What Are the Little Ivies?

The term “Little Ivies” refers to a group of small, private liberal arts schools mostly clustered in New England whose storied histories, academic prestige, financial endowments, athletic rivalries, and highly selective admissions practices are comparable to the Ivy League’s. For exceptional students considering an intimate liberal arts experience, look no further than this scenic loop around New England. Note that, at most schools on this list, admissions officers review roughly 1,000 applications in the early round (compared to ~9,500 at Harvard and 8,000 at UPenn). With fewer applicants, a strong academic profile and high-impact extracurriculars are sure to get you a closer read at these colleges.

SPOTLIGHT ON FIVE LITTLE IVIES

Williams College (Williamstown, MA)

2,129 undergrads
9.8% acceptance rate for Class of 2027

Williams is located in the cultural cove of the Berkshires, home of the Williamstown Theatre Festival, a breeding ground for Tony award winners; MASS MoCA, a beacon of contemporary art; and Jacob’s Pillow, an international mecca of professional dance. The college boasts research opportunities that rival most graduate schools’: a hallmark of the Williams experience is the “tutorial,” where two students and a professor meet weekly, with one student developing a piece of independent work and the other critiquing it with the support of the professor. When they leave the Berkshires, not only are Williams grads taken care of by the oldest alumni association in the world (dating back to 1821), but they also count Harvard, Columbia, and Yale among their most frequently attended graduate programs.

Amherst College (Amherst, MA)

1,970 undergrads
9% acceptance rate for Class of 2027

The self-described “Writing College,” Amherst is a haven for literary scholars and creative writers. From hosting a world-renowned LitFest, to maintaining the largest collection of Emily Dickinson writings and the Dickinson house museum, to running the Folger Shakespeare Library in D.C., Amherst has a storied legacy of literary history. STEM students will find accessible research opportunities in the Summer Science Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program, working closely with a faculty mentor. With no core curriculum or distribution requirements, Amherst offers a completely open curriculum that extends out into the surrounding Five College Consortium including Mount Holyoke, Hampshire College, Smith, and University of Massachusetts—Amherst.

TTA Top Tip: Learn more about consortium colleges in our recent blog post, “Consortium Colleges: The Best of Both Worlds.”

Wesleyan University (Middletown, CT)

~3,000 undergrads
14.4% acceptance rate for Class of 2026 (official Class of 2027 data not yet released)

Offering 45 majors and 32 minors—ranging from Dance to Human Rights Advocacy to Molecular Biophysics—Wesleyan boasts an open curriculum where they “refuse to squeeze open minds into a closed curriculum.” Students also have the option to study during the Winter and/or Summer Sessions, where they immerse themselves in accelerated courses and can even graduate in three years if they are particularly ambitious. Embedded into the fabric of Wesleyan is a deep commitment to public service: through the Patricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship, The Albritton Center for the Study of Public Life, and the Jewett Center for Community Partnerships, opportunities abound for students to make an impact. Its location in Middletown, CT, just outside of Hartford and within a two-hour drive of both NYC and Boston, makes it ideal for students who want the Little Ivy experience in a bustling locale.

Colby College (Waterville, ME)

2,262 undergrads
6% acceptance rate for Class of 2027

If you’re prepared to “Dare Northward,” head up to Colby in Waterville, Maine. Students interested in American history and environmental studies will definitely want to see Colby’s newly acquired “Island Campus,” a pair of islands off the coast where Andrew Wyeth painted some of his most famous pieces, now stewarded by the college as “laboratories for important research, and places of quiet reflection and artistic creation.” Back on the mainland, prospective student-athletes will be wooed by the brand-new Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center (HAARC), the pride of the New England Small Colleges Athletic Association (NESCAC).

Middlebury (Middlebury, Vermont)

2,800 undergrads
11.5% acceptance rate for Class of 2026

Don’t be fooled by this small college nestled in the mountains of Vermont: Middlebury’s reach stretches across continents through its C.V. Starr Schools Abroad, Language Schools, and Institute of International Studies. Year after year, its global ethos earns Middlebury a place on the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ list of Top Fulbright Producing Institutions—seven Midd grads were offered the prestigious international exchange grant this year. Students will find plenty of adventures right in Vermont, too: with its very own Snow Bowl, home to a number of Olympic skiers; a network of trails for mountain biking, XC skiing, and hiking; and watering holes galore, Middlebury complements a world-class education with a veritable outdoor playground.

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Anita Doar

Senior Private Counselor at Top Tier Admissions

Anita has devoted over 15 years to mentoring and motivating students to realize their goals. She taught and coached students in every grade 7-12 in top private schools before founding her own successful business providing personalized support for college and graduate school applicants. Anita’s high standards and skill in connecting with young scholars proved paramount in her students’ admission to undergraduate and graduate programs at selective schools such as UChicago, Columbia, Dartmouth, Georgetown, Harvard, UPenn, and Stanford.

Anita holds a BA in Philosophy from Princeton, where she is an alumni class officer and former interviewer, and an MA in English from Middlebury. At Princeton she also contributed her drive and competitiveness to the women’s lacrosse team, winning an NCAA Division I National Championship and three Ivy League Championships while earning national scholar-athlete academic distinction and the Connie McAllister athletic department award for “effort, selfless dedication, enthusiasm and heart.” She brings these qualities to her relationships with students as she helps to bring out the best in them.