Little Ivies in the USA: Top Courses, Tuition Fees & Admission Process
Little Ivies are a group of liberal arts colleges in the northwestern part of the USA that offer a similar level of education, networking opportunities, and teaching experience as the Ivy League but on a smaller scale.
These colleges are mostly known for offering undergraduate courses in the natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, and fine arts. In this blog, we have discussed the Little Ivies in great detail, including their tuition fees, eligibility criteria, and admission process for Indian students.
- Introduction of Little Ivies in the USA
- How Little Ivies Are Formed?
- Comparison between Little Ivies and Ivy League in the USA
- List of Little Ivies in the USA
- Popular Courses to Study at Little Ivies
- General Requirements to Study at Little Ivies in the USA
- Required Documents for Little Ivies in the USA
- Application Process for Little Ivy Colleges
- Key Takeaways by AdmitX
- FAQs
Introduction of Little Ivies in the USA
- ‘Little Ivy’ is an unofficial and informal term referring to highly selective liberal arts colleges that provide rigorous academics similar to the Ivy League universities.Â
- These colleges are world-renowned for offering undergraduate courses in the fields of natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, and fine arts, which are collectively known as liberal arts subjects.Â
- Unlike Ivy League universities, they operate on a smaller scale, which is why they are called Little Ivies.
How Little Ivies Are Formed?
- The Little Ivies were founded in the 18th and 19th centuries and became popular in the USA for offering quality undergraduate education in liberal arts subjects.
- When the Ivy League was founded in 1954, these colleges were considered alternatives to them.
- They focused on broad-based liberal arts education, producing graduates who excelled in law, government, business, and academia.
- Unlike large research universities, Little Ivies kept their enrollment small (under 3,000 students) to prioritise close faculty-student relationships and discussion-based learning.
- Today, they remain among the most selective USA colleges with low acceptance rates and high academic quality.
- They surpass most of the well-known top-ranked universities in the USA in terms of undergraduate education quality.
Comparison between Little Ivies and Ivy League in the USA
Below, we have provided a tabular comparison between Little Ivy Schools and Ivy League universities in the USA on the basis of ownership, funding, tuition fees, location, and admissions.
| Little Ivies | Ivy League |
|---|---|
| Informal group of elite liberal arts colleges | Formal athletic conference consisting of 8 prestigious private universities |
| Provides only liberal arts subjects | Offers a diverse range of academic programs at undergraduate and postgraduate level |
| Each college has a small student body, around 1,500-3,000 | Each university has a large student experience comparatively, around 5,000-25,000 |
| Research opportunities are limited | Research opportunities are extensive, with funding from the government and global collaborations |
| Competes in NESCAC (New England Small College Athletic Conference) | Competes in NCAA Division I |
List of Little Ivies in the USA
The following we have tabulated below a list of Litlle Ivies colleges in the USA along with their respective average tuition fees.
| College | Average Tuition Fees (Per Year) |
|---|---|
| Williams College | $68,240 |
| Amherst College | $69,600 |
| Swarthmore College | $69,600 |
| Bowdoin College | $69,600 |
| Middlebury College | $67,100 |
| Wesleyan University | $69,600 |
| Hamilton College | $69,600 |
| Colgate University | $69,600 |
| Lafayette College | $69,600 |
| Haverford College | $69,600 |
| Colby College | $66,590 |
| Bates College | $69,600 |
| Trinity College | $69,600 |
| Union College | $69,600 |
| Connecticut College | $69,600 |
Popular Courses to Study at Little Ivies
The top popular courses to study at Little Ivies are listed below.Â
- Biology & Neurosciences
- Computer Sciences
- Economics & Financial Studies
- English Literature & Creative Writing
- Environmental Sciences
- Entrepreneurship & Business Leadership
- Fine Arts & Art History
- Mathematics & Statistics
- Physics & Astronomy
- Public Policy & Law
- Science, Technology & Society
General Requirements to Study at Little Ivies in the USA
The general requirements for admission into Little Ivies are as follows.
Academic Prerequisite
For getting admission into bachelor’s level programs, Indian applicants must have
- Completed 10+2 education from a government-recognised school of CBSE/ISC/state board with at least 70-90% grade, depending on the prospective college and course.
For getting admission into master’s level programs (in some selected Little Ivy colleges), Indian applicants must have
- Completed 3-4 years of bachelor’s degree from a government-recognised college/university with at least 65-90% grade, depending on the prospective university and course.
Standardised Tests
Below, we have tabulated the minimum score requirements of standardised tests to get admission into Little Ivies colleges.
| Standardised Tests | Minimum Score |
|---|---|
| SAT | 1500-1580 |
| ACT | 34-36 |
| GMAT | 700-720 |
| GRE | 330 |
English Language Test Scores
Below, we have tabulated the minimum score requirements for English language proficiency tests to be admitted into Little Ivies colleges.
| English Language Proficiency Test | Minimum Score |
|---|---|
| TOEFL | 100-110 |
| IELTS | 7.0-7.5 |
| PTE | 65-70 |
| Duolingo | 110-125 |
Extracurricular Activities
A profound background of participation in extracurricular activities, such as sports, club activities, internships, and projects relevant to the desired course of study, can demonstrate a strong candidature for Little Ivies.
Interview and Portfolio
International students may be required to appear in an interview or submit a portfolio, depending on the course and university.
Required Documents for Little Ivies in the USA
The following is a list of documents that need to be submitted while applying for the Little Ivies in the USA.
- All previous academic transcripts
- 1 CV/Resume
- 1-2 Statements of Purpose
- 2-3 Letters of Recommendation
- Standardised Test Scorecards (depending on course/study level)
- GMAT
- GRE
- TOEFL/IELTS/PTE/Duolingo etc.
- ACT
- SAT
- Application Fee (depending on the university)
- WES Evaluation Report
- Work Experience Letter/Portfolio (if required)
- Certificate for Extracurricular Activities
- Passport
Application Process for Little Ivy Colleges
The application process for Little Ivies is discussed below.
- The preparation to apply for a particular study program at Little Ivy colleges should be started at least 9-12 months before the onset of the application process.
- Shortlist at least 8-10 Little Ivy colleges, based on your preference, such as the availability of courses, rankings, tuition fees, etc.
- Visit their official website to go through the specific details for the academic program and other important details.
- Prepare and appear for the standardised tests and gather their scorecards.
- Gather and organise all other documents required for application.
- When the application window opens, you can start applying for the desired study program by visiting the Common App, Coalition for College, or individual college websites.
- Submit the documents and make payment for the application fee (if applicable)
- Submit the application and print out the receipt.
Key Takeaways by AdmitX
Little Ivies focuses primarily on undergraduate education and offers some master’s programs in liberal arts subjects. However, it does not offer the same breadth of professional programs as larger universities such as Ivy League and Public Ivies. The colleges offer an Ivy League-caliber education but with a smaller student body and a tight-knit campus community.
FAQs
What is the average cost of study in Little Ivies?
The average cost of study in Little Ivies is around USD 50,000-70,000 or INR 43,000-70,000 per year, depending on the college and the course.
How to apply for Little Ivy colleges in the USA?
You can apply for Little Ivies in the USA by visiting the Common App, Coalition for College or individual college websites.
What are the popular courses to pursue at Little Ivies?
Some of the popular courses to pursue at Little Ivies are Biology & Neurosciences, Computer Sciences, Economics & Financial Studies, Environmental Sciences, Mathematics & Statistics, Physics & Astronomy, and Public Policy & Law.
What are the Small Ivy college application fees?
The application fee for a Small Ivy college is around USD 80-USD 85 or INR 7,000-7,300 per application, depending on the college.
How long does it take for Small Ivies to reply to my application?
Small Ivies takes around 6-8 weeks to respond to applications, depending on the college.
