What are the Public Ivies and how to get in

Although are only eight universities that make up the well-known Ivy League, there are many other universities that are comparable in terms of reputation and academic prowess. Some are small, private institutions known as the ‘Little Ivies’, and some are much larger, public colleges known as the ‘Public Ivies’. It’s these latter that we’re going to focus on here. We’ll go through what they look like, how they compare to their Ivy counterparts, and what you need to know before sending an application.

If you require further support, including personalised admissions advice, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at A-List University Advising service for all this and more!

What are the Public Ivies?

In 1985, Richard Moll coined the term ‘Public Ivys’ (often written ‘Ivies’) in his book The Public Ivys, in which he discussed high-performing US universities that delivered a near-Ivy League level of education and research, but at a public university price. The original list only consisted of eight schools, but as years went by, other organisations have developed the list to include a wide range of universities across the US. Some even count upwards of over 30 colleges as Public Ivies, but there are always some that appear on every one, for example the University of California and the University of Texas at Austin. 

Compared to Ivy League universities, Public Ivies are far larger in terms of student numbers. It’s common for them to welcome between 35,000 and 50,000 students onto undergraduate and graduate programmes. They’re well-known for their sporting prowess and, unlike Ivy League institutions clustered in the north east, they are spread across the US. This means they have great appeal for both domestic and international students, as not everyone wishes to move far from home, and others may like to explore different areas of the country.

Unsurprisingly, given their higher acceptance rates, the class sizes are larger and more diverse than at Ivy League universities, meaning the learning and living environments are less intimate and there are more students per faculty member at Public Ivies compared to at their Ivy League counterparts. That said, the range of module and degree choice, as well as extra-curricular activities, are likely larger at a Public Ivy than at an Ivy League or Little Ivy college, so there are advantages to larger institutions. You will also have the chance to compete in more national-level sports events.

Notable Public Ivies and what sets them apart

The list below includes 12 of the best-ranked Public Ivies, and we’ve singled-out seven of them to give you a bit more insight into what to expect if you decide to attend one.

Below is the list of all 33 Public Ivies, grouped by region, in the 2001 book The Public Ivies: America’s Flagship Public Universities:

Below are insights into the 7 most notable public universities in this list: 

University of California, Los Angeles

UCLA is right in the heart of the vibrant city of Los Angeles, only minutes from Hollywood. It counts many Novel Laureates among its graduates and is highly respected from both the academic and sporting perspectives. It’s known for its social science degrees, with some of the most popular ones being econometrics and quantitative economics, psychology, and sociology.

University of California, Berkeley

UC Berkeley has an excellent reputation for both undergraduate and postgraduate education, with more than 120 graduate programmes available. It majors in social sciences, computer science, and engineering, and has a large campus in a city location. It consistently features at the top of college ranking tables, and it should therefore come as no surprise that its acceptance rate hovers around 11%.

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 

The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor has a high student population (around 50,000), but that doesn’t detract from its excellent reputation for various subjects, namely computer science, engineering, business, and the humanities. It benefits from a picturesque campus of 3,200 acres, and enjoys a reputation for cutting-edge research. Its accommodation offering is diverse, so you won’t struggle to find somewhere to feel at home.

University of Virginia, Charlottesville

The University of Virginia sees around 20% of its students studying for liberal arts degrees, and has an acceptance rate of approximately 19%. In 2025, it was ranked as the fourth best public university in the United States by the U.S. News and World report, and excels particularly in law and business. Also notable is its Health System, which is a highly regarded medical research and treatment centre, as well as a teaching facility.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Established in 1789, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was the first public university to award degrees in the U.S. Around one fifth of students here study social and behavioural sciences, followed by biological sciences, business, and communications. The average class size is 24 students, and there are plenty opportunities for external engagement in the local community, as well as on-campus activities.

University of Florida, Gainesville

The University of Florida is very popular with international students, with many coming from China and India in particular. This means there’s a welcoming diversity among the student body, and its student satisfaction is very high, resulting in a retention rate of close to 100%! Its most popular majors are psychology, biology, and business, and it also welcomes part-time undergraduates too.

University of Texas at Austin 

The University of Texas at Austin was founded in 1883, starting with only eight faculty members and one building, but it’s now expanded to welcome over 50,000 students and around 3000 teaching staff. It’s regularly among the most highly ranked public universities in the US, and is most notable for political science, psychology, and biology. 

For a fuller picture, take a look at US News' ranking table to find out more about how different universities are ranked and filter by subject and other criteria.

Is it difficult for international students to get into a Public Ivy?

Academic excellence

Even though Public Ivies admit considerable numbers of students per year, especially in comparison to Ivy League colleges, this doesn’t mean they have an open-door policy. A high grade point average (GPA) is normal to have, even if the university doesn’t say it’s a prerequisite, as are good scores across your school qualifications, be they IB, A-levels, etc. The admissions tutors want to see you’ll cope with an academically rigorous curriculum and, importantly, enjoy it.

Extracurriculars & leadership

One of the great draws of the Public Ivies is the vast range of extra-curricular activities and opportunities they offer and, to some extent, expect you to take advantage of. When applying, it’s a good idea to show an awareness of these and demonstrate your well-roundedness by describing how your meaningful engagement with an array of pursuits beyond the classroom.

Standardised tests

When it comes to applying, make sure you look closely at the admissions requirements as some Public Ivies require you to sit a test, such as the SAT or ACT, and even to obtain a certain score. These tests help to differentiate between closely ranked candidates, so it’s important to do as well as possible on them. Ensure you sit it in good time too, as the university will require the score before making you an offer.

English proficiency

If you’re an international student whose first language is not English, you may need to sit an English language exam, such as the TOEFL or IELTS, even if your English is excellent. This is just to reassure the college that you’ll cope with the language demands of a degree in a language that isn’t your native tongue. If they do require this, make sure you know the marks that are necessary in the different components of the exam, as these may differ between universities.

Financial aid for international students

Public Ivies’ tuition fees are considerably lower than those of their Ivy League counterparts, but they still don’t come cheap. You’ll find that many offer the same financial aid packages for international students as they do for domestic students, and these can be on a ‘need-aware’ basis (accounting for personal circumstances) or ‘need-blind’ basis (the same package given to everyone). It pays (literally!) to find out about these and the likelihood of obtaining assistance before applying.

Demonstrated interest

As you’ll be competing with many thousands of others when applying to a Public Ivy, you should try to mark yourself out from others by demonstrating your commitment to that college through your attendance at events, either virtual or in person, and through research into the college before any interview you may be offered. This will show you’re serious about your choice and mark you out as determined to attend that university.

The benefits of choosing a Public Ivy

• The annual tuition costs are a fraction of those of Ivy League universities, though the student bodies are larger.
  
• They have excellent teaching and research reputations, as well as strong alumni networks, sports cultures, and institutional spirits.
  
• The student populations are diverse in terms of backgrounds and interests, which results in a vast range of curricular and extra-curricular opportunities available.
  
• They are often in very different locations from each other, but still in beautiful settings with ample resources at hand.

Final tips and next steps

The semester you wish to start your course will determine to a large extent the route you apply through. Not all Public Ivies offer the same routes, but the main ones you’ll encounter are Regular Decision, Early Decision, and Early Action, each of which has a different set of rules and limitations, so make sure you know what you’re signing up for. Our University Advising session can help you figure out which one would be best for you, so do get in touch with us if you would like personalised support on your journey.

Before applying, you should ensure you know what financial packages and assistance your chosen universities are willing to offer. Your eligibility for these may depend on factors such as nationality and confirmed residency status, so it’s worth doing some research ahead of time.