The Demographics of the Ivy League
What’s Covered:
- Introduction to the Ivy League
- FAQs About Diversity at the Ivies
- Ethnic/Racial Breakdown of the Ivy League
- Other Ways to Assess College Diversity and Inclusion
- What Are Your Chances of Acceptance at the Ivies?
With high admissions standards and low acceptance rates, the schools making up the Ivy League are highly selective. When considering the Ivies for your college journey, it is important to know who actually goes there for you to imagine yourself as part of the community. Here, demographic information can help. Many schools describe their demographics numerically—the Ivies are no exception. Does the Ivy League community offer what you’re looking for? Look at their data to find out.
Introduction to the Ivy League
The Ivy League is the traditional designation for the group of schools that includes the following colleges and universities:
The Ivy League schools are mostly private colleges, with the exception of Cornell, which has several degree programs that are partially publicly run and funded. These colleges are traditionally grouped together because they share a number of distinguishing factors. Chief among these is their reputation as prestigious centers of higher learning where selected students can receive a rigorous college education, access an exceptionally rich array of resources, and network with others who will be assets to them in their career.
FAQs About Diversity at the Ivies
Are the Ivy League Schools Diverse?
The US New and World Report operates a Diversity Index ranking hundreds of schools across the United States. Schools are ranked on a scale of 0-1, with 1 being the most diverse. This data was drawn from each school’s Fall 2021 undergraduate student body. Most of the Ivies rank between 0.72 and 0.70, with only Brown and Dartmouth falling in the 0.60s range. That’s a high rank! This can be compared to the highest-ranking national university, Andrews University. Andrews boasts a Diversity Index ranking of 0.77. The Ivies are close behind!
However, this ranking focuses on racial and ethnic makeup. Other factors may influence your perspective of diversity within a school, including majors offered, clubs, and the community the school is part of. When it comes to diversity, use your school research to focus on what matters to you.
What is the Most Diverse Ivy League School?
According to the Diversity Index, Harvard and Yale are tied for most diverse. Located in Cambridge, MA, and New Haven, CT, respectively, Harvard and Yale have the most ethnic and racial diversity across the Ivies, as well as receiving the highest number of applications. Many students set their eyes on Harvard and Yale as their dream schools, and the campus community has a wealth of diversity.
What is the Least Diverse Ivy League School?
Dartmouth had the lowest ranking of the Ivies per the Diversity Index. Based on their data, Dartmouth has the highest white-identifying student population, and the lowest population of all other identities, save multi-racial and Native American. This follows along with Hanover, New Hampshire’s census data on racial and ethnic makeup, with 72.3% of the town’s 11,721 residents identifying as white.
Ethnic/Racial Breakdown of the Ivy League
|
White |
Asian-American |
Hispanic/ Latino |
African-American |
Multi-racial (non-Hispanic) |
Native American |
International Student Percentage |
|
|
40% |
18% |
11% |
7% |
7% |
0.32% |
12% |
|
|
30% |
22% |
16% |
8% |
7% |
0.44% |
16% |
|
|
34% |
22% |
15% |
7% |
5% |
0.27% |
10% |
|
|
50% |
14% |
10% |
5% |
6% |
1% |
12% |
|
|
35% |
22% |
12% |
9% |
7% |
0.22% |
13% |
|
|
39% |
23% |
11% |
8% |
6% |
0.19% |
12% |
|
|
34% |
26% |
10% |
8% |
5% |
0.11% |
13% |
|
|
37% |
21% |
15% |
8% |
7% |
0.36% |
10% |
Brown University
Location: Providence, Rhode Island
Undergraduate population: 6,792
Acceptance rate: 5.1%
Gender breakdown: 53% female and 47% male
Yearly cost: The annual cost of tuition and fees for Brown is $65,046, however when additional factors like room and board are factored in, the total estimated cost is $80,886.
Financial aid: At Brown, 42% of students receive financial aid, with the average need-based aid package around $59,749. Fourteen percent of students receive Pell grants. For students who take out loans, the average amount of debt is $24,102.
Columbia University
Location: New York, New York
Undergraduate population: 8,842
Acceptance rate: 3.9%
Gender breakdown: 51% female and 49% male
Yearly cost: Columbia’s yearly tuition is $62,570. With additional costs like food and housing, the actual estimated cost of attending a year of Columbia is $81,736.
Financial aid: Half of Columbia students receive financial aid, with the average need-based aid package being $63,971. Additionally, 19% of students receive Pell grants. The average amount of student loan debt at graduation is $26,495 for Columbia students who take out loans.
Cornell University
Location: Ithaca, New York
Undergraduate population: 15,503
Acceptance rate: 7.4%
Gender breakdown: 54% female and 46% male
Yearly cost: The cost of Cornell tuition is $62,456, but once other costs like room and board are factored in the estimated yearly cost for attending Cornell is $80,288. (Note that for New York state residents attending Cornell’s state schools, the cost of tuition will be lower. For more information, visit Cornel’’s website.)
Financial aid: At Cornell, 46% of students receive need-based aid, and the average financial aid package awarded is $51,026. Fifteen percent of students receive Pell grants. For students who take out loans, the average debt at graduation is $26,865.
Dartmouth College
Location: Hanover, New Hampshire
Undergraduate population: 4,732
Acceptance rate: 6.2%
Gender breakdown: 49% female and 51% male
Yearly cost: The annual cost of tuition is $60,687, but when additional costs are factored in, the cost of attending Dartmouth for one year is estimated around $80,304.
Financial aid: Nearly half (49%) of Dartmouth students receive need-based financial aid. The average aid package awarded to students is $63,279. Sixteen percent of students receive Pell grants. The average debt at graduation for students who take out loans is $23,217.
Harvard University
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Undergraduate population: 5,227
Acceptance rate: 3.4%
Gender breakdown: 51% female and 49% male
Yearly cost: The yearly cost of Harvard tuition and fees is $52,659, while the total estimated cost that included other expenses like room and board is $76,763.
Financial aid: At Harvard, 55% of students receive need-based financial aid, and the average awarded aid package is $61,818. Additionally, 17% of students receive Pell grants. For students who take out loans, the average debt at graduation is $16,366.
Princeton University
Location: Princeton, New Jersey
Undergraduate population: 5,267
Acceptance rate: 5.8%
Gender breakdown: 51% female and 49% male
Yearly cost: The cost of a year’s worth of tuition and fees at Princeton is $57,410. Once other costs, like room and board, are included, the estimated yearly cost is $76,040.
Financial aid: Sixty percent of the Princeton undergraduate population receives need-based financial aid. The average financial aid award is $61,731. At Princeton, 21% of students receive Pell grants. Princeton also has the lowest average debt for students at graduation out of the Ivies at $10,506.
University of Pennsylvania
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Undergraduate population: 10,106
Acceptance rate: 4.1%
Gender breakdown: 55% female and 45% male
Yearly cost: UPenn’s annual tuition costs $56,212, but the total estimated cost, including housing, is $63,452.
Financial aid: Forty-four percent of UPenn students receive need-based financial aid. The average aid package awarded to students is $53,221. Thirteen percent of students receive Pell grants. For students who take out loans, the average amount of debt at graduation is $26,481.
Yale University
Location: New Haven, Connecticut
Undergraduate population: 6,494
Acceptance rate: 4.4%
Gender breakdown: 52% female and 48% male
Yearly cost: The cost of tuition for one year at Yale is $62,250. The total estimated cost of attending Yale for a year when additional expenses are included is $80,700.
Financial aid: At Yale, 54% of students receive need-based financial aid, with the average awarded aid package being $65,762. Eighteen percent of students receive Pell grants at Yale. The average debt at graduation for students who take out loans is $14,383.
Other Ways to Assess College Diversity and Inclusion
Remember, just because a college is numerically diverse doesn’t mean it provides strong support and resources for all students, and vice versa. When choosing schools to apply to, make sure you do your research! Some things to check out include:
Hear From Current Students About Their Experiences
A great place to start for this is YouTube! Many students make vlogs about their experience in university, and watching them can give you a glimpse into the ups and downs of life at the school you’re considering. These are especially good because they offer more than the stereotypical side of college seen in movies and TV. You could also ask your school counselor to put you in contact with any known alumni, or check out the school’s social media. Often, schools will highlight recent alumni and link to their own pages. Shoot them a quick message for a chat!
Search Clubs and Organizations
Most schools have their clubs and organizations listed on their website. Check them out and see if anything jumps out to you. Look into social media pages for organizations and see if the activities they post are interesting. You can also message students who are currently involved to discuss what the organization is about, as well as what it’s like to be involved.
Look into the City or Town Around Campus
The town your school is in can make or break your college experience. The surrounding people, activities, and businesses will provide you networking opportunities, outlets for fun, and possible jobs. Is there adequate public transportation if you don’t have a car? Are there parks if you enjoy exercise? Are there plenty of opportunities to get a job? All of these are important factors to consider when choosing your school.
What Are Your Chances of Acceptance at the Ivies?
The Ivies are reach schools for most people, and that’s okay! In fact, we recommend at least eight schools on your list—two reaches, four target, and two safeties. Want to know your chances of acceptance to each of these schools?
Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and gain access to our chancing engine. We use GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, and other data to predict your odds of acceptance at hundreds of schools across the US. We’ll also show you how you stack up against other applicants and give suggestions on improving your profile.
While you’re at it, use our free school list builder to find schools based on your chances and values, including diversity. Good luck!
