Ivy League enrollment statistics can show you how you compare to admitted students. Read on to learn what Ivy League enrollment numbers can tell you about each school!
If you have Ivy League schools circled on your school list, you know that you’ll need to craft a stellar application to make you stand out. But how can analyzing Ivy League schools’ enrollment numbers help you?
We'll outline Ivy League enrollment statistics, why they matter, and more. Read on to learn how you compare to Ivy League students!
Ivy League enrollment statistics can tell you about a school’s selectivity, acceptance rate, what they’re looking for in applicants, and more. Below we’ll break down enrollment data from each school based on official class profiles from all Ivy League schools:
As you can see from the table above, some Ivy League schools are more transparent about their enrollment statistics than others. Below we’ll break down more enrollment data by school.
As you can see from the table above, some Ivy League schools are more transparent about their enrollment statistics than others. Below we’ll break down more enrollment data by school.
If you want to find out which Ivy League school is right for you, check out this helpful and insightful Which Ivy League College Is Right For Me? quiz!
In the past year Brown University has had 50,649 applications with only 2,562 being admitted, showing that the school has an acceptance rate of 5%.
Brown University, located in Providence, Rhode Island, attracts students from diverse geographic regions. Brown’s undergraduate class is from out of state.
Among the most common intended areas of concentration are economics, computer science, biology, and international and public affairs.
Recently, Brown admitted 1,044 international students. The countries most represented are China, Canada, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Brazil and Pakistan.
Brown University has a very diverse student body. Here are more facts about the most recently admitted students:
Here are financial aid statistics for the most recently admitted students at Brown.
Columbia University received 57,126 undergraduate applications, accepting 2,285 for an acceptance rate of 3.9%.
Columbia’s class represents 50 states and 86 countries.
Most students are enrolled in Mathematics and Natural Sciences (28%). Other interest areas are represented as:
Here are the statistics for international students at Columbia University:
Columbia University has a diverse group of high achieving students attending their school. Here are more facts about them:
Columbia University does offer financial aid to students who need it. Here are some statistics on the financial aid received by Columbia students.
Cornell University received 71,164 applications and accepted 5,168 students for an acceptance rate of 7.2%.
Recently admitted Cornell students reside in 49 of the 50 United States plus Washington DC, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.
Here are where most students attending Cornell resided in:
Most students are enrolled in the Arts and Sciences (1,285). Other interest areas are represented as:
International students at Cornell are citizens of 64 countries. They also make up 10.5% of the recently admitted student population.
Here are more facts about Cornell’s diverse group of high achieving students:
Recently, out of 3,765 first-year students, 2,237 applied for financial aid:
Dartmouth College accepted 1,808 students out of 28,336 applications for an acceptance rate of 6.3%.
Here is where Dartmouth’s recently admitted students resided.
International students at Dartmouth are citizens of 57 countries. They also make 15% of recently admitted Dartmouth students.
Here are more facts about Cornell’s diverse group of high achieving students:
At 56%, more than half of Dartmouth’s incoming class received financial aid:
Harvard University accepted only 1,984 applicants out of 61,221 for the lowest Ivy League acceptance rate of 3.2%.
Here is where Harvard’s recently admitted students resided.
Most students are enrolled in the Social Sciences (32%). Other interest areas are represented as:
15.4% of Harvard University’s recently admitted students are international.
Here are more facts about Harvard’s diverse group of high achieving students:
Here are the financial aid statistics for recently admitted Harvard students:
Recently, Princeton University had 38,019 applications, with 2,167 being admitted, translating to a 5.7% acceptance rate.
Recently, the largest numbers of undergraduate students came from:
Most students are enrolled in the Natural Sciences (29%). Other interest areas are represented as:
Recently, Princeton had 8,520 admitted international students, which makes up 58% of the student population.
Here are more facts about Princeton’s diverse group of high achieving students:
Here are the financial aid statistics for recently admitted Princeton students:
The University of Pennsylvania received 54,588 applications and accepted 3,549 students for an acceptance rate of 6.5%.
Recently, the students admitted came from 48 different states, these include:
Most students are enrolled in Business (19%). Other interest areas are represented as:
The majority of recently admitted international students reside in:
Here are more facts about UPenn’’s diverse group of high achieving students:
Here are the financial aid statistics for recently admitted UPenn students:
Yale University received 52,060 applications and accepted 2,289 applicants for an acceptance rate of 4.5%.
Recently, the students admitted came from all over the country. Here are the statistics for geographical locations:
Most students are enrolled in the Social Sciences (25.8%). Other interest areas are represented as:
Recently admitted students came from 57 different countries around the world.
Here are more facts about Yale’’s diverse group of high achieving students:
Here are the financial aid statistics for recently admitted Yale students:
When students evaluate Ivy League enrollment statistics, they may be worried about how they compare to admitted students. Fortunately, your application is meant to show that you're more than just your GPA or test scores.
For instance, a lower-than-average GPA will not necessarily spell automatic rejection: not every Ivy League student applied with a 4.0. Additionally, many schools are moving toward a test-optional policy, meaning some schools no longer require SAT or ACT scores for admission.
All Ivy League schools impart a holistic review process. This means that beyond your GPA and test scores, admissions committees look for differentiation and impressive application documents such as:
It's easy to get hung up on the numbers. Still, we encourage you to use these Ivy League enrollment statistics to manage your expectations without automatically counting yourself out.
When you analyze the data above, ensure you take the numbers you see with a grain of salt. Ivy League schools are highly competitive, but a well-constructed and edited application can give you the edge you need to gain acceptance.
In short, Ivy League statistics matter because they can help students understand what these schools seek in applicants. Data about class rank, test scores, and other academic performance indicators can help Ivy League hopefuls evaluate their academic standing honestly before applying.
Class profile data can also tell students more about campus climate. For example, looking at geographic and ethnic data of students can tell you more about the school’s commitment to a diverse campus. For international students, higher rates can show you which schools may be more likely to accept you.
Finally, schools that release data about Early Decision versus Regular Decision can help you decide which pathway is right for you. Although it's never advisable to go off stats alone, some schools' early acceptance rates can be much higher than their regular acceptance rate.
If you still have burning questions about ivy league enrollment statistics, these answers can provide clarity.
Cornell University has the largest enrollment based on enrollment data for first-year students.
In 2011, only 0.4% of undergraduates attended an Ivy League school. However, as these schools have become more selective throughout the last decade, this number is likely smaller now.
Cornell is the "easiest" Ivy League school to get into, with an 7.2% acceptance rate based on the acceptance rate data above. However, any school with a single-digit acceptance rate isn't easy to get into!
Your odds of acceptance into an Ivy League school depend on a myriad of factors, including your level of academic achievement, the quality of your application, what decision program you apply through, and Ivy League school enrollment numbers. Unfortunately, there’s no one answer to this question: it’s incredibly subjective.
While it may not be impossible to gain entry to an Ivy League school with average grades, it will be challenging. Despite a holistic review process, you'll be up against many talented students with high levels of academic achievement.
If you have your hopes set on the Ivy League, consider raising your GPA as much as possible with a good study schedule and retaking classes if necessary.
All Ivy League schools are test-optional until at least the 2023-2024 admissions cycle. Please ensure you double-check the testing requirements before you apply.
Based on enrollment statistics, Dartmouth enrolls the fewest students by enrollment: it's the smallest Ivy League school.
Ivy League school enrollment numbers are an excellent way to learn more about each school and its admitted students. Enrollment data can tell you more about your chances of acceptance when comparing your own stats to accepted students and can even help you decide which decision pathway is right for you.
However, you should take all of these Ivy League enrollment statistics with a grain of salt. Remember, there is no such thing as the “typical” Ivy League student: putting effort and time into your applications will help differentiate you from other applicants.