The Demographics of the Ivy League

Ivy League schools love to brag about diversity. But what do the actual numbers look like? Here''s the real breakdown of who''s actually there.

The term "Ivy League" was coined in 1954, originally as an athletic conference for elite private schools. These schools aren''t just about sports anymore—they''ve built their reputation on academics, arts, science, and business. Today, they''re some of the most selective, prestigious institutions in the world.

Right now, eight schools make up the Ivy League. Here''s the list:

• Harvard University

• The University of Pennsylvania

• Dartmouth College

• Yale University

• Princeton University

• Brown University

• Cornell University

• Columbia University

Who Actually Goes to the Ivies?

The eight Ivy League schools enroll around 18,842 students each on average. The schools talk constantly about diversity—different races, socioeconomic backgrounds, cultures, the whole thing. They''re extremely selective about who gets in, and they say they value having students from all walks of life.

In theory, that''s great. In practice, here''s what the actual numbers say. Let''s break down each school.

Harvard University

Harvard''s in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and people call it the king of Ivy Leagues. It has about 6,699 undergraduates, and the school is picky—really picky. In 2023, only 4.5% of the 43,330 people who applied got in.

The breakdown: 49% female, 51% male. Ethnically, Asian American students make up about 22%, African Americans 14%, Hispanics/Latinos 12%, and Native Americans 2%.

You may also read about - Harvard University

The University of Pennsylvania

Penn''s in Philadelphia with 24,806 undergrads (the biggest Ivy undergraduate body). The acceptance rate is 8.4%—still brutal.

Gender split: 48% male, 52% female. Ethnic breakdown: 41.3% white, 20% Asian American, 9.8% Hispanic/Latino, 7.4% African American, and 48% of students identify as multiracial or other. About 11.5% are international students.

You may also read about - The University of Pennsylvania

Dartmouth College

Dartmouth''s in Hanover, New Hampshire—small and isolated, with 6,350 undergrads. Acceptance rate: 8.7%.

Gender: 51% male, 49% female. Ethnically: 50% white, 8.6% Asian American, 8.6% Latino, 5.55% African American, 4.22% multiracial, 1.41% Native American.

You may also read about - Dartmouth College

Yale University

Yale''s in New Haven, Connecticut. Known for its music and drama programs, it''s the third-oldest college in the U.S. About 12,385 undergrads, 6.3% acceptance rate.

Gender: 49% male, 51% female. Ethnically: 44.3% white, 13.9% Asian American, 9.4% Hispanic/Latino, 5.6% African American, 0.324% Native American.

You may also read about - Yale University

Princeton University

Princeton''s on the New Jersey coast with 8,623 undergrads. Acceptance rate: 5.5%—the lowest of the group.

Gender: 49.2% male, 50.8% female. Ethnically: 50% white, 8.35% Asian American, 5.85% Latino, 3.58% African American, 0.109% multiracial.

You may also read about - Princeton University

Brown University

Brown''s in Providence, Rhode Island, founded in 1764. It has 6,320 undergrads with an 8.6% acceptance rate.

Gender: 47% male, 53% female. Ethnically: 43% white, 15% Asian American, 11% Hispanic/Latino, 6% African American, 6% multiracial. Another 11% are international students.

You may also read about - Brown University

Cornell University

Cornell''s in Ithaca, New York, founded in 1865. It''s the largest Ivy by far with 15,182 undergrads. Acceptance rate: 15.1% (the highest). Cornell ranks 16th in U.S. News rankings.

Gender: 46% male, 54% female. Ethnically: 40.8% white, 21.6% Asian American, 15.1% Hispanic, 7.7% African American.

You may also read about - Cornell University

Columbia University

Columbia''s in New York City, founded in 1754. It''s ranked number 3 nationally. About 8,216 undergrads, 6.1% acceptance rate.

Gender: 50% male, 50% female. Ethnically: 43.7% white, 21% Asian American, 16.3% Hispanic/Latino. It also has about 1,000 international students enrolled.

You may also read about - Columbia University

The Bottom Line

Yeah, Ivy League schools have students from different backgrounds. But look at the actual numbers. White and Asian students still make up the majority at most of these schools. That''s the reality behind the diversity rhetoric.

These schools aren''t lying when they talk about wanting diverse students—it''s just that their definition of diverse might not match the actual population. Ivies have shaped world leaders from all kinds of backgrounds, and that''s genuinely important. But if you''re applying hoping your background alone will help your chances, understand that competition is fierce no matter who you are.

More to read:

• Do Ivy League schools provide scholarships?

• Average GPA to get into Ivy League schools

• Which Ivy League is right for you?

• How to deal with Ivy day?