Some things just never get easier. Applying to college is one of them. It seems that with every year there comes a fresh spate of hurdles to overcome. Navigating the constantly changing rules about SATs. Dealing with the fallout of Supreme Court rulings. Feeling bad about all the things you should have done last summer to impress admissions officers. Add to the list the frequency with which you now have to update your list of safety schools.
The concept of Alt-Ivies is hardly new—T&C has covered this topic since the 1970s, when we published a list of 50 alternatives to Ivy League schools in our college-themed August 1973 issue (we revived a condensed version a few years ago). But there used to be some measure of predictability to it all. We have long known about the Little Ivies (selective liberal arts institutions like Amherst, Colgate, and Vassar) and the Public Ivies (University of Michigan, UVA, and Berkeley among them), and schools like Stanford, Northwestern, Duke, and Georgetown. And once upon a time, we used to be confident that certain party schools in Florida were easy gets, and anything in Boston not named Harvard or MIT could be a safe bet. Well, not anymore. You might recall that last year, Northeastern ended up at the top of our 2023 Alt-Ivies list with an acceptance rate that had plummeted into the single digits. (It’s also the dream choice of over-achieving kids at the most expensive boarding school on the planet.)
So as the future Class of 2029 gears up for another round of college admissions mayhem, we once again consulted the experts at IvyWise, who looked at metrics like sharp increases in applications, stark declines in admit rates, and other intel gathered from their contacts in the field, to create a list of the schools that are now as elite, competitive, and desirable as Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc. Below, introducing the top 15 Alt-Ivies of 2024.
Bates College
Lewiston, Maine
“Bates is sometimes overshadowed by Bowdoin and Colby, its fellow members of the “Maine Big Three” liberal arts colleges, but it has rocketed to popularity and selectivity in its own right over the past few years. A unique academic calendar is a big draw. There are two traditional semesters, plus a 4-week Short Term, which runs from late April through May, during which students immerse themselves fully in one class, either on- or off-campus. Global Chinese Food, Landscape Ethnography, and The Modern Political Campaign in the Age of AI have been a few of the popular recent offerings. Diversity, inclusivity, and equity are top priorities at Bates, which was founded in 1855 as New England’s first coed college. The Harward Center for Community Partnerships supports community-engaged learning and research, volunteering, work-study, and civic leadership opportunities with nearly 100 organizations in the Lewiston/Auburn community.”
Class of 2027* acceptance rate: 13.06%
Class of 2023 acceptance rate: 12.14%
Increase in applications (2019-2023): 10.39%
*Figures for Class of 2028 not yet available.
Boston University
Boston, Massachusetts
“Boston University is committed to opportunity, which is evident in its extensive offerings, with more than 300 programs of study and the innovative BU Hub curriculum, which prepares all undergraduates with essential capacities across knowledge, skills, and habits of mind. The university’s robust research environment has earned $579.4 million in awards. The school also allocates $1 million in funding for the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, through which, according to BU’s website, students of the Class of 2028 have created puzzles for the New York Times, researched cancer at Boston Children’s Hospital, interned at the French Senate, and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. BU’s trajectory toward becoming a serious alternative to renowned Boston-area institutions like Harvard and MIT is clear as it rises in popularity and becomes increasingly categorized as a “reach” school for traditionally competitive applicants.”
Class of 2027* acceptance rate: 10.85%
Class of 2023 acceptance rate: 18.94%
Increase in applications (2019-2023): 29.36%
*Figures for Class of 2028 not yet available.
College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, Massachusetts
“The College of the Holy Cross is gaining recognition as an attractive choice for high-achieving students seeking a challenging education at a Catholic university. Through 45 major offerings and a holistic education system, which is rooted in the Jesuit tradition, students are encouraged to engage in deep ethical and philosophical inquiry— and to view their education from a global perspective. Critical thinking, writing, and communication skills are fostered early on in the Montserrat first-year seminar program, which focuses on one of 6 thematic clusters: Contemporary Challenges, Core Human Questions, the Divine, Global Society, the Natural World, and Self. Holy Cross’s Jesuit influence is further evident in their dedication to service, exemplified by the Student Programs for Urban Development (SPUD), which facilitates diverse community partnerships in Worcester and provides students with meaningful service experiences and opportunities for reflection on structural injustice. Holy Cross is also one of a select group of colleges that meets 100% of each student’s demonstrated financial need.”
Class of 2028 acceptance rate: 16.00%
Class of 2023 acceptance rate: 34.22%
Increase in applications (2019-2024): 32.46%
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College of William and Mary
Williamsburg, Virginia
“Founded in 1693, the College of William & Mary is the second oldest institution of higher learning in the U.S. and is also known as the “Alma Mater of the Nation” because of its distinguished alumni, which includes three American presidents, 16 members of Congress, four signers of the Declaration of Independence, and four justices of the Supreme Court. The Williamsburg, Virginia, college’s rich history lends itself to a slew of traditions, including the Yule Log celebration each December, One Tribe One Day in the spring, and the Royal Ball to celebrate the end of the academic year. As is one of the original “Public Ivies,” William & Mary combines a liberal arts experience with the research opportunities of a larger university. Some of the most popular majors include psychology, biology, government, economics, and computer science. And then there is the St Andrews William & Mary Joint Degree Programme, in which students complete two years each at William & Mary and the University of St Andrews in Scotland, and earn a single Bachelor of Arts degree.”
Class of 2028 acceptance rate: 32.61%
Class of 2023 acceptance rate: 37.68%
Increase in applications (2019-2024): 21.17%
Colorado College
Colorado Springs, Colorado
“Colorado College is immensely popular for its unique Rocky Mountain West location that lends itself to plenty of outdoor exploration, a vibrant community, and interesting course offerings. But its innovative Block Plan is perhaps its most defining feature: The academic year is broken out into eight blocks and optional Half Blocks in the winter and summer. Students take only one academic course per 3.5-week session, which typically includes interactive activities like labs and field trips. For first-years, the Colorado College orientation includes the Priddy Experience, in which small groups of students participate in service, outdoor, and local activities to get to know one another, the school, and the region. They will continue to enjoy their surroundings for the next four years thanks to the Colorado College Outdoor Education (CCOE), which runs nearly 200 outdoor trips a year along with more than three dozen workshops and trainings. As for the numbers below, which indicate an opposite trend to the rest of the schools on this list, it’s important to note that the first-year class size at Colorado College has also fallen over the past few years, a decrease that is nearly in line with the fall in applications. Which is to say that Colorado College focuses on recruiting the right students who will be a fit on-campus, rather than just recruiting as many applicants as possible in an effort to decrease their admit rate.”
Class of 2028 acceptance rate: 19.00%
Class of 2023 acceptance rate: 13.50%
Change in applications (2019-2024): -9.98%
Elon University
Elon, North Carolina
“Elon is a relatively new university—it was founded in 1889. While it has long been a popular school for students in its home state of North Carolina and from the Southeast, it now counts Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York as some of the top states of origin for students, who are drawn to its tight-knit community, experiential learning opportunities, and engaging student life. And then there is the campus, which is often touted as one of the nation’s most beautiful and, thanks to its location in the picturesque Piedmont region, is close to Burlington, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Durham, Chapel Hill, and Raleigh, providing easy access to entertainment, sports, museums, and the outdoors. Elon offers a wide variety of majors as well as opportunities for international study, research, publication, and competitions at academic centers such as the Center for Environmental Studies, Center for Leadership, and Center for Research on Global Engagement, among others. Elon also connects with local, regional, national, and international communities with strategic partnerships.”
Class of 2028 acceptance rate: 66.00%
Class of 2023 acceptance rate: 78.44%
Increase in applications (2019-2023): 78.96%*
*Application numbers for Class of 2028 not yet available.
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Grinnell College
Grinnell, Iowa
“Grinnell students—or Grinnellians, as they are affectionately called—are united by a love for learning and a commitment to bettering their communities. As one of the few colleges that does not require students to complete core curriculum or general education requirements, Grinnell gives students the freedom to explore the courses that most interest them. The only requirement, known as the First-Year Tutorial, equips freshmen with the writing, critical thinking, and presentation skills needed to succeed in their college careers and beyond. They can pick from one of 35 topics, from Making Sense of Succession, to Divining Difference in Iowa (Grinnell’s home state), to even a Taylor Swift-focused course. Learning is so engrained in the culture here that more than half of alumni go on to earn an advanced degree within 10 years of graduation. Grinnell also boasts one of the highest college endowments—at $2.5 billion as of June 30, 2023—which equates to nearly $1.5 million per student and allows for a generous financial aid program.”
Class of 2027* acceptance rate: 9.49%
Class of 2023 acceptance rate: 23.08%
Increase in applications (2019-2023): 66.60%
*Figures for Class of 2028 not yet available.
Hamilton College
Clinton, New York
“Hamilton College is guided by their motto, “Know Thyself,” which was inspired by Socrates’s belief that it is the first step to true wisdom. That commitment to students’ personal journeys comes to life through an open curriculum, guidance from advisors, a community of diverse perspectives, and an emphasis on written and spoken communication and expression. Hamilton’s sprawling, yet compact, hilltop campus is located in the New England-style village of Clinton, New York, which means outdoor aficionados can make frequent use of the Adirondacks for backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, climbing, camping, and skiing. In fact, all first-year students begin forming connections and memories with an orientation adventure trip.”
Class of 2027* acceptance rate: 11.77%
Class of 2023 acceptance rate: 16.39%
Increase in applications (2019-2023): 15.64%
*Figures for Class of 2028 not yet available.
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
“Lehigh is a prime example of a mid-sized research university that offers small class sizes and an intimate student-to-faculty ratio in the spirit of a liberal arts college, but also has robust research opportunities, a $2.1 billion endowment, and Division I athletics. School spirit is high at this Pennsylvania institution thanks to the proximity of its historical rival, Lafayette College: the Lehigh-Lafayette football game, which began in 1884, is the most-played college football rivalry in the U.S. In matters of academia, undergrads select from majors across four colleges and about 12% of them pursue an intercollegiate major, like arts and engineering, computer science and business, and integrated business and health. First-year students can also choose to spend their first semester off-campus through the Lehigh Launch program, which offers an immersive, inquiry-based semester in the American West (Wyoming and New Mexico) and Santiago, Chile.”
Class of 2028 acceptance rate: 25.35%
Class of 2023 acceptance rate: 32.10%
Increase in applications (2019-2024): 30.33%
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Spelman College
Atlanta, Georgia
“Founded in 1881 as the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary and renamed in 1924, Spelman is a women’s HBCU that offers 36 majors and 39 minors, with unique programs such as African Diaspora and the World, Asian Studies, Curatorial Studies, and Food Studies. Freshmen are required to complete community service hours, integrating service with learning from the outset. As a member of the Atlanta University Center Consortium, Spelman provides opportunities for students to interact with peers beyond their university, with consortium benefits like cross-registration, access to the AUC Woodruff Library, and diverse engagement opportunities. On campus, students can explore their passions through 70+ student-led organizations and academic centers, such as the Bonner Office for Civic Engagement, Center for Black Entrepreneurship, and IBM Center for Quantum Computing. Spelman’s Innovation Lab further supports ideation, design, prototyping, and entrepreneurial ventures. And notably, the National Science Foundation recognizes Spelman as the top producer of Black women who complete Ph.D.s in STEM fields.”
Class of 2027* acceptance rate: 34.00%
Class of 2023 acceptance rate: 39.32%
Increase in applications (2019-2023): 12.30%
*Figures for Class of 2028 not yet available.
Tufts University
Medford, Massachusetts
“Tufts is one of the academic giants of Boston, offering more than 150 majors and minors, including 30 interdisciplinary programs between the Schools of Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and the Museum of Fine Arts. Each semester, the unique Experimental College offers a set of courses taught by experts, community members, and Tufts juniors and seniors who have designed their own courses and dedicated themselves to a specific topic. First-year students begin their pursuit of academic excellence with the Explorations Program, a seminar led by upperclassmen peer advisors with topics ranging from Politics by Other Means: Simulation and Strategy Games throughout History, to Bending the Norm: Sociopolitical Commentary in the Legend of Korra. As a top research university with a "tier 1" classification from the Carnegie Foundation, more than 60% of undergraduates engage in research projects. Civic engagement is also deeply embedded in the Tufts experience, with programs like Tisch Scholars, which combines coursework and fieldwork in local communities, and the Civic Semester, in which 10-12 peers engage deeply with important social issues by learning from organizations in locations such as the Southwestern U.S. and Peru.”
Class of 2028 acceptance rate: 10.00%
Class of 2023 acceptance rate: 14.95%
Increase in applications (2019-2024): 49.35%
University of Florida
Gainesvilla, Florida
“UF is one of the many flagship universities that has recently seen an increase in applications from out-of-state and international students. They are drawn to the exciting student life, SEC athletics, and location of Gainesville, which is often ranked as one of the top college towns thanks to its quaint downtown, easy access to nature, and 224 days of sunshine a year, not to mention the energy of everyone’s fervent passion for the Gators. UF is especially popular with students from New York, New Jersey, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Texas, while international students come from countries including China, India, Brazil, and Venezuela. STEM applicants interested in studying AI may be particularly drawn to UF, as its dedicated AI initiative has made significant investments in infrastructure like with the HiPerGator—the fastest supercomputer in higher education—and 300 faculty members who teach AI courses and/or use it in their research.”
Class of 2027* acceptance rate: 24.03%
(In-state: 52.58% | Out-of-state: 14.25% | International: 19.60%)
Class of 2023 acceptance rate: 36.58%
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University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia
“Located in the quintessential college town of Athens, the University of Georgia comprises 19 schools and colleges offering more than 142 fields of study. Its distinctive Double Dawgs program gives students the opportunity to earn both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years or less, saving time and money while accelerating their career paths. In 2016, UGA became the largest university in the nation with a mandatory experiential learning requirement for all undergraduates, ensuring that students gain practical experience before graduation. Its research capabilities are equally impressive, with $571 million in R&D expenditures in 2023 and things like the Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities (CURO). The university has produced 28 Rhodes Scholars and 143 Fulbright Scholars, reflecting its commitment to academic excellence. It’s also committed to diversity and access: the ALL Georgia Program supports rural students with unique opportunities and a robust network of resources, while the GAAME initiative focuses on Black male students and offers comprehensive support services, leadership development, and mentoring. By making hands-on learning experiences available for all, and integrating service into its academic framework, UGA offers a rich, high-quality public education that rivals Ivy League institutions.”
Class of 2028 acceptance rate: 37.00%
(in-state vs. out-of-state acceptance breakdown not made public)
Class of 2023 acceptance rate: 45.63%
Increase in applications (2019-2024): 48.25%
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington
“The University of Washington has seen remarkable growth in selectivity and academic reputation in the last five years, striking the school from many applicant’s safe list. It’s recognized by Reuters as the #1 public university for innovation in the U.S. and in 2023, secured $1.52 billion in federal funding to support more than 280 research centers. More than 180 majors across 13 schools cater to diverse academic interests and career aspirations. There is the renowned Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, a global leader in computing education and research that attracts significant industry engagement through its Industry Affiliates Program and $36 million in research grants. And the Michael G. Foster School of Business, which reports a $73K average starting salary for graduating seniors. UW’s expansive academic and research opportunities and strong career outcomes have made it a trending top choice for high-achieving students in recent admissions cycles, particularly among domestic applicants from the West Coast and international applicants from Asia. Non-Washington residents face a particularly competitive admissions landscape, with a mere 2% three-year average admit rate for direct admission to computer science or computer engineering.”
Class of 2028 acceptance rate: 10.13%
(in-state vs. out-of-state acceptance breakdown not made public)
Class of 2023 acceptance rate: 51.76%
Increase in applications (2019-2024): 51.56%
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, New York
“Vassar has a rich history of pioneering education; originally established, in 1861, to provide women with an education equal to that available to men, it became the first women’s college in the nation to adopt coeducation by welcoming men in 1969. This commitment to progressive education continues today with initiatives like the "Intensives," introduced in 2019 to build on the long tradition of curricular innovation. The university was also among the first to offer courses in drama, psychology, and Russian, as well as the first undergraduate degree in cognitive science. Initiatives like Community-Engaged Learning (CEL) and the Community Fellows Program connect students with social justice projects and various partners for comprehensive experiential learning and critical reflection. The school’s libraries have among the best liberal arts collections in the country: the Frederick Ferris Thompson Memorial Library is known for its Gothic architecture, while the George Sherman Dickinson Music Library holds more than a million volumes. Research opportunities are abundant, too, highlighted by the likes of the Creative Arts Across Disciplines (CAAD), an experimental lab for trying out new models of research, practice, community engagement, and critical making; the Beckman Scholars Program for students in biology, chemistry, and neuroscience; the Undergraduate Research Summer Institute (URSI); and the Ford Scholars Program, which offer generous stipends and faculty-mentored research collaboration.”
Class of 2027* acceptance rate: 17.72%
Class of 2023 acceptance rate: 23.74%
Increase in applications (2019-2023): 35.53%
*Figures for Class of 2028 not yet available.
Leena Kim
Editor
Leena Kim is an editor at Town & Country, where she covers travel, jewelry, education, weddings, and culture.
