promote diversity.
However, a 2023 Supreme Court case banned considering race in college admissions, changing how schools approach diversity. Despite this, the number of Black faculty members has grown more slowly than the number of students.
Student protests continue today, with groups advocating for more support for Black students and calling for changes on and off campus. After tragic events like the death of Michael Brown in 2014, students formed groups to fight racism. Some schools renamed buildings to honor Black graduates and removed names tied to racist histories.
Fashion and lifestyle
Different fashion trends have developed from Ivy League campuses over time. Styles such as Ivy League and preppy are often linked to these schools. Ivy League style, popular in the late 1950s, influenced preppy fashion, which began in the early to mid-20th century. Brands like J. Press and Brooks Brothers were key to these styles.
Preppy fashion reflects traditional New England activities such as sailing, tennis, and golf. Brands like L.L. Bean and Lilly Pulitzer are part of this style. By the 1980s, brands such as Lacoste and Izod also became associated with preppy fashion.
Although Ivy League style was historically linked to white, male elites, it was also embraced by Black communities during the civil rights era, leading to the creation of the Black Ivy style.
Today, Ivy League styles remain popular across the United States and around the world, often described as “Classic American style.”
Social elitism
The Ivy League is often linked with the upper class and is seen as a place for wealthy, mostly white students. While many Ivy students come from affluent families, the schools have worked to increase economic and ethnic diversity through financial aid. Still, many feel that students from less wealthy backgrounds remain underrepresented.
The term “Ivy League snobbery” is often used to describe a sense of superiority associated with these schools. Writers and commentators have criticized this attitude for years. During the 1988 presidential election, for example, one candidate made a comment that was seen as mocking an Ivy-educated opponent.
Despite these criticisms, many U.S. presidents have been Ivy League graduates. Sixteen presidents have graduated from Ivy schools, with Harvard and Yale being the most common alma maters.
U.S. presidents in the Ivy League
Sixteen of the 45 U.S. presidents have graduated from Ivy League universities. Eight earned degrees from Harvard, five from Yale, three from Columbia, two from Princeton, and one from Penn. Twelve of these presidents earned their undergraduate degrees at Ivy schools.
Four presidents transferred to Ivy schools: Woodrow Wilson from Davidson College, Barack Obama from Occidental College, Donald Trump from Fordham University, and John F. Kennedy from Princeton to Harvard. John Adams was the first U.S. president to graduate from college, earning his degree from Harvard in 1755.
| President | School(s) | Graduation year |
|---|---|---|
| John Adams | Harvard University | 1755 |
| James Madison | Princeton University | 1771 |
| John Quincy Adams | Harvard University | 1787 |
| William Henry Harrison | University of Pennsylvania | (withdrew, class of 1793) |
| Rutherford B. Hayes | Harvard Law School | 1845 |
| Theodore Roosevelt | Harvard University Columbia Law School | 1880 (withdrew, class of 1882) |
| William Howard Taft | Yale University | 1878 |
| Woodrow Wilson | Princeton University | 1879 |
| Franklin D. Roosevelt | Harvard University Columbia Law School | 1903 (withdrew, class of 1907) |
| John F. Kennedy | Princeton University Harvard University | (withdrew) 1940 |
| Gerald Ford | Yale Law School | 1941 |
| George H. W. Bush | Yale University | 1948 |
| Bill Clinton | Yale Law School | 1973 |
| George W. Bush | Yale University Harvard Business School | 1968 1975 |
| Barack Obama | Columbia University Harvard Law School | 1983 1991 |
| Donald Trump | University of Pennsylvania | 1968 |
Student demographics
Students in the Ivy League mostly come from the Northeast, especially areas around New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia. Because all eight Ivy League schools are in this region, many graduates continue to live and work there after finishing their studies.
These students often come from families that are financially well-off. However, the universities are working to include more students from different economic backgrounds by offering financial aid to those from lower and middle-income families. For example, some students receive help through programs like Pell Grants, which support students based on their financial need.
| College | Asian | Black | Hispanic (of any race) | Non-Hispanic White | Other/ International | Two or more races | Unknown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown | 16% | 7% | 10% | 39% | 18% | 5% | 4% |
| Columbia | 13% | 5% | 8% | 31% | 35% | 3% | 4% |
| Cornell | 17% | 6% | 11% | 34% | 22% | 4% | 6% |
| Dartmouth | 14% | 5% | 9% | 48% | 17% | 5% | 3% |
| Harvard | 14% | 7% | 9% | 40% | 23% | 4% | 3% |
| Penn | 18% | 7% | 8% | 40% | 20% | 4% | 3% |
| Princeton | 19% | 6% | 9% | 35% | 23% | 5% | 3% |
| Yale | 16% | 7% | 11% | 39% | 21% | 5% | 1% |
| United States | 6% | 14% | 19% | 59% | 2% | 3% | — |
| College | Median | Top 1% | Top 10% | Top 20% | Bottom 20% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown | $204,200 | 19% | 60% | 70% | 4.1% |
| Columbia | $150,900 | 13% | 48% | 62% | 5.1% |
| Cornell | $151,600 | 10% | 48% | 64% | 3.8% |
| Dartmouth | $200,400 | 21% | 58% | 69% | 2.6% |
| Harvard | $168,800 | 15% | 53% | 67% | 4.5% |
| Penn | $195,500 | 19% | 45% | 58% | 3.3% |
| Princeton | $186,100 | 17% | 58% | 72% | 2.2% |
| Yale | $192,600 | 19% | 57% | 69% | 2.1% |
| College | American Indian or Alaska Native | Asian | Black | Hispanic (of any race ) | Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | Non-Hispanic White | Two or more races | Unknown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown | 57% | 96% | 95% | 95% | — | 97% | 98% | 96% |
| Columbia | 83% | 98% | 95% | 98% | 50% | 98% | 95% | 100% |
| Cornell | 73% | 96% | 90% | 90% | 75% | 95% | 95% | 94% |
| Dartmouth | 96% | 96% | 82% | 93% | 100% | 95% | 93% | 83% |
| Harvard | 75% | 98% | 96% | 97% | — | 97% | 98% | 100% |
| Penn | 100% | 97% | 96% | 95% | — | 96% | 99% | 98% |
| Princeton | 100% | 99% | 95% | 99% | 100% | 99% | 96% | 94% |
| Yale | 100% | 99% | 95% | 95% | — | 97% | 97% | 100% |
Faculty demographics
Race and ethnicity
| College | Asian | Black | Hispanic (of any race) | Non-Hispanic White | Native American, Native Alaskan or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | Two or more races | Unknown | "Under Represented Minorities" & "Historically Underrepresented Groups" |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown | — | — | — | 86% | — | — | 13% | |
| Columbia | 19% | — | — | 63% | — | — | 3% | 12% |
| Cornell | 12% | 8% | (Combined with Black) | 72% | — | — | 7% | — |
| Dartmouth | 9% | 4% | 6% | 80% | 1% | 2% | — | — |
| Harvard | 12% | 4% | 3% | 79% | .1% | 1% | — | — |
| Penn | 17% | 4% | 5% | 71% | (Combined with Asian) | 1% | .7% | — |
| Princeton | 11% | 4% | 3% | 78% | 0% | 0% | 4% | — |
| Yale | 21% | 5% | 5% | 62% | — | 1% | 6% | — |
Competition and athletics
The Ivy League recognizes champions in sixteen men's and sixteen women's sports. In some sports, Ivy teams compete in other leagues, but the Ivy champion is decided by the teams' records against each other. For example, the six Ivy schools that play ice hockey compete in ECAC Hockey, but an Ivy champion is still determined each year. In rowing, the Ivies name champions for both heavyweight and lightweight divisions for each sex, though only women's heavyweight rowing is sanctioned by the NCAA.
The Ivy League was the last Division I basketball conference to hold a conference tournament. The first tournaments for men and women were held after the 2016–17 season. These tournaments only give the Ivy League automatic spots in the NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments; the official championships are still based on regular-season results. Before 2016–17, the automatic bids were based on regular-season records, with a one-game playoff if needed. The Ivy League is one of only two Division I conferences that award their official basketball championships solely on regular-season results.
On average, each Ivy school has more than 35 varsity teams. All eight schools are among the top 20 for the number of sports offered for both men and women among Division I schools. Unlike most Division I conferences, the Ivy League does not give athletic scholarships; all scholarships are based on financial need (financial aid). The Ivies also do not allow redshirting for athletes, even for medical reasons.
The Ivies do not allow graduate students to play intercollegiate athletics, except for a one-time exception in 2021–22 for seniors graduating in 2021 due to COVID-19. To support diversity and inclusion, most Ivy League schools require student-athletes to list their gender pronouns on roster pages.
Historically, the Ivy League has been successful in many sports. For example, Princeton won 26 national championships in college football, and Yale won 18. Both totals are higher than other strong programs like Alabama, Notre Dame, and USC. Yale, coached by Walter Camp, was the all-time leader in college football wins for most of the 20th century until Michigan passed them in 2001. Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Penn have many former players in the College Football Hall of Fame.
Currently, Dartmouth has the most Ivy League football titles with 18, followed by Harvard and Penn with 17 each. The Ivy League has produced several players who have won Super Bowls, including Kevin Boothe (Cornell), Zak DeOssie (Brown), and Justin Watson (wide receiver) (Penn).
FCS Championship
Since the 1982 football season, the Ivy League has competed in Division I-AA, later renamed FCS in 2006. Ivy teams are eligible for the FCS tournament to determine the national champion, and the Ivy League champion can get an automatic bid. However, until 2024, the Ivy League did not play any postseason games because of concerns about how extra games in December would affect schoolwork. The last postseason game for an Ivy team was the 1934 Rose Bowl, won by Columbia.
Because of this, any Ivy League team asked to join the FCS playoffs before 2025 turned down the invitation. The Ivy League plays a 10-game schedule, while other FCS teams play 11 or 12 regular-season games plus postseason games. Football was the only sport where the Ivy League chose not to compete for a national title. Starting in 2025, the Ivy League will join the FCS playoffs, with its champion automatically qualifying for the tournament.
Sprint football
Besides regular football, Penn and Cornell also have teams in the 9-team Collegiate Sprint Football League, where players must weigh 178 pounds or less. After Princeton stopped its team in 2016, Penn is the last original member of the league from when it started in 1934, and Cornell joined in 1937. Yale and Columbia used to have teams but no longer do.
Teams
Men's sponsored sports by school
Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the Ivy League
Notes:
- Though the Ivy League lists ice hockey as a sponsored sport, all six ice hockey–playing Ivy League schools participate as members of ECAC Hockey.
Women's sponsored sports by school
Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the Ivy League
Notes:
- Though the Ivy League lists ice hockey as a sponsored sport, all six ice hockey–playing Ivy League schools participate as members of ECAC Hockey.
- The Ivy League has some of the oldest college rugby teams in the United States. Though not all men's teams and half the women's teams are varsity sports, they all compete against each other in the Ivy Rugby Conference and their own local conferences. Four women's teams (Brown, Dartmouth, Harvard, and Princeton) compete in the NCAA emerging sport category.
Historical results
The table above shows the number of team championships won from the start of official Ivy League competition in the 1956–57 school year through 2016–17. Princeton and Harvard have sometimes won ten or more Ivy League titles in a year, an achievement done 10 times by Harvard and 24 times by Princeton, including a record 15 championships in 2010–11. Only once has another school won more than eight titles in a year (Cornell with nine in 2005–06). In the 38 years from 1979–80 to 2016–17, Princeton has averaged ten championships per year, one-third of the conference's total of 33 sports.
In the 12 years from 2005–06 to 2016–17, Princeton has won championships in 31 different sports, all except wrestling and men's tennis.
Rivalries
Rivalries are strong in the Ivy League. For example, Princeton and Penn have a long history in men's basketball; fans wear "Puck Frinceton" shirts at games. In only 11 times in Ivy League basketball history, and only seven seasons since Yale's 1962 title, has neither Penn nor Princeton won at least a share of the Ivy League title. Princeton has been champion or co-champion 26 times and Penn 25 times. Penn has won 21 titles alone, and Princeton 19. Princeton has been co-champion seven times, sharing four of those with Penn.
Harvard won its first title in 2011, losing a dramatic playoff game to Princeton for the NCAA tournament spot, then won outright championships in 2011–12, 2012–13, and 2013–14. Harvard also won the 2013 Great Alaska Shootout, beating TCU to become the only Ivy League school to win that tournament.
Rivalries exist between other Ivy teams in other sports, including Cornell and Harvard in hockey, Harvard and Princeton in swimming, and Harvard and Penn in football. Since 1982, Penn and Harvard have won 28 Ivy League Football Championships (Penn-16; Harvard-12). In that time, Penn has had eight perfect seasons, and Harvard six.
In men's lacrosse, Cornell and Princeton are strong rivals, and they are two of three Ivy League teams to have won the NCAA tournament.
In 2009, Cornell and Princeton met for their 70th game in the NCAA tournament. No team except Harvard or Princeton has won the men's swimming conference title alone since 1972, though Yale, Columbia, and Cornell have shared the title with Harvard and Princeton. Similarly, only Princeton and Harvard have won the women's swimming championship since Brown's 1999 title.
Princeton or Cornell has won every indoor and outdoor track and field championship, both men's and women's, every year since 2002–03, except when Columbia's women won the indoor championship in 2012. Harvard and Yale are rivals in football and crew, though the competition has become uneven; Harvard has won all but one of the last 15 football games and all but one of the last 13 crew races.
Intra-conference football rivalries
The Yale–Princeton series is the nation's second-longest by games played, only behind "The Rivalry" between Lehigh and Lafayette, which started later in 1884 but had two or three games each season in 17 early years. For the first three decades of the Yale-Princeton rivalry, the two played their last game of the season at a neutral site, usually New York City, and with one exception (1890: Harvard), the winner also won at least a share of the national championship that year, from 1869 through 1903.
These games were big social events for the elite in the area, like a Super Bowl before the NFL started in 1920. The games were also profitable for the universities, so they also started playing baseball games in New York City, drawing big crowds from the same group of fans. In a time when professional sports were just starting, these early games between Princeton and Yale helped make sports popular, showed they could make money, and raised awareness about Ivy universities when few people went to college.
Extra-conference football rivalries
| Sport | Men's | Women's |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball | 8 | – |
| Basketball | 8 | 8 |
| Cross-country | 8 | 8 |
| Fencing | 6 | 7 |
| Field hockey | – | 8 |
| Football | 8 | – |
| Golf | 8 | 7 |
| Ice hockey | 6 | 6 |
| Lacrosse | 7 | 8 |
| Rowing | 8 | 7 |
| Soccer | 8 | 8 |
| Softball | – | 8 |
| Squash | 8 | 8 |
| Swimming and diving | 8 | 8 |
| Tennis | 8 | 8 |
| Track and field (indoor) | 8 | 8 |
| Track and field (outdoor) | 8 | 8 |
| Volleyball | – | 8 |
| Wrestling | 6 | – |
| School | Baseball | Basketball | Cross Country | Fencing | Football | Golf | Lacrosse | Rowing | Soccer | Squash | Swimming & Diving | Tennis | Track & Field (Indoor) | Track & Field (Outdoor) | Wrestling | Total Ivy League Sports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 12 |
| Columbia | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 14 |
| Cornell | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 14 |
| Dartmouth | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 13 |
| Harvard | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 15 |
| Penn | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 15 |
| Princeton | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 15 |
| Yale | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 14 |
| Totals | 8 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 110 |
| School | Crew | Ice Hockey1 | Polo | Sailing | Skiing | Volleyball | Water Polo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown | Independent | ECAC Hockey | No | Independent | No | No | CWPA |
| Columbia | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Cornell | No | ECAC Hockey | Independent | No | No | No | No |
| Dartmouth | No | ECAC Hockey | No | Independent | Independent | No | No |
| Harvard | No | ECAC Hockey | No | Independent | Independent | EIVA | CWPA |
| Penn | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Princeton | No | ECAC Hockey | No | No | No | EIVA | CWPA |
| Yale | Independent | ECAC Hockey | No | Independent | No | No | No |
| School | Basketball | Cross Country | Fencing | Field Hockey | Golf | Lacrosse | Rowing | Soccer | Softball | Squash | Swimming & Diving | Tennis | Track & Field (Indoor) | Track & Field (Outdoor) | Volleyball | Total Ivy League Sports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 13 |
| Columbia | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 15 |
| Cornell | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 14 |
| Dartmouth | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 14 |
| Harvard | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 15 |
| Penn | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 15 |
| Princeton | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 15 |
| Yale | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 15 |
| Totals | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 116 |
| School | Archery | Crew | Equestrian | Gymnastics | Ice Hockey1 | Polo | Rugby2 | Sailing | Skiing | Water Polo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown | No | Independent | Independent | GEC | ECAC Hockey | No | Independent | Independent | No | CWPA |
| Columbia | Independent | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Cornell | No | No | Independent | GEC | ECAC Hockey | Independent | No | Independent | No | No |
| Dartmouth | No | No | Independent | No | ECAC Hockey | No | Independent | Independent | Independent | No |
| Harvard | No | No | No | No | ECAC Hockey | No | Independent | Independent | Independent | CWPA |
| Penn | No | No | No | GEC | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Princeton | No | No | No | No | ECAC Hockey | No | Independent | No | No | CWPA |
| Yale | No | No | No | GEC | ECAC Hockey | No | No | Independent | No | No |
| Institution | Ivy League championships | NCAA team championships |
|---|---|---|
| Princeton Tigers | 476 | 12 |
| Harvard Crimson | 415 | 4 |
| Cornell Big Red | 231 | 5 |
| Pennsylvania Quakers | 210 | 3 |
| Yale Bulldogs | 202 | 3 |
| Dartmouth Big Green | 140 | 3 |
| Brown Bears | 123 | 7 |
| Columbia Lions | 105 | 11 |
| Teams | Name | Trophy | First met | Games played | Series record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia–Cornell | Empire State Bowl | Empire Cup | 1889 | 103 games | 36–64–3 |
| Cornell–Dartmouth | None | None | 1900 | 103 games | 41–61–1 |
| Cornell–Penn | None | Trustee's Cup | 1893 | 122 games | 46–71–5 |
| Dartmouth–Harvard | None | None | 1882 | 123 games | 47–71–5 |
| Dartmouth–Princeton | None | Sawhorse Dollar | 1897 | 100 games | 50–46–4 |
| Harvard–Penn | None | None | 1881 | 90 games | 49–39–2 |
| Harvard–Princeton | None | None | 1877 | 112 games | 57–48–7 |
| Harvard–Yale | The Game | None | 1875 | 132 games | 59–65–8 |
| Penn–Princeton | None | None | 1876 | 111 games | 67–43–1 |
| Princeton–Yale | None | None | 1873 | 138 games | 52–76–10 |
| Teams | Name | Trophy | First met | Games played | Series record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown–Rhode Island | None | Governor's Cup | 1909 | 107 games | 73–32–2 |
| Columbia–Fordham | None | Liberty Cup | 1890 | 24 games | 12–12–0 |
| Cornell–Colgate | None | None | 1896 | 95 games | 48–44–3 |
| Dartmouth–New Hampshire | Granite Bowl | Granite Bowl Trophy | 1901 | 42 games | 21–19–2 |
| Harvard–Holy Cross | None | None | 1904 | 67 games | 41–24–2 |
| Penn–Lafayette | None | None | 1882 | 90 games | 63–23–4 |
| Penn–Lehigh | None | None | 1885 | 56 games | 43–13 |
| Princeton–Rutgers | None | None | 1869 | 71 games | 53–17–1 |
| Yale–Army | None | None | 1893 | 45 games | 22–16–8 |
| Yale–Connecticut | None | None | 1948 | 49 games | 32–17 |
Championships
NCAA team championships
This list shows the NCAA championships that the Ivy League schools have won, up to January 8, 2018. It also includes some older women’s championships from the AIAW, with Yale, Dartmouth, and Cornell each having a few. It does not include other national titles won outside of NCAA competition, like football titles or Helms Foundation titles.
See also: List of NCAA schools with the most NCAA Division I championships and List of NCAA schools with the most Division I national championships
| School | Total | Men | Women | Co-ed | Nickname |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yale University | 29 | 26 | 3 | 0 | Bulldogs |
| Princeton University | 24 | 19 | 4 | 1 | Tigers |
| Columbia University | 14 | 11 | 0 | 3 | Lions |
| Harvard University | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | Crimson |
| Brown University | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | Bears |
| Cornell University | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | Big Red |
| Dartmouth College | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | Big Green |
| University of Pennsylvania | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | Quakers |
Athletic facilities
Other Ivies
Sometimes people use the word Ivy to compare or connect to the Ivy League, especially in terms of academics. For example, the Little Ivies are small colleges in the Northeastern United States that are often mentioned this way. Other groups with similar names include the Public Ivies, the Hidden Ivies, the Southern Ivies, and the Black Ivies.
IvyPlus
Main article: IvyPlus
The term IvyPlus informally includes the original eight Ivy League schools plus a few other top schools. These include the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, Duke University, and the University of Chicago. Johns Hopkins University is also often added to this group. These schools work together in programs, share resources, and have strong connections beyond just their rankings.
Images
Related articles
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