What Are the Little Ivy League Schools?

The Little Ivies are an unofficial group of 18 private liberal arts colleges in the American northeast. These small but mighty schools are known for offering students an exceptional higher education, similar to the quality you'd find at official Ivy League schools like Columbia, Cornell, and the University of Pennsylvania.

Join us for an introduction to America's Little Ivies and how they compare to their official Ivy League and larger Public Ivy counterparts. We'll also introduce you to several notable Little Ivies (in no particular order) so you can get a better idea of what they offer in terms of enrollment.

What makes a school a Little Ivy?

The Little Ivies have been nicknamed as such because they're where you can get an Ivy League-level education without actually attending an Ivy League university. But what makes a school a Little Ivy in the first place?

Not to be confused with "Hidden Ivies," a broader group of 63 small to medium-sized private colleges and universities across the U.S., the Little Ivies are all located in northeastern American states like Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, or Maine. Many (but not all) Little Ivies are also members of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC).

Let's take a closer look at some of the other characteristics these small but elite colleges have in common.

Prestige and selectivity

One reason these schools tend to have notoriously low acceptance rates is that many Little Ivies are literally, well, little. With the exception of Tufts University, which has a student body of around 12,000, most Little Ivies cap their total enrollment at 3,000 students or less.

If you're a high school student hoping to score enrollment at one of these elite gems, make sure you bring your A-game during the college admissions process. These college admissions boards are looking for everything from academic rigor to a solid list of extracurricular activities.

Rigorous undergraduate academics

The selective admissions process at the average Little Ivy is also meant to help ensure candidates can meet the challenge of a rigorous higher education. Unlike many official Ivy League schools or large Public Ivies, Little Ivies mainly focus on undergraduate education.

You might find a handful of graduate students at Little Ivies, like Wesleyan University or Middlebury College. But for the most part, Little Ivies are private liberal arts colleges that offer an exceptional undergraduate education that prepares students for anything from beginning their careers to getting into graduate programs.

Liberal arts focus

Little Ivies are liberal arts schools, which basically means they offer each student a well-rounded liberal arts education instead of one that's focused on a single career path. Many liberal arts schools also offer students greater freedom to pursue interdepartmental or multidisciplinary studies - or even design their own majors.

For instance, Vassar College (once a women's college before becoming coeducational in 1969) offers degrees in Science, Technology, and Society (STS), which combines traditional STEM studies with social and political science. 

The Little Three

Little Ivies can be grouped into a few different categories, some of which play off of the "Big Three," sports rivalry between Ivy schools Harvard, Princeton, and Yale. One of these groups is known as the "Little Three," an intercollegiate sports conference that consists of Amherst College, Wesleyan University, and Williams College.

Here's a little info about each of these colleges.

Amherst College

Location: Amherst, Massachusetts

Total undergrad student enrollment: 1,971

Acceptance rate: 9%

Graduation rates: 87% (4-year) / 92% (6-year)

Amherst College is famous for its open curriculum, which allows students to design their own core curriculum from over 400 course options. With a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio, students enjoy smaller class sizes on a gorgeous 1,000-acre campus about two hours west of Boston, complete with its own wildlife sanctuary.

Williams College

Location: Williamstown, Massachusetts

Total undergrad student enrollment: 2,174

Acceptance rate: 9%

Graduation rates: 85% (4-year) / 94% (6-year)

The tight-knit student body at Williams College enjoys over 50 areas of study to choose from. You won't find any required courses at Williams, just a set of guidelines designed to ensure that every student enjoys a well-rounded education as they explore their unique interests.

Wesleyan University

Location: Middletown, Connecticut

Total undergrad student enrollment: 3,385

Acceptance rate: 19%

Graduation rates: 86% (4-year) / 91% (6-year)

Students at Wesleyan University enjoy a beautiful 316-acre campus, an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and a choice of over 1,000 courses and 47 majors. Wesleyan rejects the idea of a closed curriculum in favor of encouraging students to explore their interests, complete with options like interdisciplinary or study abroad programs.

The Maine Big Three

The "Maine Big Three" are a group of Little Ivies located in (you guessed it) Maine. Despite their athletic rivalry, the schools collaborate academically - they even have a shared library called the Colby-Bates-Bowdoin Consortium. 

Let's look at the details of all three schools.

Colby College

Location: Waterville, Maine

Total undergrad student enrollment: 2,262

Acceptance rate: 9%

Graduation rates: 81% (4-year) / 87% (6-year)

Set on a stunning 714-acre campus, Colby College prides itself on offering students real-world research and hands-on learning opportunities. Whether you're interested in studying English and art or neuroscience and computer science, Colby's got you covered with a wide range of options.

Bowdoin College

Location: Brunswick, Maine

Total undergrad student enrollment: 1,951

Acceptance rate: 9%

Graduation rates: 89% (4-year) / 94% (6-year)

Founded in 1794, Bowdoin College is home to a diverse group of students who enjoy faculty-mentored research opportunities, a sustainably-minded campus, and a wide range of program options. The college also provides every student with a free laptop, no matter their major.

Bates College

Location: Lewiston, Maine

Total undergrad student enrollment: 1,821

Acceptance rate: 17%

Graduation rates: 88% (4-year) / 92% (6-year)

Bates College operates on a unique calendar that includes two traditional semesters plus a short-term spring semester dedicated to exploration. Rather than fraternities or sororities, Bates offers 110 student clubs, 160 community partnerships, and a stellar study abroad program.

The New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC)

The NESCAC not only consists of the Little Three and the Maine Big Three but also Connecticut College, Hamilton College, Middlebury College, Tufts University, and Trinity College. The athletic conference pits the sports teams of these top New England Little Ivies against each other in NCAA Division III games.

Connecticut College

Location: New London, Connecticut

Total undergrad student enrollment: 1,829

Acceptance rate: 41%

Graduation rates: 78% (4-year) / 81% (6-year)

Set on a historic 750-acre arboretum, Connecticut College offers 56 programs of study and a unique Connections Curriculum.

Hamilton College

Location: Clinton, New York

Total undergrad student enrollment: 2,055

Acceptance rate: 14%

Graduation rates: 87% (4-year) / 92% (6-year)

Hamilton College offers a choice of 44 concentrations (majors) and an open curriculum with plenty of freedom to pursue your interests.

Middlebury College

Location: Middlebury, Vermont

Total undergrad student enrollment: 2,858

Acceptance rate: 13%

Graduation rates: 84% (4-year) / 91% (6-year)

Middlebury College emphasizes diversity and global learning, with a great selection of programs dedicated to everything from environmental justice to international cultures.

Tufts University

Location: Medford, Massachusetts

Total undergrad student enrollment: 6,676

Acceptance rate: 11%

Graduation rates: 89% (4-year) / 94% (6-year)

The largest of the Little Ivies, Tufts University offers over 90 undergraduate programs, as well as excellent undergraduate and graduate research opportunities.

Trinity College

Location: Hartford, Connecticut

Total undergrad student enrollment: 2,159

Acceptance rate: 38%

Graduation rates: 81% (4-year) / 85% (6-year)

Set on a beautiful historic campus, Trinity College offers an intimate learning environment with a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio and over 900 courses spanning 41 majors.

More great Little Ivies

The list doesn't stop there! To round out your search, be sure to take a look at these other Little Ivies known for their academic excellence and more:

• Bucknell University - Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
• Colgate University - Hamilton, New York
• Haverford College - Haverford, Pennsylvania
• Lafayette College - Easton, Pennsylvania
• Swarthmore College - Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
• Union College - Schenectady, New York
• Vassar College - Poughkeepsie, New York

Find the most prestigious schools with College Rover

Want to learn more about the Little Ivies or the many other great options the American higher education system has to choose from? Check out the user-friendly tools at College Rover.

We've got everything you need to create filters based on your own unique preferences, compare your top choices, and more. Look no further for a goldmine of information on the best colleges and programs in the country.

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