Ivy League Schools in Massachusetts: Does MA Have Ivies?
What’s Covered:
- Are There Ivy League Schools in Massachusetts?
- Key Facts About Harvard University
- Top 10 Non-Ivy League Schools in Massachusetts
- What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?
Are There Ivy League Schools in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts is home to one Ivy League institution, Harvard University, located in Cambridge. Founded in 1636, Harvard was the first college not only in the Ivy League, but in the entire United States! While the term “Ivy League” was made to reference the athletic conference shared by Harvard and its constituents, the term has grown to represent the prestige that the institutions share, all of which are some of the most highly ranked schools in the country and are located in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.
Key Facts About Harvard University
Being the oldest college in the country, Harvard University paved the way for its fellow Ivy Leaguers as well as all other colleges that followed. Beginning as New College in 1636, and being named after benefactor John Harvard shortly thereafter, it was a long road until Harvard University became the school it’s known as today. Originally focused on theology and classical studies, Harvard began expanding its curriculum in the 18th century to include subjects like law, medicine, and science.
It wasn’t until nearly the turn of the 20th century that Harvard began pioneering fields of research and technology, and truly became a leader in nearly every single field, offering immensely prestigious programs of study for its undergraduates and graduates, with Harvard now frequently ranked by many reputable publications as the #1 best university in the world.
Admissions
Location: Cambridge, MA
Undergrad Enrollment: 7,000
Acceptance Rate: 4.18%
Middle 50% SAT: 1510-1580
Middle 50% ACT: 34-36
Today, the acceptance rate for Harvard stands at 4.18%, with 2,003 applicants gaining admissions out of a hopeful pool of 47,893. There’s no beating around the bush here—this is a daunting figure. Harvard isn’t just looking for the best; they’re looking for students who display commitment to academics, who show social advancement and achievement in community, leadership, knowledge and curiosity, and who do not back down in the face of immense rigor or challenge.
Having all that and showing all that are two very different things. While being a great student on paper may be enough to gain admission at some other schools, Harvard is looking for students who completely jump off the page. Students who engage in other unique endeavors—whether creative, community-based, or intellectual—are far more likely to gain admission to Harvard than those who don’t.
For more information on Harvard admissions, check out our article, “How to Get into Harvard in 2025,” written by a Harvard graduate.
Location
Harvard is located in the historic neighborhood of Cambridge, which is connected to the sprawling city of Boston through public transit. Having not only the city of Boston to learn and live in, but the community of Cambridge as well, is one of Harvard’s greatest attributes.
Cambridge stands very much with its own identity, known for Harvard as well as MIT. This means that there’s always a new subject to explore, a new guest lecture to attend, and more to learn. Walkable and historic, the town fosters this sense of intellectuality and curiosity at every turn, whether that’s through its libraries and museums, theaters and music venues, or other cultural and art events year-round.
Being located right next to Boston and in an area filled with so many young students and professionals also makes Harvard lie at the heart of one of the most prominent start-up communities in the country. Entrepreneurship and innovation are everywhere, and students at Harvard will undeniably have more of a front-row seat to it than nearly anyone else in the country.
Academics
Harvard sources faculty and lecturers from around the world, bringing together some of the world’s most renowned researchers, Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize-winning authors, and pioneers in nearly every field. And it’s not just to show off. Students are able to engage with faculty through First-Year Faculty Dinners, Faculty Lunches, and various other initiatives.
Harvard has several “Academic Life” programs in place to enhance both the individual and communal student experience, ensuring that no student feels that they don’t have the support they need to succeed. Through extensive advising, study abroad opportunities, and resources like the Academic Resource Center, which helps students build their repertoire of study skills, time management strategies, and other learning techniques, Harvard makes a strong effort to not let any student feel left behind.
Harvard offers over 50 undergraduate majors (known at Harvard as “concentrations”), and a unique program known as “Special Concentrations” which allow students to create their own customized interdisciplinary program of study.
With thousands of courses to choose from, Harvard allows students to explore spaces and fields they may never have even thought of. Programs like the Mind, Brain, and Behavior Program—which explores the relationship between cognitive thought, neuroscience, and psychology—the Science of Happiness and Well-Being, and Ethical Reasoning: all give students the opportunity to combine disciplines, learn in new ways, and forge their path to becoming the next pioneers of research and theoretical and practical thought.
It’s no wonder that about half of students pursue an honors track within their concentration, or even choose to cross-enroll with Harvard’s graduate schools and other institutions in Cambridge and Boston.
Research is, of course, a massive part of Harvard’s culture, and many students choose to pursue research in some shape or form while at Harvard. Distinct initiatives like Harvard and MIT’s Broad Institute—which focuses on data analysis, precision medicine, and genomics—the Global Health Institute, and the Stem Cell Institute, are some of the most prestigious programs in their field, and are all available for students to participate in while at Harvard.
Faculty will encourage their students to reach out to them for research opportunities, and the school will host various networking events for students to learn about opportunities that may be available to them.
Financial Aid
Harvard University practices need-blind admissions, meaning Harvard does not factor in an applicant’s financial need in the slightest while evaluating applications. As such, Harvard is committed to meeting 100% of demonstrated need and has had a “no-loan” policy since 2007, when it eliminated any form of loan for students in need of financial assistance, instead opting to cover the cost of attendance for students with grants and scholarships.
The Top 10 Non-Ivy League Schools in Massachusetts
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology | MIT
Location: Cambridge, MA
Acceptance Rate: 4.6%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1520-1570 SAT / 34-36 ACT
Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,535
Located in Cambridge, the same town as Harvard, MIT is placed in a vibrant community of scholars and intellectuals. MIT is renowned for its emphasis on STEM fields, fostering a culture of innovation that has led to some world-changing innovations in computing, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, the development of MRI, and even space exploration, such as contributing to the design of the Lunar Module that first landed on the moon.
While it may seem like students at MIT have massive shoes to fill, the truth is that MIT’s culture of innovation extends itself to each and every student, and students are always encouraged to defy boundaries and collaborate across disciplines.
This spirit of innovation is seen in unique programs such as the OpenCourseWare Initiative, which gives students online access to MIT’s library of course content; an Independent Activities Period in which students engage in a monthlong term in January to pursue a non-traditional subject or independent study of their choosing; and access to various laboratories in fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Poverty Action, Games, Media, and more.
Learn more about MIT and what it takes to get accepted.
2. Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering | Olin
Location: Needham, MA
Acceptance Rate: 25%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1500-1560 SAT / 34-35 ACT
Undergraduate Enrollment: 400
Olin College of Engineering is a unique engineering institution located in Needham, MA, right outside of Boston. Founded fairly recently, in 1997, this small specialized school is among the best in the country in terms of its engineering education, which combines experiential learning, creativity, collaboration, and entrepreneurship.
Due to the small student body, classes are intimate, giving students the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with their peers and faculty, which only continues to enhance the individual learning process that Olin cultivates.
From the very first semester, students will engage in hands-on, team-based projects to tackle real-world engineering challenges. The courses and projects students work on range from Mechanical Prototyping, where students build functional prototypes using 3D printing and other fabrication techniques, to Design Nature, where students learn to create nature-inspired solutions to problems. All students will also complete a Senior Capstone project known as SCOPE (Senior Capstone Program in Engineering).
Learn more about Olin and what it takes to get accepted.
3. Williams College
Location: Williamstown, MA
Acceptance Rate: 8.5%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1500-1560 SAT / 34-35 ACT
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,000
Williams College is a private liberal arts institution in Williamstown, MA, and is one of the most prestigious colleges of its kind. Known for its close-knit community, Williams also stands out for its Open Curriculum, which gives students significant freedom to shape their academic paths. While distribution requirements do exist, students can choose from a wide range of majors, or even design their own, allowing for deep exploration of personal and intellectual interests.
Williams also offers distinctive academic experiences through its unique teaching style and global programs. Its Oxford-style tutorials bring students into small, discussion-based sessions with faculty to sharpen critical thinking and communication skills. The school even has an exchange program that allows select students to spend a full year studying at Oxford University’s Exeter College!
Learn more about Williams College and what it takes to get accepted.
4. Amherst College
Location: Amherst, MA
Acceptance Rate: 7%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1470-1540 SAT / 33-35 ACT
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,914
Located in Amherst, MA, Amherst College is widely regarded as one of the nation’s leading liberal arts institutions, and is often compared to its longtime rival, Williams College. Like Williams, Amherst offers an Open Curriculum that gives students broad freedom to shape their studies across 43 majors while fulfilling a small number of distribution requirements. As a member of the Five College Consortium, students can also take advantage of thousands of additional courses at nearby institutions such as Smith College and Mount Holyoke.
Amherst strongly supports independent and creative work through dedicated programs and resources. Students are encouraged to design and pursue their own independent projects. Opportunities like the Amherst College Press and the Creative Writing Center further allow students to develop research, publishing, and writing skills at any stage of their college experience.
Learn more about Amherst College and what it takes to get accepted.
5. Wellesley College
Location: Wellesley, MA
Acceptance Rate: 13.7%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1470-1550 SAT / 33-35 ACT
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,285
Wellesley College is a women’s liberal art college, one of two on this list. The school offers a supportive and empowering community that focuses on academic, personal, and leadership development of women. Students are able to participate in the Twelve College Exchange Program, in which they can take courses at MIT and expose themselves to fields in STEM.
This unique learning is highlighted by Wellesley’s beautiful location, boasting numerous green spaces, an on-campus lake, Botanic Gardens, and tons of natural trails and walking paths around. The school’s residential housing system places students in one of several houses, often with students from other years, and each with its own character and community which bolsters a spirit of collaboration and identity at Wellesley.
Learn more about Wellesley College and what it takes to get accepted.
6. Tufts University
Location: Medford, MA
Acceptance Rate: 10.8%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1480-1540 SAT / 33-35 ACT
Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,644
Tufts was founded on the principle of interdisciplinary studies, where students are encouraged to combine multiple fields of studies in order to understand and conquer complex issues and problems. With a strong emphasis on active citizenship and civic engagement, the school fosters an incredible spirit of community through social justice initiatives and public service.
Tufts is dedicated to being an agent of change in the world, and to making sure that its students follow the same path. In fact, Tufts even offers a Civic Studies co-major, where students examine theories and practices of citizenship, community engagement, and social change, as well as an Open Civic Semester—where students can take a leave of absence to engage in a civic project or internship related to their field of study.
Outside of just service, Tufts is known for its unique programs that collaborate with other institutions both within and outside of the university. Many students opt for combined degree programs, which enable them to receive both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Tufts in a shortened timeframe. Another unique offering is the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts, which allows students to integrate a fine arts education with their liberal arts foundations.
Learn more about Tufts University and what it takes to get accepted.
7. Smith College
Location: Northampton, MA
Acceptance Rate: 22%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1450-1520 SAT / 32-35 ACT
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,578
Smith College is a women’s liberal arts college and part of the Five College Consortium, alongside Amherst and others. While it offers majors in 83 fields of study, Smith stands out for its flexibility and interdisciplinary opportunities, with concentrations ranging from Sustainable Food to Book Studies. Students are encouraged to explore across majors, and the consortium allows them to take courses beyond Smith without academic limits.
As a college for women, Smith College is inherently devoted to advancing and empowering women, specifically offering a variety of Women’s Leadership Programs aimed at equipping students with the skills, confidence, and knowledge to become effective leaders. The crown jewel in this mission is the Wurtele Center for Collaborative Leadership, which offers students one-on-one coaching, workshops, and guest speakers for students to make use of.
Learn more about Smith College and what it takes to get accepted.
8. Boston College | BC
Location: Chestnut Hill, MA
Acceptance Rate: 13.9%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1440-1520 SAT / 33-35 ACT
Undergraduate Enrollment: 9,654
Boston College is a Jesuit institution located in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood of Boston, easily accessible to all that the city has to offer. The school’s academics are perhaps most unique for its “Core Curriculum for the Common Good”, which integrates the liberal arts with these pillars of ethics, social justice, and community engagement.
This uniqueness is perhaps best seen with the Perspectives program, a concentration offered within the Philosophy program, but a very popular one for all students at Boston College. In Perspectives courses, students will engage and grapple with broad and wide-reaching questions and topics, such as Western culture, the Fine Arts, and Diversity.
Similarly, Boston College’s PULSE Program works to combine academics with community service by having students commit to ongoing community service projects over the span of their undergraduate years.
Learn more about Boston College and what it takes to get accepted.
9. Boston University | BU
Location: Boston, MA
Acceptance Rate: 11%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1430-1510 SAT / 32-34 ACT
Undergraduate Enrollment: 17,744
As the biggest school on this list, Boston University offers a bit of a different experience from the rest. Located in the heart of Boston, the school is built along a busy metropolitan road that makes students feel that they’re truly living and learning in the city. The school undoubtedly has more majors than any other on this list for the undecided student to choose from, ranging from world-renowned programs in Biology, Business, and Psychology, as well as less conventional majors like Film and Environmental Analysis and Policy.
The school also has an abundance of large facilities for its students to work in and showcase their work. Places like the BUild Lab help students develop their entrepreneurial skills and even supports student startups, while BU’s Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground hosts cultural events, discussions, and workshops that promote dialogue among students from diverse backgrounds.
The question at BU, then, is just where to begin. Luckily, the school makes it easy by offering “exploratory” tracks for students to start out on, and students are even encouraged to enter their respective school or college undecided to really open themselves up to the various concentrations and tracks BU has to offer.
Learn more about Boston University and what it takes to get accepted.
10. Babson College
Location: Babson Park, MA
Acceptance Rate: 16%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1410-1500 SAT / 31-34 ACT
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,800
Babson College is a small college primarily focused on business and entrepreneurship education, consistently ranking among the top schools for entrepreneurship in the country. As its core focus, the school’s Entrepreneurship program is known for its hands-on, experiential learning approach. Students engage in real-world projects, consulting assignments, internships, and entrepreneurial ventures.
Students can make use of the Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship, which offers resources, mentorships, and special events such as workshops, lectures, and competitions. One such competition is known as the Rocket Pitch, which occurs annually and challenges students to pitch their business idea to a panel of judges using only three minutes of time.
It should be no surprise, then, that Babson is also home to an extensive and successful alumni network who often choose to remain connected to the college and its students hoping to break into the business world. Being located near Boston also gives students an edge when it comes to securing opportunities in the city’s vast startup community. On top of everything, students are still encouraged to pursue a wider education in the liberal arts, from subjects like science and technology, the arts, and humanities.
Learn more about Babson College and what it takes to get accepted.
What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?
Given the selectivity of these institutions, it is crucial to have a balanced college list. This means including “safety” schools where your chances of admission are higher, “target” schools where your chances are around the average admitted student, and “reach” schools where your chances may be lower but still possible. All the universities listed above can be considered “reach” schools for many students due to their competitive nature.
Want to discover your chances of admission at one of the top schools in Texas? With these schools in mind, you may have found a college that aligns with your future goals. At CollegeVine, we’re committed to making college guidance accessible to all who want it. That’s why, on our college applications guidance platform, you can use our free chancing engine, build a best-fit school list, and learn how to improve your profile—all for free.
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