What Are the “Public Ivies”?

Coined in 1985 by former Yale admissions officer Richard Moll, the term “Public Ivy” refers to state universities that offer an exceptional education—at a fraction of the Ivy league price to in-state students—and earmark a limited number of seats to out-of-state students. With world-class faculty, top-notch honors programs, and cutting-edge research opportunities, the following universities are some of the original “Public Ivies” and are in increasingly high demand by students worldwide, driving down acceptance rates year over year—and giving the real Ivy League a run for its money.

PUBLIC IVIES: A SAMPLING

University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA)

Applicants from around the world made a run on UC schools when they became test blind in 2021, but the University of California looks out for its own, capping out-of-state enrollment at 18% and potentially decreasing this number to 10% in the near future. UCLA’s small class sizes (roughly 2/3 have less than 30 students) and robust curricular offerings across eight undergraduate schools—including a world-renowned fine arts program—account for UCLA’s high demand and low acceptance rate (10.5% in state; 8.8% out of state). ?Academics aside, several factors make this a highly desirable UC campus: it’s located in a nice neighborhood of West Los Angeles whose restaurants and nightlife lend a college-town feel; 97% of first years live on campus, creating a strong residential community; and it’s the only UC with a nationally-ranked football team.

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley vies with UCLA in claiming the title of most selective UC school (11.4% in state, 8.6% out of state) and one of the strongest public universities in the world. The two campuses diverge, however, in their SoCal/NorCal vibes: located between Silicon Valley and redwood forests with a historic tradition of political activism on campus, Berkeley draws an eclectic crowd of entrepreneurial, outdoorsy, and civic-minded students.?While it boasts top-notch reputations in chemistry, economics, business, space science, and physics, Berkeley is also experiencing a surge in humanities majors, which increased by 121% from 2021 to 2022.

University of Michigan

Ranked the #1 public research university in the US by the National Science Foundation, Michigan advertises that “research is central to its mission and permeates all 19 schools and colleges.” Complementing Michigan’s robust research opportunities are Big Ten sports teams that foster a hard-to-rival atmosphere of school spirit. To make this pack of 32K undergrad Wolverines feel smaller, students can apply to join Living-Learning Communities where they live and take classes among peers with similar interests, like in the Sustainable Living Experience or the Lloyd Scholars for Writing and the Arts. ?The good news for non-Michiganders: it’s one of the more accessible Public Ivies for out-of-state applicants. Of the 23% of admitted students last year, 55% were in-state and 45% out of state.

University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

If strong research opportunities are at the top of your wish list, you’ll find them at UNC, located in the famed Research Triangle of Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill. Boasting over 70 majors and minors ranging from Dental Hygiene to Slavic Languages to Aerospace Studies, UNC also offers a trademark "IDEAS in Action” general education curriculum designed to shape “citizen scholars.” ?As an intimate entrée into this large university community, first year students are welcomed into 24-person seminars exploring provocative questions like, “Who’s Brave Enough to Leap? Experimentalism in Global Black Music and Performance Arts.”?Exceptional candidates may be nominated to apply for UNC’s prestigious Morehead Cain scholarship, a fully funded 4-year educational experience including life-changing summer, study abroad, and research opportunities.

University of Texas-Austin

All right, all right, all right: this Texas flagship university is more than its claim to fame as Matthew McConaughey’s alma mater.?Its sweep of national rankings, urban location in the vibrant “live music capital of the world,” and warm weather with outdoor recreation opportunities make UT Austin a particularly desirable Public Ivy. But non-Texans beware: state legislation requires UT to reserve 90% of its seats for in-state students, which makes for fierce competition for the remaining 10% among out-of-state and international applicants. If you’re lucky enough to become a Longhorn, you may even get to call McConaughey “Professor.”

University of Virginia

For a deep dive into UVA (and to see why Virginia is for Lovers), check out our blog post on How to Get Into the University of Virginia.?In this year’s Early Decision round, UVA admitted 31% of in-state applicants and 17% of out-of-staters for an early acceptance rate of 24%. ??????

PUBLIC IVY OR NOT, FIT REMAINS KEY

There is much debate over which colleges or universities are considered “Public Ivies,” but one thing is certain… each of the above public institutions have the prestige and academic rigor that put them on par with their Ivy League peers.

Our students are typically seeking a fully resourced and academically rigorous college, but even the Ivies are not “one size fits all.” The same is true for schools considered “Public Ivies.” Finding your FIT is key when discerning which schools are worth an application, so be sure to dig deeper than just the school’s name. Do your research, plan those campus visits and college tours, and aim for high grades and scores so all options are on the table, “Ivy” and “Public Ivy” alike.