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’s essential to know who attends to help you envision 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:
- Brown University
- Columbia University
- Cornell University
- Dartmouth College
- Harvard University
- Princeton University
- The University of Pennsylvania
- Yale University
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 careers.
FAQs About Diversity at the Ivies
Are the Ivy League Schools Diverse?
U.S. News and World Report publishes a Diversity Index, which ranks hundreds of schools across the United States. Schools are ranked on a scale from 0 to 1, with 1 being the most diverse. This data was drawn from each school’s Fall 2023 undergraduate student body. Most of the Ivies rank between 0.74 and 0.72, 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 the 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 being among the universities receiving the highest number of applications. Many students set their eyes on Harvard and Yale as their dream schools, and each 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, NH’s census data on racial and ethnic makeup, with 71.2% of the town’s 9,078 residents identifying as white.
Ethnic/Racial Breakdown of the Ivy League
|
University |
White |
Asian-American |
Hispanic/Latino |
African-American |
Multi-Racial (Non-Hispanic) |
Native American |
International Student |
|
30% |
21% |
11% |
8% |
8% |
<1% |
14% |
|
|
29% |
18% |
16% |
8% |
6% |
<1% |
19% |
|
|
31% |
27% |
13% |
7% |
6% |
<1% |
10% |
|
|
44% |
13% |
10% |
6% |
7% |
<1% |
15% |
|
|
30% |
24% |
12% |
9% |
8% |
<1% |
16% |
|
|
33% |
23% |
10% |
8% |
7% |
<1% |
13% |
|
|
28% |
29% |
11% |
8% |
5% |
<1% |
13% |
|
|
32% |
23% |
16% |
9% |
7% |
<1% |
11% |
Brown University
Location: Providence, Rhode Island
Undergraduate population: 7,226
Acceptance rate: 5.4%
Gender breakdown: 51% female and 49% male
Yearly cost: The annual cost of tuition and fees for Brown is $74,650. However, when additional factors like room and board are factored in, the total estimated cost is $93,164.
Financial aid: At Brown, 46% of the Class of 2028 received financial aid, with the average amount for aided students totalling $58,822. In 2018, Brown launched the Brown Promise, which removed loans from all university-packaged undergraduate awards and replaced them with scholarships.
A 2023 report from the HEA Group—a research and consulting agency focused on college access, value, and economic mobility—found that 14% of Brown’s Class of 2025 received Pell Grants.
Columbia University
Location: New York, New York
Undergraduate population: 9,751
Acceptance rate: 3.9%
Gender breakdown: 51% female and 49% male
Yearly cost: Columbia’s yearly tuition is $68,000. With additional costs like food and housing, the actual estimated cost of attending a year of Columbia is $92,742.
Financial aid: Roughly half of Columbia students receive financial aid, with the average need-based aid package being $70,797. Additionally, 24% of students receive Pell grants. Columbia does not use loans when meeting students’ financial need.
Cornell University
Location: Ithaca, New York
Undergraduate population: 16,128
Acceptance rate: 8.4%
Gender breakdown: 55% female and 45% male
Yearly cost: The cost of Cornell tuition is $71,266, but once other costs like room and board are factored in, the estimated yearly cost for attending Cornell is $90,844. (Note that for New York state residents attending Cornell’s state schools, the cost of tuition will be lower. For more information, visit the Cornell website.)
Financial aid: At Cornell, approximately half of the students receive need-based aid. Financial aid packages are based on total family income, with many offers consisting of grant aid, work-study awards, and zero or low student loans.
According to a 2023 report from the HEA Group, 18% of Cornell’s Class of 2025 received Pell Grants.
Dartmouth College
Location: Hanover, New Hampshire
Undergraduate population: 4,570
Acceptance rate: 5.4%
Gender breakdown: 48% female and 52% male
Yearly cost: The annual cost of tuition is $69,207, but when additional costs are factored in, the cost of attending Dartmouth for one year is estimated at around $95,490.
Financial aid: 45% of Dartmouth students receive need-based financial aid. The average aid package awarded to students is $61,112. 19.4% of Dartmouth’s Class of 2028 are Pell Grant recipients—an all-time high for the school.
Harvard University
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Undergraduate population: 5,227
Acceptance rate: 3.4%
Gender breakdown: 53% female and 47% male
Yearly cost: The yearly cost of Harvard tuition and fees is $59,320, while the total estimated cost, which includes other expenses like room and board, is $86,926.
Financial aid: At Harvard, 55% of students receive need-based financial aid, which will cover at least the full cost of tuition for families making less than $200,000. Students from families with incomes below $100,000 are not expected to contribute to the cost of their education. Roughly 20% of students receive Pell Grants.
Princeton University
Location: Princeton, New Jersey
Undergraduate population: 5,727
Acceptance rate: 4.4%
Gender breakdown: 50% female and 50% male
Yearly cost: The cost of a year’s worth of tuition and fees at Princeton is $65,210. Once other costs, like room and board, are included, the estimated yearly cost is $90,718.
Financial aid: 65% of the Princeton undergraduate population receives need-based financial aid. The average grant covers 100% of tuition and 89% of recent seniors graduated debt-free. At Princeton, 22% of students receive Pell Grants.
University of Pennsylvania
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Undergraduate population: 10,013
Acceptance rate: 5.4%
Gender breakdown: 54% female and 46% male
Yearly cost: UPenn’s annual tuition costs $63,204, but the total estimated cost, including housing, is $95,612.
Financial aid: 46% of UPenn students receive need-based financial aid. The average aid package awarded to students is $66,222, and only 19% of students receiving need-based aid took out loans to supplement their aid packages. UPenn’s Quaker Commitment will cover all billed expenses for students from families that make less than $75,000 and full tuition for students from families making less than $200,000.
A report from the HEA Group in 2023 found that 19% of UPenn’s Class of 2025 received Pell Grants.
Yale University
Location: New Haven, Connecticut
Undergraduate population: 6,740
Acceptance rate: 4.4%
Gender breakdown: 53% female and 47% male
Yearly cost: The cost of tuition for one year at Yale is $69,900. The total estimated cost of attending Yale for a year, when additional expenses are included, is $90,550.
Financial aid: At Yale, 54% of students receive need-based financial aid, with the average awarded aid package being $64,924. In 2023, Yale committed to reaching the goal of 20% enrollment of Pell Grant recipients.
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 with networking opportunities, outlets for fun, and job possibilities. 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 targets, 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!
