Ranking

Easiest Ivy League Schools to Get Into 2026

Cornell University leads this list with a reported acceptance rate of 8.8%. This page ranks access among the qualifying schools, not academic quality.

All eight Ivies, ranked from highest to lowest acceptance rate — least selective at the top.

Schools ranked: 8
Cheapest net price: $6,128
Top earnings 10y: $111,371
Public / Private: 0 / 8

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 8.8%
Net price: $28,690
Earnings 10y: $104,043
Acceptance: 8.8%

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 5.4%
Net price: $28,699
Earnings 10y: $111,371
Acceptance: 5.4%

Dartmouth College

Hanover, NH · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 5.4%
Net price: $29,519
Earnings 10y: $97,434
Acceptance: 5.4%

Brown University

Providence, RI · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 5.4%
Net price: $25,184
Earnings 10y: $93,487
Acceptance: 5.4%

Princeton University

A+

Princeton, NJ · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 4.6%
Net price: $6,128
Earnings 10y: $110,066
Acceptance: 4.6%

Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 4%
Net price: $21,590
Earnings 10y: $102,491
Acceptance: 4%

Yale University

New Haven, CT · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 3.9%
Net price: $23,777
Earnings 10y: $100,533
Acceptance: 3.9%

Harvard University

Cambridge, MA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 3.7%
Net price: $19,066
Earnings 10y: $101,817
Acceptance: 3.7%

How we picked this list

This list starts with US colleges that report a standard admission rate, then sorts by acceptance rate. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 14.62 (0 public, 8 private).

Source transparency: every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard public data set. See our full methodology for the ROI formula, value grade rules and missing-data handling.

FAQ

Who leads this ranking?

Cornell University in Ithaca, NY tops this ranking. Acceptance rate is 8.8%.

How does EduGradify pick this list?

We rank this set by acceptance using the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — see our methodology for the full formula. No paid placements, no surveys.

What does net price mean here?

Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — not the sticker price. It is reported by each college to the U.S. Department of Education.

Can I use this ranking as a final college decision?

Use it as a shortlist, not a final decision. The ranking compares school-wide federal data; you should still confirm program fit, aid letters, graduation path, transfer policies and current costs with each college.