In this article, we sought to prioritize public universities that are not usually compared to the Ivy League schools but are as go as the actual Ivies.
This is to enable future students to know the public schools that have the same quality of education as the well-known ivy league schools.
You are probably familiar with the classic Ivy League schools. You might not be able to name all eight of them, but, chances are, you at least know Yale, Harvard, and Princeton. They’re world-renowned, after all.
But obviously, these eight elite schools aren’t the only impressive schools in the U.S. See if Colgate is Ivy League School
There are plenty of other options out there that rank high in academics, admissions, financial aid, and student experiences; in fact, many of these schools are equally good, or even better, to the actual Ivies in some of their programs.
Two of the foremost higher education experts in the US, Howard and Matthew Greene, classified a group of schools as “Public Ivies” in a book they published by the same name and Richard Moll’s 1985 book Public Ivies:
A Guide to America’s Best Public Undergraduate Colleges and Universities. In these books, list these Public Ivies” and explore the true meaning of the Ivy League.
Here are the 10 Amazing “Public Ivies” As Good As the Actual Ivies
- Indiana University
- The Ohio State University
- Miami University of Ohio
- University of Connecticut
- University of Iowa
- University of Arizona
- University of Minnesota
- University of Maryland – College Park
- Michigan State University
- SUNY Binghamton
1. Indiana University
For some majors, Indiana University offers an education perhaps superior to that of the Ivy League.
Let us start with one of Indiana’s most noted offerings, the Jacobs School of Music. See Indiana University Online Review.
Widely considered to be among the top university-based music programs in the country, Indiana University consistently produces graduates ascending to the highest ranks of performance, including landing jobs in top symphony orchestras.
In recent years, Jacobs has also earned a reputation among the top dance performance schools worldwide.
Graduates of Jacobs include violin virtuoso Joshua Bell, conductor Leonard Slatkin, and many more. See if Cornell is Ivy League.
Outside of music, Indiana has one of the strongest undergraduate business schools in the country the Kelley School of Business.
Having produced a number of business titans, including Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban as well as Wikipedia Co-Founder Jimmy Wales, Indiana’s Kelley School of Business graduates students with impressively high starting salaries.
Although Jacobs and Kelley are of significant renown, many other schools at Indiana have significant stature and reputation.
These include the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, the largest public policy & environmental studies school in the entire country. O’Neill consistently ranks at 1st on the US News top schools list.
For students who want to have an Ivy-League caliber education at one of the best public universities in the country, Indiana is one of the very best options worldwide.
2. The Ohio State University
One thing is certain about Ohio State; their student life is just as good, if not better than many of the Ivy League Schools.
Ohio State is home to over 1,000(!) student organizations, Division I sports, numerous student media publications, and more. Their football team is a perennial favorite to win the biggest college games.
However, what makes Ohio State truly worthy of a “Public Ivy” label is its overall excellence as an educational institution. See Ohio State University Acceptance Rate.
Ohio State has perhaps the very best public business school in the country. The Fisher College of Business at Ohio State University has over 83,000 alumni, many of which are now Fortune 500 CEOs as well as executives for the world’s largest companies.
Ohio State has some of the most accomplished faculty & alumni of any public school. They include 7 Pulitzer winners, 4 Nobel Laureates, and former US President Rutherford B. Hayes.
3. Miami University of Ohio
It is hard to beat Miami University of Ohio if you’re looking for a top public school in the US.
Miami University is widely considered one of the best schools for undergraduate education; in a recent US News ranking, Miami was ranked the 8th best school for undergraduate teaching in the United States. Also in the top 10 were actual Ivy League programs, including Brown and Dartmouth.
It is easy to see why Miami has such a strong rating in this category; with a student: teacher ratio of just 17:1, students get significant 1-on-1 time with professors.
Also, Miami has one of the highest retention rates of all public universities in the US; over 90% of students stay at Miami of Ohio after their Freshman year.
Although lauded for undergraduate education, Miami has a number of highly competitive graduate programs as well with excellent job placement outcomes.
However, what we find especially appealing about Miami is its Tuition Promise program; unlike most other schools, whose colleges rise in cost by about 3% each year, the cost of attendance remains the same every year for first-time undergraduate students.
All of this, in combination with the top-tier academic programs at Miami, make it one of the top Public Ivy League schools in the country.
4. University of Connecticut
One of the strongest public schools in New England, UConn is ranked as a top-25 public university in the US this year according to US News and World Report.
Classified as an R1 university by the Carnegie Foundation, a prestigious label denoting very high Doctoral research activity, UConn is one of the most storied universities in the nation.
Academically, many of the constituent schools at the University of Connecticut are among the best worldwide. These include their School of Law, frequently ranked a top 50 program in the nation.
Recently, Niche.com ranked its Agricultural Sciences program among the top 50 in the country. See University of Connecticut Acceptance Rate.
However, the heart and soul of the University of Connecticut is in its excellent liberal arts undergraduate liberal arts curriculum. Nearly 24,000 undergraduates start to participate in the school’s renowned curriculum.
Some of the most accomplished University of Connecticut alumni include singer Moby, actress Meg Ryan, co-founder of Bob’s Discount Furniture Bob Kaufman, and NBA Champion Ray Allen. Additionally, many prominent executives, journalists, CEOs, entertainers, and more call the University of Connecticut their alma mater.
5. University of Iowa
Iowa has the distinction of holding a top-10 rating in a variety of collegiate programs. These include top-10 rankings in Speech-Language Pathology, Social Psychology, Printmaking, Nursing Administration, and Physical Therapy.
Outside of these programs, the University of Iowa has a bustling, well-rounded liberal arts curriculum satisfying nearly any interest a student could have.
What many east-coasters don’t know about the University of Iowa, however, is that Iowa City is an amazing college town.
Complete with active arts, sports, and cultural traditions, Iowa City’s students and residents are privileged to have such a great city as their home.
What’s also amazing about the University of Iowa is the positive outcomes for graduating students. According to surveys, 95% of students either find work or attend graduate school within 6 months of completing their education at the school.
Conclusion
That was all on 10 Amazing schools that are not considered as an ivy school but they are as good as the actual Ivies. Was this article helpful to you?
Last Updated on July 15, 2023 by Admin
