The term “Hidden Ivies” was popularized in 2000 by educational consultants Howard and Matthew Greene’s guidebook of the same name. The authors’ goal was to “create greater awareness of the small, distinctive cluster of colleges and universities of excellence that are available to gifted college-bound students.” The Greenes highlighted a group of small, private liberal arts colleges mostly clustered in New England called the “Little Ivies,” but also include notable schools in the South, Midwest and Western regions of the United States for a total of 63 institutions.
Below we’ve highlighted the 2028 acceptance rate data for five of our favorite “Hidden Ivies.”
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THE HIDDEN IVIES: CLASS OF 2028 ACCEPTANCE RATES
Colorado College (Colorado)
This past year, 8,512 students applied to Colorado College with 19% being admitted to the Class of 2028. CC is test-optional and goes as far as saying it will “ignore scores that do not strengthen an applicant’s candidacy.” Of the 491 enrolled students, the average score for the SAT was 1250-1450 and 29-34 for the ACT. Both rounds of Early Decision had an acceptance rate of 32% while Early Action had an acceptance rate of 20%. However, just 8% of Regular Action students were accepted.
Tufts University (Massachusetts)
After receiving over 34,000 applications, Tufts had an overall acceptance rate of 10% for the Class of 2028. Similar to recent years, about 50% of applicants and 60% of admitted students submitted test scores. Women comprised 56% of admitted students and 55% attended public school.
Villanova University (Pennsylvania)
A private Catholic research institution located outside Philadelphia, Villanova’s Class of 2028 had a 23.5% acceptance rate. 54% of admitted students did not submit test scores although the averages for those who did were 1450-1530 for the SAT and 33-35 on the ACT. The average unweighted GPA of admitted students was 3.9-4.15. 81% played sports while 66% held paying jobs.
Washington University in St. Louis (Missouri)
WashU was ranked #24 in the 2024 U.S. News & World Report’s list of National Universities (tied with Carnegie Mellon, Emory and University of Virginia). WUSTL received around 33,000 applications to the Class of 2028. The middle 50% SAT was 1500-1570 and the ACT was 33-35. The overall acceptance rate was 11.43%.
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Wellesley College (Massachusetts)
This top women’s college received over 8,900 first-year applications, a record high. The overall acceptance rate was 13%. A notable statistic released by the college was that 52% of the admitted Class of 2028 speak a language other than English in their homes.
TTA Takeaway: There are 63 schools on the “Hidden Ivies” list alone, which might seem daunting at first glance. In both our Private Counseling program and either of our Boot Camp programs (Application Boot Camp® or Personal Boot Camp), we guide students in crafting a list of target universities ensuring a wise and complete application strategy. The “Hidden Ivies” may include some schools with higher acceptance rates than the Ivy League, but you’ll need a strong application all the same. Demonstrating interest, competitive grades and standardized test scores (though some schools are test-optional), high impact extracurricular activities, and a compelling personal statement will set you apart from the increasingly large number of peer applicants to these top schools.
At Top Tier Admissions, we are committed to making the college admissions process more transparent. Easy access to clear data helps families understand trends in college admissions to make more informed decisions. We’re collecting acceptance rate data at selective schools and providing insight and analysis of our own. For historical data, see our collection of Ivy League and Top College Acceptance Rates and Admissions Statistics, including the Class of 2028 Ivy League admissions data and admissions stats for a range of additional selective schools.
Want To Read More About the Hidden Ivies?
- What Are the Little Ivies?
- Southern Ivies: Class of 2028 Acceptance Rates
- Public Ivies: Class of 2028 Acceptance Rates
- An Insider’s Guide to the Claremont Colleges
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