The “Ivy League” group of universities are prestigious private schools known for their academic excellence, selectivity, and strong athletics. Academic powerhouses like Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and Princeton are dream schools for many students.
However, these Northeastern schools are not the only ones with a reputation for excellence. There are other colleges and universities that are still top tier, known as the “Little Ivies,” that should be on your radar.
What Are the Little Ivies?
The Little Ivies are a group of small liberal arts colleges that are located in the northeastern U.S. Like the Ivy League, they have challenging academics, strong alumni networks, and exceptional reputations, but they just don’t have the label.
What Schools Are the Little Ivies?
The “Little Ivies” is an unofficial term for several schools, so the specific schools included can vary by the source. Generally, the Little Ivies are northeastern, private liberal arts colleges that have high standards of academic excellence, associated historical prestige, small classes, and highly selective admissions that make them comparable to the Ivy League.
The Little Ivies are sub-grouped into consortia:
- The New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC), which includes New England schools.
- Colby-Bates-Bowdoin Consortium (CBB), which is an athletic conference among the “Maine Big Three”: Bates College, Bowdoin College, and Colby College.
- Inspired by the “Big Three” of the Ivy League, which includes Harvard, Princeton, and Yale, the “Little Three” colleges athletic league, also known as the Triangular League in 1899, includes Amherst, Wesleyan, and Williams.
Some of the schools often considered Little Ivies include:
Amherst College
Amherst College is a smaller school with an open curriculum that supports strong professor-student interactions and encourages students to explore their interests and ideas. In addition to high-quality academia, Amherst College has excellent financial aid.
Bates College
Bates College was founded by abolitionists, and the school still values equality. It features a need-blind admissions policy that ensures diversity, regardless of income level, and supports students with hands-on learning through study abroad, work study, and research programs.
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College is close to the coast of Maine and features many life science and environmental science programs. In fact, it’s home to one of the oldest environmental studies programs in the country. Students have an opportunity to engage in fieldwork to complement their studies and deepen learning.
Colby College
Colby College boasts an eco-friendly campus that’s on track to become carbon-neutral and provides students with global research and internship opportunities. It’s also popular for arts and includes the school’s own Museum of Art, which features one of Maine’s largest art collections.
Colgate University
Colgate University combines professional learning pathways with liberal arts programs, such as law, medicine, and finance. First-year students have themed residences that create strong student bonds, along with Division I sports teams.
Connecticut College
Connecticut College is unique in that it combines academic and real-world learning. All students have to complete a capstone project, and the campus features an arboretum for community events and biological research.
Hamilton College
Hamilton College has an open curriculum that encourages students to explore interests, but the school emphasizes writing and communication. The campus has The Kirkland Project, an on-campus organization committed to social justice and public policy.
Haverford College
Haverford College is known for exceptional academics, but it also takes a unique approach to fostering trust and accountability that stems from its Quaker roots. Students are part of the governance and share their thoughts on campus policies.
Lafayette College
Lafayette College balances liberal arts and technical programs, allowing students to experience multidisciplinary learning. There’s an active alumni network that helps students after graduation, as well as a Marquis Fellowship and Scholars program that helps star students with research funding.
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is committed to sustainability with a solar-powered campus and biomass facility. It values writing and hosts the well-respected Bread Loaf School of English and its annual writers’ conference.
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College has intensive academics inspired by the Oxford-Cambridge model, complete with a discussion-based approach to learning. There’s a nature preserve on campus where students can study or complete environmental research.
Trinity College
Trinity College offers hands-on learning experiences with partnerships with local organizations that can illuminate urban issues. With a campus close to the capital city, students have opportunities for internships and hands-on learning through work roles.
Union College
Union College uses an interdisciplinary approach that combines engineering and technical fields with liberal arts. It uses a trimester system that gives students time to pursue research programs or internships while working toward their degrees.
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University has a strong emphasis on the arts with an open curriculum that encourages cross-disciplinary studies. In the Experimental College, students can design and teach courses to become more creative and independent.
Williams College
Williams College has intensive learning experiences with strong professor-student connections. There’s a lot of arts culture at the school, including the Williams College Art Museum, which has open collections for students.
Little Ivies vs. the Ivy League
Ivy League schools are typically large research universities with vast resources, but the Little Ivies focus on small classes, low student-to-professor ratios, and unique undergraduate education. While Little Ivies lack the name recognition of the Ivy League, they offer high-quality academics in smaller, more personalized environments that may be preferred by some students.
Is It Hard to Get into the Little Ivies?
Yes and no. Many of the Little Ivies, such as Amherst, Williams, and Swarthmore, are similar to the Ivy League in their selectivity and competitiveness, especially given the small class sizes. These schools have rigorous requirements like academic accomplishment, high test scores, recommendations, compelling personal essays, and extracurricular involvement. However, others on the list, such as Union, Connecticut, and Lafayette, are excellent target schools for very good high school students. Still quite good, they are not as exclusive as many others on the list.
Is a Little Ivy School Right for You?
The Little Ivies have a lot to offer for the right students, including:
- Personalized learning in smaller classes and closer relationships with professors
- Tight-knit communities of students and faculty
- Extracurricular activities and campus involvement
- Multidisciplinary studies and opportunities for undergraduate research
- Campuses in small towns in the Northeast
- Generous financial aid programs to make college more affordable
Shooting for a Little Ivy?
Though the Ivy League has a lot of prestige, they’re not the only schools that can provide an exceptional education. If you prefer a smaller school with unique offerings you can’t find at a big research university, the Little Ivies may be for you. After all, you get out of your education what you put into it.
Need help preparing for your college applications? Whether you’re aiming for Ivy League or have your heart set on a Little Ivy, InGenius Prep can help you stand out in a competitive admissions process. Contact us today for a free consultation!