30 Top Non-Ivy League Schools in 2025
What’s Covered:
- 30 Top Schools That Aren’t in the Ivy League
- Understand Your Chances at These Schools
- How To Find the Right College
The Ivy League is a conference of eight elite East Coast schools. While attending an Ivy can undoubtedly help pave the way for a brighter future, these schools aren’t the only ones you should consider.
As application numbers skyrocket for Ivy League institutions, students are increasingly turning to other great colleges and universities. Often just as selective and academically rigorous, 89% of the CEOs of Fortune 500 companies actually attended non-Ivies, according to a recent study. Keep reading to learn about the best non-Ivy colleges to add to your school list.
30 Top Schools That Aren’t in the Ivy League
It’s no secret that graduating from an Ivy League school comes with a certain cachet. However, the best non-Ivy League colleges in the country tend to score equally high marks in terms of student satisfaction, extracurricular options, opportunities to study abroad, and other metrics. Below are 30 of the best schools that aren’t in the Ivy League.
1. Stanford University
Location: Stanford, CA
Acceptance rate: 4%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1510-1580 SAT, 34-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 7,600
Holding the No. 4 spot on US News & World Report’s list of national universities, Stanford actually ranks ahead of several of the Ivies. Along with exceptional academic programs, the school offers small class sizes—almost 70% of classes have fewer than 20 students—and the opportunity to work closely with faculty. Students are encouraged to participate in professors’ research efforts and to seek out mentorship opportunities while earning their degrees.
Learn more about Stanford and see your chances of acceptance.
2. MIT
Location: Cambridge, MA
Acceptance rate: 4.5%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1520-1580 SAT, 35-36 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 4,500
MIT is one of the nation’s top universities. In addition to world-class research facilities featuring the latest technologies, MIT students enjoy access to the Independent Activities Program, a monthlong January term featuring special courses and projects. While the university’s engineering school is its largest in terms of enrollment, MIT also earns high marks for non-tech programs such as political science, economics, and linguistics.
Learn more about MIT and see your chances of acceptance.
3. Duke University
Location: Durham, NC
Acceptance rate: 5.4%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1510-1560 SAT, 34-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 7,000
With 53 majors and 52 minors, Duke students have plenty of options when it comes to crafting an education. Through their Program II, students with interdisciplinary interests can design their own degree programs. Additionally, each year, the school offers 18 lucky students the opportunity to participate in the Robertson Scholars Leadership Program. The selected students receive a four-year scholarship along with special access to academic and extracurricular opportunities.
Learn more about Duke and see your chances of acceptance.
4. University of Chicago
Location: Chicago, IL
Acceptance rate: 5%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1220-1600 SAT, 23-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 8,000
UChicago is perhaps best known among students for having the quirkiest supplemental essay prompts. Research is a major feature of life at the University of Chicago, where students are encouraged to embark on projects at the Argonne National Laboratory, Marine Biological Laboratory, and the Giant Magellan Telescope. The University of Chicago also offers over 50 different majors, including a nationally recognized program in economics. And with 400 student clubs, you won’t have to worry about finding your niche at this fine institution.
Learn more about UChicago and see your chances of acceptance.
5. Caltech
Location: Pasadena, CA
Acceptance rate: 3%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1530-1570 SAT, 35-36 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,000
Students who are passionate about a career in science would be remiss in not considering Caltech. Home to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory—the country’s leading center for robotic space exploration—the university provides students with plenty of opportunities to take part in research during the school year and the summer. The school also offers plenty of extracurricular programs and student clubs, including archery, karate, and Ultimate Frisbee.
Learn more about Caltech and see your chances of acceptance.
6. Olin College of Engineering
Location: Needham, MA
Acceptance rate: 22%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1490-1540 SAT, 34-36 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 400
This school has small class sizes and a low student-to-faculty ratio, providing students with much individualized attention. Olin also provides a half-tuition scholarship to every admitted student and has strong relationships with industry partners, allowing students internship opportunities.
Learn more about Olin College of Engineering and see your chances of acceptance.
7. Northwestern University
Location: Evanston, IL
Acceptance rate: 7.6%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: unlisted due to test-optional policy
Undergraduate enrollment: 9,000
Another university in Illinois, Northwestern holds the No. 9 spot on the list of best national universities. While Northwestern offers 112 different undergraduate degrees, the school earns particular acclaim for its journalism program, which boasts well known alumni such as Pulitzer Prize winner Lisa Gartner and author George R. R. Martin. As a bonus, Northwestern students have plenty of opportunities to take courses overseas. In fact, 50% of the university’s undergrads participate in study abroad.
Learn more about Northwestern and see your chances of acceptance.
8. Rice University
Location: Houston, Texas
Acceptance rate: 8%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1510-1560 SAT, 34-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 4,000
Located in the heart of Houston, Rice boasts a unique student experience for its undergraduates. Its residential college system helps students build strong affiliations and a feeling of loyalty to their college. Academically, Rice remains one of the best schools in the nation. With a 6-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, top programs in subjects ranging from kinesiology to art to business, and over 50 majors to choose from, Rice is a great place for well-rounded students to carve out a path for themselves.
Learn more about Rice University and see your chances of acceptance.
9. Williams College
Location: Williamstown, MA
Acceptance rate: 8.3%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1470-1560 SAT, 33-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 2,000
Although lesser known as a liberal arts college, Williams is one of the best non-Ivy colleges in the nation offering 60-70 courses in Oxford’s and Cambridge’s tutorial system style; consisting of a professor and two or three students, these tutorials allow undergraduates to learn in an intimate, personalized atmosphere. During their free time, Williams students enjoy plenty of outdoor activities in Western Massachusetts, such as hiking, canoeing, and cross-country skiing.
Learn more about Williams and see your chances of acceptance.
10. Vanderbilt University
Location: Nashville, TN
Acceptance rate: 3.3%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1510-1560 SAT, 34-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 7,200
Vanderbilt University engages students with a creative and collaborative environment, regardless of major, through initiatives such as Immersion Vanderbilt, which calls for undergraduates to undergo a mentored experience both within and outside of the classroom. With 63% of students involved in research on campus, Vanderbilt has a plethora of opportunities for students to study how they choose.
Nearly 500 student organizations make up Vanderbilt’s campus community, giving students plenty of things to spend their time on outside of class. And the school’s location right in vibrant Nashville means there’s never a dull moment.
Learn more about Vanderbilt University and see your chances of acceptance.
11. Pomona College
Location: Claremont, CA
Acceptance rate: 7%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1480-1560 SAT, 33-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,700
Pomona College offers students a comprehensive liberal arts education in a small environment while still giving students plenty of opportunities to expand their horizons. Without graduate programs, undergraduates are the ones conducting research and engaging directly with the faculty, resulting in a vibrant and exciting student body. Pomona consistently ranks as one of the best small colleges in the country, and for good reason.
Learn more about Pomona College and see your chances of acceptance.
12. Bowdoin College
Location: Brunswick, ME
Acceptance rate: 7%
Middle 50% SAT: 1470-1560
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,950
Bowdoin’s central mission statement revolves around the idea that each student is part of something bigger, contributing to the greater good. It’s a mission statement centered around inclusivity, diverse ideas and perspectives, and exploration.
Through experiencing everything the four seasons have to offer in Bowdoin’s Maine location, students will learn both inside and outside the classroom at every turn. With top-tier Global Studies, History, and English programs, Bowdoin offers a comprehensive and horizon-expanding liberal arts education to any student.
Learn more about Bowdoin College and see your chances of acceptance.
13. Johns Hopkins University
Location: Baltimore, MD
Acceptance rate: 8%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1530-1570 SAT, 34-36 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 5,600
Johns Hopkins has a reputation as a top medical school. However, the university also offers highly rated programs in the humanities and social sciences, with popular majors including public health and international studies and high admittance rates to medical and law school. Undergraduates also praise the school’s financial aid offerings.
Learn more about Johns Hopkins and see your chances of acceptance.
14. University of Notre Dame
Location: Notre Dame, IN
Acceptance rate: 11%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1470-1540 SAT, 33-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 9,000
Located in South Bend, Indiana, Notre Dame is a Catholic-based private University with a strong religious department. It is also a heavily research-based University and is a national leader in advancement in subjects across medicine, science, and engineering. Additionally, the University is very involved in ensuring students have a positive experience, with students being required to live in a residence hall for nearly their entire four years, as well as offering a plethora of extracurricular activities and events.
Learn more about the University of Notre Dame and see your chances of acceptance.
15. Washington University in St. Louis
Location: St. Louis, MO
Acceptance rate: 12%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1500-1570 SAT, 33-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 8,000
Located right by St. Louis, MO, Washington University prides itself on its engaged student body, whether that involvement is with faculty, extracurriculars, peers, or academics. The school is very much its own self-contained community within the larger St. Louis region, but much of the focus outside of the classroom involves the betterment of others in the region. Research opportunities are widely accessible to students, making for a much more collaborative environment across campus.
Learn more about Washington University in St. Louis and see your chances of acceptance.
16. Amherst College
Location: Amherst, MA
Acceptance rate: 7%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1490-1580 SAT, 33-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,900
Another liberal arts college located in the Bay State, Amherst holds the No. 2 spot on the list of best national liberal arts colleges. Considered one of the Hidden Ivies (along with Northwestern and Stanford), Amherst is an open curriculum school, meaning there are no general education requirements. As part of the Five College Consortium, students can take courses and participate in clubs at the four other schools in the Consortium.
Amherst College is known for its generous need-blind, no-loan financial aid, and the school promises to meet 100% of each student’s demonstrated need. More than half the students who attend this college receive aid, with the average need-based grant totaling $54,715.
Learn more about Amherst and see your chances of acceptance.
17. Wellesley College
Location: Wellesley, MA
Acceptance rate: 13.7%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1460-1560 SAT, 33-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 2,300
Known as the best women’s college outside of the Ivy League, Wellesley is focused on advancing the impact that women can make in the world. To that end, it offers its students a comprehensive and challenging liberal arts education, meaning that students who attend Wellesley will get to explore different career paths and subjects in a significant way.
Additionally, unlike many liberal arts schools, Wellesley has a firm commitment to financial inclusivity. The school meets 100% of calculated need for all admitted students, with nearly three-quarters of its students receiving some form of financial aid.
Learn more about Wellesley College and see your chances of acceptance.
18. Claremont McKenna College
Location: Claremont, CA
Acceptance rate: 9.6%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1450-1560 SAT, 33-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,400
Ranked as one of the best liberal arts and small colleges in America, Claremont McKenna College boasts a tight-knit community that is integrated with a larger research university through the other Claremont Colleges.
CMC is best known for its economics and government departments, but because of the school’s connection with other colleges such as Harvey Mudd and Pomona, students have a plethora of opportunities in practically any field. A student-faculty ratio of 8:1 means that over 80% of classes at CMC have 20 students or fewer, giving undergrads the chance to really connect with professors.
Learn more about Claremont McKenna College and see your chances of acceptance.
19. University of Southern California
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Acceptance rate: 9.8%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1450-1530 SAT, 32-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 21,000
As one of the biggest schools on this list, USC is still immensely competitive to get into, due to its culture and prestigious academics. USC certainly has a big campus feel, both during the undergraduate experience and after. Known as members of “the Trojan Family,” USC students graduate not just with a degree from one of the most prestigious institutions in the country, but also with a massive network of alumni across the country.
Learn more about the University of Southern California and see your chances of acceptance.
20. Tufts University
Location: Medford, MA
Acceptance rate: 11%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1480-1560 SAT, 34-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 7,000
A prestigious research university located right outside of Boston, Tufts’ guiding principle is that it remains grounded in collaboration rather than competition. Tufts also offers a variety of beyond-campus opportunities, including its 1+4 Bridge Year Program and the Tufts Civic Semester.
Learn more about Tufts University and see your chances of acceptance.
21. Swarthmore College
Location: Swarthmore, PA
Acceptance rate: 7%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1460-1560 SAT, 33-34 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,730
Swarthmore College is a small liberal arts college in Pennsylvania. The campus is intertwined with its lush outdoor region, augmenting research experiences and offering an incredibly serene college experience. Swarthmore is connected to two other colleges—Bryn Mawr and Haverford—through the Tri-College Consortium (Tri-Co), which allows students to cross register for courses. This arrangement helps Swarthmore to feel like a small community within a large framework.
Learn more about Swarthmore College and see your chances of acceptance.
22. Georgetown University
Location: Washington D.C.
Acceptance rate: 13%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1390-1550 SAT, 32-34 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 8,000
Located in the nation’s capital, Georgetown University has some of the most prestigious political science and international relations programs in the country. Options such as the Capitol Applied Learning Lab and the school’s Qatar campus contribute to Georgetown’s rigorous programs and prestige, and have helped Georgetown become one of the top producers of Fulbright scholars in the country.
Learn more about Georgetown University and see your chances of acceptance.
23. University of Michigan
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Acceptance rate: 18%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1360-1530 SAT, 31-34 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 33,000
The University of Michigan is one of the largest institutions on this list and is frequently in the conversation regarding the best public universities in the country; it’s even commonly referred to as a “Public Ivy.” The school provides over 14 schools and over 280 majors. Due to its size, the University of Michigan also hosts one of the largest alumni networks in the country.
Learn more about the University of Michigan and see your chances of acceptance.
24. Middlebury College
Location: Middlebury, VT
Acceptance rate: 12%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1440-1550 SAT, 33-34 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 3,000
Home to the country’s first Environmental Studies program, Middlebury remains one of the top schools for sustainability, in addition to various other liberal arts subjects. Faculty and administration care for the needs of each and every student, students care for one another, and the campus has a strong sense of community. Middlebury even has its own ski area, known as the Snowbowl, just twenty minutes off campus.
Learn more about Middlebury College and see your chances of acceptance.
25. Washington and Lee University
Location: Lexington, VA
Acceptance rate: 17%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1440-1520 SAT, 33-34 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 2,000
Offering a comprehensive liberal arts education three hours southwest of the nation’s capital, Washington & Lee’s curriculum is split into thirds: students have a third of classes in their major, a third as part of a core curriculum, and a final third in whatever they choose. Perhaps the most notable feature of the school is the historic Washington and Lee Mock Convention held by students, which has correctly predicted the next President of the United States 20 times and received C-SPAN coverage.
Learn more about Washington and Lee University and see your chances of acceptance.
26. Haverford College
Location: Haverford, PA
Acceptance rate: 12.4%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1460-1550 SAT, 33-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,400
Just outside of Philadelphia, Haverford College is a highly ranked liberal arts college. Working with other local colleges, including Bryn Mawr, Swarthmore, and the University of Pennsylvania, Swarthmore ensures its students have access to a multitude of resources. Haverford’s prestigious Academic Centers provide funding and support for students independently pursuing opportunities outside of the classroom.
Learn more about Haverford University and see your chances of acceptance.
27. Cooper Union
Location: New York, NY
Acceptance rate: 13%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1400-1520 SAT, 33-34 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,000
The Cooper Union is a college in Manhattan that comprises three schools specializing in architecture, art, and engineering. Most notably, Cooper Union offers every admitted student a half-tuition scholarship as well as need-based aid. As such, the school has become known as one of the best value schools in the country, particularly due to how prestigious and challenging it remains by providing demanding course loads and specialized programs.
Learn more about the Cooper Union and see your chances of acceptance.
28. Emory University
Location: Atlanta, GA
Acceptance rate: 10%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1490-1570 SAT, 33-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 7,100
Emory is home to four different undergraduate schools between its main campus and satellite campus, known as Oxford College, and offers programs in subjects like liberal arts, business, and even a top-ranked nursing program. Regardless, one of the defining elements of an education at Emory is flexibility; incoming freshmen can start at the main campus or spend their first two years at Oxford, which is more akin to a traditional liberal arts college.
Learn more about Emory University and see your chances of acceptance.
28. Wesleyan University
Location: Middletown, CT
Acceptance rate: 16%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1480-1560 SAT, 33-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 3,200
Wesleyan is defined by an open curriculum approach; students are able to design their own course loads. Wesleyan is also prestigious in many art-related subjects, such as film, performing arts, and English. It’s also one of the only small liberal arts colleges with a graduate program, so undergraduate students interested in pursuing research have a wide variety of resources at their disposal.
Learn more about Wesleyan University and see your chances of acceptance.
30. Carleton College
Location: Northfield, MN
Acceptance rate: 22%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1430-1550 SAT, 32-35 ACT
Undergraduate enrollment: 2,000
A close-knit community located in rural Minnesota animated by intellectual curiosity—that’s a summary of the Carleton experience. The school has a liberal arts focus and encourages deep, broad, and dynamic learning to make sense of the “interesting messiness of life.”
Learn more about Carleton and see your chances of acceptance.
Understand Your Chances at These Schools
Shooting for selective colleges can be daunting, as only a few students can reasonably expect to stand a chance in admissions. You may look at the low acceptance rates and wonder what your chances actually are of getting in.
Schools calculate acceptance rate by dividing the number of accepted students by the total number of students who applied. It only applies to the group as a whole. Within that applicant pool, some students have a 70% chance of acceptance, while others have a less than 10% chance of getting in.
The low acceptance rates apply to each school’s entire applicant pool; therefore, this rate should not be taken as your own personal chance of acceptance. One way to better understand your personal rate of acceptance is to compare against students with your background and to be able to compare all aspects of your profile (including extracurriculars). You can do this easily with our free admissions calculator!
It’s important to understand your personal chances to be able to make the best decisions for your school list moving forward.
How To Find the Right College
It’s important to do your research when creating a school list to ensure you will get accepted into at least one school that you’d be happy to attend. If you apply to only your safety schools, for example, you’ll run the risk of not being challenged enough and growing bored in college. If you apply to only reach schools, you might not get accepted to any of the schools on your list.
We recommend that students apply to around 8-12 schools, with 25% being safety schools, 40% being target schools, and 35% being reach schools. One easy way to make sure you have a healthy school list is to search for schools based on your personal acceptance rate, not the average acceptance rate.
We’ve made this process simpler by allowing you to calculate your personal chances and then filter through hundreds of schools based on these chances using our School Hub. It’s all free, you just need to be logged in to filter for your chances.
You can also filter for other helpful things, such as location, major, cost, and even application difficulty! We highly recommend you check it out.
