Ivy Day is a day full of excitement and emotions and students around the world learned if they were accepted into their dream Ivy League school. Those who are accepted will remember this day for the rest of their lives, but unfortunately, most applicants will face the disappointing news they were not admitted (given Ivy admissions rates are as low as 3.19%).
Whatever this day held, it’s important to remember the schools in the Ivy League are some of the most selective schools in the world. Tens of thousands of students apply every year, and a tiny percentage actually get accepted. Let’s take a look at the new Class of 2026 acceptance statistics and how they compare with the numbers over the last 10 years.
Ivy League Class of 2026 Admissions Results
The results are in! The Ivy League schools accepted a record low number of students into their Class of 2026. While a few reported numbers similar to last year’s Class of 2025, some acceptance rates were much lower. Harvard only accepted 3.19% of its 61,220 applicants and Penn only reported 4.40% of its applicants received admittance letters! Check out the full list of the Ivy League Class of 2026 results below.
Ivy League Class of 2026 Acceptance Rates
| Ivies | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|
| Harvard | 3.19% |
| Princeton | ~4% |
| Columbia | 3.73% |
| Yale | 4.46% |
| Brown | 5% |
| Penn | 4.4% |
| Dartmouth | 6.2% |
| Cornell | ~8% |
Why Are Ivy League Acceptance Rates So Low?
This year has proven again to be one of the most competitive in the history of the Ivy League. Acceptance rates are decreasing or holding steady at record-low rates across all Ivy League schools. This ongoing trend is likely due in part to the following:
- Uncertainty of the pandemic
- Pent-up demand
- Test-optional policies
- More applications per student
- “Free” virtual visits
The numbers in the chart below show it’s getting even more difficult to get into the Ivy League. In general, more students applied to the Ivies than ever before. The University of Pennsylvania and Yale University saw a slight increase in acceptance rates, but minimal in the overall admittance picture. Harvard reported its lowest acceptance rate in history!
Ivy League Acceptance Rate Over The Last 10 Years
| Class of: | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard | 5.79% | 5.9% | 5.33% | 5.22% | 5.2% | 4.59% | 4.5% | 4.92% | 3.43% | 3.19% |
| Princeton | 7.29% | 7.28% | 6.99% | 6.46% | 6.09% | 5.49% | 5.78% | 5.55% | 3.98% | ~4% |
| Columbia | 6.89% | 6.95% | 6.15% | 6.04% | 5.84% | 5.51% | 5.14% | 6.15% | 3.66% | 3.73% |
| Yale | 5.35% | 4.58% | 4.74% | 4.39% | 5.04% | 6.27% | 6.91% | 5.12% | 3.42% | 4.46% |
| Brown | 9.16% | 8.61% | 8.49% | 9.01% | 8.32% | 7.24% | 6.6% | 6.88% | 5.45% | 5% |
| Penn | 21.1% | 9.9% | 9.92% | 9.41% | 9.15% | 8.39% | 7.44% | 5.07% | 5.68% | 4.4% |
| Dartmouth | 8.58% | 9.94% | 8.78% | 8.97% | 8.52% | 6.88% | 6.15% | 6.9% | 4.6% | 6.2% |
| Cornell | 15.15% | 13.98% | 14.88% | 13.96% | 12.52% | 10.3% | 10.55% | 10.71% | 8.71% | ~8% |
What Ivy League School Has The Highest Acceptance Rate?
The Ivy League school with the highest acceptance rate is Cornell University. With an average acceptance rate of about 12% (based on the numbers over the last ten years), Cornell is the easiest Ivy League to get into.
What Ivy League School Has The Lowest Acceptance Rate?
The Ivy League school is the lowest acceptance rate is Harvard. With an average acceptance rate of around 4.8% (based on numbers over the last ten years), Harvard is the hardest Ivy League to get into.
The chart above highlights the average acceptance rates, including the most recent class of 2026 numbers, of all eight Ivy League schools over the last ten years.
Find out your chances of getting accepted into an Ivy League School with a free College Admissions Calculator!
Ivy League Applications Surge
Hundreds of thousands of high-achieving students apply to the Ivy League each year, and the numbers are growing! The Ivy League received 311,948 applications for the class of 2023 and a record 400,750 applications for the class of 2025. The incoming class of 2026 will likely beat that record with about 414,000 applications!
Which Ivy League receives the most applications?
Cornell University is the Ivy League school that receives the most applications each year, and it’s not surprising since they also have the highest acceptance rate. They received 67,380 applications for their class of 2025.
Which Ivy League receives the least number of applications?
Dartmouth University is the Ivy League school that receives the least amount of applications. On average, they receive nearly 23,000 applications each year, and this year they received 28,336 applications.
The chart below highlights the trend in the number of applications to all eight Ivy League schools over the last ten years.
What Are Ivy League Schools Looking For?
While exceptional credentials won’t hurt your application, it might come as a surprise that Ivy League universities are not looking for perfect students. They’re also not looking for well-rounded students. The application pile is filled with students who participate in everything but don’t shine at anything.
Ivy League schools are looking for people who stick out from the crowd, experts in their area of interest. Ivy League colleges want world-changers who are making positive marks on society with the resources available to them.
We look for students with intellectual curiosity, who have pursued and achieved academic excellence. We also look for students with strong personal and extracurricular accomplishments - Princeton University Admissions
Ivy League universities are also looking for world-changers who can positively contribute to their community. They’re looking for humble leaders who will bring accomplishment and recognition to the school and those willing to share their knowledge to help fellow students accomplish their goals.
Read more to find out what colleges are looking for and ways to stand out in your college applications!
Final Thoughts: Want to get into an Ivy League school?
With Ivy League acceptance rates at their lowest and application numbers at their highest, it is extremely difficult to get into an Ivy League school. If you want to increase your chances of getting into an Ivy League, consider applying for early admission/early decision.
If you want to get into an Ivy League school or another top university, click on the link below to fill out the Application form ASAP; Successful applicants will receive acceptance letters with specific information regarding future steps and interview invitations in up to 14 days.
Application Form
Questions? We’re here to help. Call +37494382101 or send an email to Admissions@SaghatelyanInstitute.org.