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Ivy League Acceptance Rates 2026: Admissions Statistics
Getting into the Ivy League has never been easy, but acceptance rates have hit record lows in recent years, making the competition fiercer than ever.
For the Class of 2024, the average acceptance rate across Ivy League schools was already a low 7.2%. Fast forward to the Class of 2029, and that number has dropped to just 5.4%. If the trend continues, securing a spot will only get harder.
To put things in perspective, we’ve gathered Ivy League acceptance rate data from the Class of 2024 to the Class of 2029. The numbers come directly from official school announcements, Common Data Sets (CDS), and other verified sources.
Class of 2029 Ivy League Acceptance Rates
Harvard University still holds the title for the toughest Ivy League school to get into. For the Class of 2029, 47,893 students applied, but only 2,003 made the cut. That’s an acceptance rate of just 4.18%.
Ivy League schools across the board are reporting record-low acceptance rates. Applications keep pouring in, but class sizes haven’t budged much. While Early Decision and Early Action applicants tend to have better odds than Regular Decision applicants, those numbers have been shrinking too.
Below is a breakdown of the overall, early, and regular acceptance rates for Ivy League schools for the Class of 2029. We’ve arranged the schools based on their ranking in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best National Universities Rankings.
U.S. News Ranking | Ivy League School | Overall Acceptance Rate | Early Action/Early Decision Acceptance Rate | Regular Decision Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Princeton University | 4.42% | N/A (13.93% Class of 2023) | N/A (4.19% Class of 2023) |
3 | Harvard University | 4.18% | N/A (8.74% Class of 2028) | N/A (2.77% Class of 2028) |
4 | Yale University | 4.75% | 10.82% | 3.81% |
7 | University of Pennsylvania | 4.87% | TBA (14.22% Class of 2028) | TBA (4.05% Class of 2028) |
12 | Cornell University | 8.38% | 18.78% | 6.70% |
13 (Tie) | Brown University | 5.65% | 17.92% | 4.01% |
13 (Tie) | Dartmouth College | 6.03% | TBA (19.18% Class of 2028) | TBA (3.66% Class of 2028) |
15 | Columbia University | 4.94% | TBA (13.23% Class of 2028) | TBA (2.82% Class of 2028) |
Note: Princeton stopped releasing detailed early and regular admissions data starting with the Class of 2024. Harvard did the same with the Class of 2029.
Historical Overall Ivy League Acceptance Rates
The table below shows a year-by-year breakdown of overall acceptance rates for each Ivy League school from the Class of 2024 to the Class of 2029. In just six application cycles, admission has become noticeably more selective:
Ivy League School | Class of 2029 (2025) | Class of 2028 (2024) | Class of 2027 (2023) | Class of 2026 (2022) | Class of 2025 (2021) | Class of 2024 (2020) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Princeton University | 4.42% | 4.62% | 4.50% | 5.70% | 4.38% | 5.63% |
Harvard University | 4.18% | 3.65% | 3.45% | 3.24% | 4.01% | 5.01% |
Yale University | 4.75% | 3.87% | 4.50% | 4.57% | 5.31% | 6.53% |
University of Pennsylvania | 4.87% | 5.40% | 5.87% | 6.50% | 5.87% | 8.98% |
Cornell University | 8.38% | 8.41% | 7.90% | 7.26% | 8.69% | 10.71% |
Brown University | 5.65% | 5.39% | 5.23% | 5.06% | 5.51% | 7.67% |
Dartmouth College | 6.03% | 5.40% | 6.23% | 6.38% | 6.17% | 9.22% |
Columbia University | 4.94% | 3.86% | 4.00% | 3.74% | 3.89% | 6.15% |
We’ve also put together a similar table comparing overall acceptance rates at the most competitive colleges in the U.S.
Historical Early Ivy League Acceptance Rates
Most Ivy League schools offer Early Decision (ED), a binding application that requires you to commit if accepted. Harvard, Princeton, and Yale, however, use a Restrictive or Single-Choice Early Action model. It’s non-binding, but it limits you from applying early to other private universities.
Early applicants have traditionally had higher acceptance rates than those who apply in the regular round, but that gap has been shrinking. The table below breaks down early acceptance rates for Ivy League schools from the Class of 2024 to the Class of 2029:
Ivy League School | Class of 2029 (2025) | Class of 2028 (2024) | Class of 2027 (2023) | Class of 2026 (2022) | Class of 2025 (2021) | Class of 2024 (2020) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Princeton University | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Harvard University | N/A | 8.74% | 7.56% | 7.87% | 7.41% | 13.93% |
Yale University | 10.82% | 9.02% | 10.02% | 10.98% | 10.54% | 13.78% |
University of Pennsylvania | TBA | 14.85% | 15.61% | 14.86% | 19.47% | 18.01% |
Cornell University | 18.78% | 11.64% | 17.55% | 19.16% | 21.40% | 24.04% |
Brown University | 17.92% | 14.37% | 13.02% | 14.58% | 15.95% | 17.59% |
Dartmouth College | TBA | 19.18% | 19.94% | 21.27% | 25.11% | 26.23% |
Columbia University | TBA | 13.23% | 14.65% | 12.48% | 11.93% | N/A |
Note: The most recent publicly available early admissions data from Princeton is for the Class of 2023 (13.93% acceptance rate).
We’ve also put together a table of early acceptance rates at other top U.S. colleges.
Historical Regular Ivy League Acceptance Rates
Getting into an Ivy League school through Regular Decision (RD) is far tougher than applying early. Some Ivy League schools fill up to 50% of their freshman class through early admissions, making the regular round even more competitive.
As a result, RD acceptance rates have been dropping year after year. The table below breaks down regular acceptance rates for each Ivy League school from the Class of 2024 to the Class of 2029:
Ivy League School | Class of 2029 (2025) | Class of 2028 (2024) | Class of 2027 (2023) | Class of 2026 (2022) | Class of 2025 (2021) | Class of 2024 (2020) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Princeton University | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Harvard University | N/A | 2.77% | 2.62% | 2.40% | 3.29% | 3.31% |
Yale University | 3.81% | 3.06% | 3.53% | 3.48% | 4.25% | 5.10% |
University of Pennsylvania | TBA | 4.05% | 4.45% | 4.99% | 4.38% | 7.08% |
Cornell University | 6.70% | 7.83% | 6.32% | 5.42% | 6.72% | 8.74% |
Brown University | 4.01% | 4.08% | 4.05% | 3.74% | 4.10% | 6.72% |
Dartmouth College | TBA | 3.66% | 4.63% | 4.86% | 4.21% | 7.40% |
Columbia University | TBA | 2.82% | 2.81% | 2.72% | 2.93% | N/A |
Note: The most recent publicly available regular admissions data from Princeton is for the Class of 2023 (4.19% acceptance rate).
We’ve also compiled a table comparing regular acceptance rates at other top U.S. colleges.
What Is an Ivy League College?
The term “Ivy League” originally referred to an athletic conference formed in 1954, made up of eight prestigious private universities in the northeastern U.S.: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Brown, Dartmouth, UPenn, and Cornell.
Over time, “Ivy League” became shorthand for prestige, rigorous academics, and deep-rooted traditions. Today, these schools consistently rank among the top universities in the world, drawing tens of thousands of applicants each year, most of whom won’t make the cut.
What is the hardest Ivy League school to get into?
For the Class of 2029, Harvard once again took the top spot as the hardest Ivy League school to get into, with an acceptance rate of just 4.18%. Here’s how the next most selective Ivy League schools for the Class of 2029 compare:
- Princeton University – 4.42%
- Yale University – 4.75%
- University of Pennsylvania – 4.87%
What is the easiest Ivy League school to get into?
No Ivy League school is easy to get into, but Cornell had the highest acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 at 8.38%, making it the least selective of the group. That doesn’t mean admission is a walk in the park; it’s still highly competitive.
Other Ivy League schools with relatively higher acceptance rates include:
- Dartmouth College – 6.03%
- Brown University – 5.65%
- Columbia University – 4.94%
Even with these “higher” acceptance rates, they’re still rejecting over 90% of applicants. If you’re aiming for an Ivy League spot, you’ll need strong academics, impactful extracurriculars, and essays that set you apart.
College Admissions Chances Calculator
Getting into an Ivy League school is tough, but knowing where you stand can help you build a stronger application. The AdmissionSight College Admissions Chances Calculator gives you a rough estimate of your chances based on key academic and extracurricular factors.
This tool evaluates your GPA, SAT/ACT scores, class rank, and extracurricular involvement to see how your profile compares to other Ivy League applicants. While no calculator can guarantee results, it can give you a sense of whether your stats align with the academic benchmarks of admitted students.
Private Consulting Program
If you want expert guidance, AdmissionSight’s Private Consulting Program offers personalized coaching tailored to Ivy League admissions. With years of experience helping students get into top schools, our experts provide one-on-one mentorship to refine your college essays, extracurricular strategy, and interview prep.
If you’re serious about getting into the Ivy League, schedule a free consultation today and see how our team can help you build a standout application.
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