The Full Hidden Ivies List: What They Are and How To Get In

Getting into an Ivy League is the dream for a lot of students, but they’re not the only colleges worth looking into. Across the country, there are so many colleges and universities that rival the Ivies in academic excellence, faculty, and student outcomes. 

In this blog, we’ll be taking a look at one group of these colleges: The Hidden Ivies. We’ll explore what they are and what makes them unique, and we’ll also take a look at the full list of The Hidden Ivies.

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What Are The Hidden Ivies?

In short, the Hidden Ivies are a group of 63 schools that are so excellent academically and otherwise, they’re seen as worthy of the “Ivy” title, even if they’re not part of the traditional Ivy League.

These colleges got their name from the book published by educational consultants Howard and Matthew Greene. Their book, The Hidden Ivies, is the first and most recognizable published list of these schools.

Hidden Ivies List

The Hidden Ivies is a huge list, and it includes colleges from other lists such as The Little Ivies, Public Ivies, or New Ivies.

Initially, the list only included 30 schools, but was updated in 2009 and again in 2016 to include 63 schools in total.

What Sets Them Apart?

While The Hidden Ivies are as diverse as they are numerous, it should be reassuring to realize that these schools also have key qualities that set them apart. In The Hidden Ivies, the authors based their list on several factors that they found prevalent across these diverse institutions. Here are the criteria they based their list on:

1. High-Quality Liberal Arts Education

All Hidden Ivies have a unique focus on liberal arts education. They encourage students to explore different fields within the liberal arts – humanities, sciences, social sciences, arts, and more!

The authors argued that a liberal arts education provides a foundation for lifelong learning and leadership — essential skills for success.

2. Holistic Development for Students

The Greenes emphasize that Hidden Ivies try to provide holistic education to help develop students as well-rounded individuals. The Hidden Ivies promote intellectual growth alongside social, emotional, and ethical growth.

These colleges assert that students are likely to cultivate critical skills like cooperation, leadership, and mentoring.

These schools also encourage an appreciation for diversity – the idea is that intelligence, combined with character and ethics, leads to meaningful contributions to society.

3. Class Size and Student-Faculty Ratio

Generally, intimate settings can help foster deeper learning, stronger faculty-student relationships, and more importantly, easier accessibility to faculty.

The Hidden Ivies have a few things in common that lead to higher faculty accessibility: the ratio of students to faculty, the percentage of full-time professors, and the presence of faculty with diverse academic and cultural backgrounds.

Because of these factors, students receive personalized attention and guidance from their professors — professors that are both accomplished scholars and dedicated mentors.

4. Campus Resources

Resources can make all the difference in having a balanced college experience.

By resources, we mean endowments, library quality, research facilities, technological sophistication, and other aspects that the authors assessed when making their list.

The Hidden Ivies are always excellent when it comes to resources. And not just academic/research ones, they have great resources in residential life, athletics, arts, and extracurricular opportunities.

5. Post-Graduation Outcomes

Like the Ivy League, The Hidden Ivies have grown to have a certain reputation that you’ll benefit from as a graduate — especially when it comes to job search.

The authors examined metrics like alumni achievements in careers or graduate studies, as well as the strength of the alumni network (the Ivy League’s alumni network makes a huge difference, for example).

The Hidden Ivies often offer excellent career services, internships, and networking opportunities that pave the way for a successful career start.

The return on investment of attending a Hidden Ivy is obvious when it comes to long-term professional and personal success.

Top Hidden Ivy League Colleges

Duke University

Location: Durham, North Carolina

Acceptance Rate: 5.1%

Duke University is often regarded as a Hidden Ivy for its exceptional academic offerings, world-class faculty, and commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive learning environment.

With a wide range of programs spanning STEM fields, social sciences, and arts and humanities, Duke attracts students seeking a high-quality education in a supportive and collaborative setting.

The university is known for its engineering, biomedical sciences, public policy, and environmental sciences programs, among others.

Swarthmore College

Location: Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

Acceptance Rate: 7.5%

Swarthmore College is known for its exceptional academics, nurturing campus atmosphere, and commitment to innovation. With top-ranked programs in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, Swarthmore attracts students from around the world seeking a high-quality education in an intimate setting.

Swarthmore's picturesque arboretum campus offers a serene and inspiring environment that promotes intellectual growth and personal development.

By combining rigorous coursework with a wide array of extracurricular activities and resources, Swarthmore College delivers an unparalleled academic experience that supports student success.

Pomona College

Location: Claremont, California

Acceptance Rate: 7%

Pomona College is a prestigious liberal arts college due to its exceptional academics, beautiful campus, and commitment to providing a well-rounded education.

With outstanding humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences programs, Pomona attracts students from across the globe seeking an intimate and engaging learning environment.

The college has produced numerous Rhodes Scholars, Truman Scholars, and Fulbright recipients, highlighting the remarkable caliber of its students and graduates.

Unique features of Pomona College include its membership in the Claremont Colleges consortium, which allows students to cross-register for courses and access resources from the other member institutions, and its emphasis on undergraduate research, offering students the opportunity to work closely with faculty on cutting-edge projects.

Stanford University

Location: Stanford, California

Acceptance Rate: 3.9%

Stanford University's status as a "Hidden Ivy" is strengthened by its commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive learning environment. With many student organizations, clubs, and extracurricular activities, Stanford encourages students to explore their passions, develop leadership skills, and engage with the global community.

The university also offers robust financial aid packages, ensuring talented students from various socioeconomic backgrounds can access its world-class education.

Another unique aspect of Stanford is its dedication to interdisciplinary learning, which allows students to create individualized academic paths and explore connections between different fields of study.

This approach broadens students' perspectives and prepares them for success in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.

Tufts University

Location: Somerville, Massachusetts

Acceptance Rate: 10%

Tufts University, located in Medford, Massachusetts, is a prestigious private research institution.

Tufts is dedicated to civic engagement, research, and social impact, enabling students to apply their knowledge and skills to address real-world challenges and make meaningful contributions to society.

The university's beautiful campus, situated atop Walnut Hill overlooking the city of Boston, offers an inspiring and enriching atmosphere for intellectual growth and personal development.

The university has produced numerous Rhodes Scholars, Fulbright recipients, and influential leaders in various fields, showcasing the remarkable caliber of its students and alumni. Unique features of Tufts University include its commitment to fostering global citizenship through various programs and initiatives.

Tips for Applying to Hidden Ivy Universities

1. Excel in Standardized Tests

Excelling in standardized tests, such as the SAT or ACT, plays a crucial role in the application process for Hidden Ivy universities.

These schools receive applications from so many highly qualified candidates, and strong test scores can help set you apart from the competition by showing your academic aptitude,

2. Apply Early

Applying early to Hidden Ivy universities can be a strategic move in the admissions process, demonstrating your strong interest in and commitment to the institution.

By submitting your application through Early Decision (binding) or Early Action (non-binding) programs, you signal to the admissions committee that the university is one of your top choices.

Applying early can also give you a slight advantage in the admissions process, as acceptance rates during these rounds are often higher than in Regular Decision.

3. Obtain Strong Letters of Recommendation

Getting a recommendation letter is an important step in the application process for Hidden Ivy universities, and these endorsements provide valuable insights into your character, work ethic, and potential to thrive in a demanding academic environment.

Admissions committees rely on these letters to better understand your personal qualities and achievements that may not be fully reflected in your grades or test scores.

4. Showcase Your Extracurricular Activities

Showcasing your extracurricular activities is essential when applying to Hidden Ivy universities, as these institutions seek well-rounded individuals who can make meaningful contributions to their campus communities.

These activities also provide evidence of your leadership skills, teamwork, creativity, and commitment to positively impacting the world around you.

5. Research Thoroughly

Thorough research is a critical aspect of applying to Hidden Ivy universities, as it enables you to make informed decisions about which institutions best align with your academic and personal goals.

Admissions committees at Hidden Ivy universities appreciate applicants who have taken the time to understand their values, mission, and offerings and can articulate how they will contribute to and benefit from the university's community.

Getting Accepted Into a Hidden Ivy

While The Hidden Ivies are competitive, they present refreshing alternatives to the "real" Ivies — offering incredible variety in terms of size, curriculum strengths, and geographic options, not to mention an escape from the daunting acceptance rates at schools like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton.

That said, it's important to realize that several of The Hidden Ivies may have admit rates just as restrictive as those at the real Ivies. Others, may offer better chances for admission, but can still be quite competitive.

The bottom line is that exploring and pursuing admissions to some of these hidden gems can be a really smart move, but you'll still want to take a disciplined approach to your application strategy and process, rather than leave anything to chance.

If you want to boost your odds, our expert strategists can help. Students working with Crimson are 7x more likely to gain admission to their dream university, thanks to our team approach and highly personalized support. Reach out today for feedback on your next steps and see for yourself what it's like to have a Crimson strategist in your corner!