Is Yale or Harvard more elite?

Asked by: Kristina O'Keefe Sr.  |  Last update: October 14, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (62 votes)

When comparing Ivy League schools, both Harvard and Yale are firm fixtures at the top of the QS World University Rankings. Harvard is pretty much unbeatable on most of the indicators used to create the rankings, performing particularly well in QS's huge global surveys of academics and graduate employers.

Is Yale more elite than Harvard?

Harvard has outstanding business and medical schools, while Yale is renowned for its school of law. Similarly, Harvard is ranked No. 1 in 12 out of 48 subjects, while Yale is also in the top ten for 12 subjects.

Which Ivy League is the most prestigious?

Ivy League Schools Ranking 2024
  • Harvard University: #1 Ranking.
  • Princeton University: #2 Ranking.
  • Yale University: #3 Ranking.
  • University of Pennsylvania (UPenn): #4 Ranking.
  • Columbia University: #5 Ranking.
  • Cornell University: #6 Ranking.
  • Brown University: #7 Ranking.
  • Dartmouth College: #8 Ranking.

Who usually wins, Harvard or Yale?

The Harvard-Yale series is the third most played rivalry in collegiate football history, including 139 games since 1875. In the series, Yale has 70 wins, Harvard has 61 wins, and the teams have tied eight times.

Is Harvard harder to get into or Yale?

Yale has a slightly higher acceptance rate at 6.5%, compared to Harvard's 5.3%. Which university has a larger campus and student body? Harvard has a larger campus and student body.

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15 related questions found

Is there a college more prestigious than Harvard?

The world's top 10 universities by reputation on THE's list, with last year's ranking in brackets, are: 1 (1) Harvard University (U.S.) 2 (2) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (U.S.) 3 (3) Stanford University (U.S.)

Which Ivy has the happiest students?

Brown University is known as the “happiest Ivy League School” and is the number one college with the happiest students in the United States. This is because Brown University not only has strong academic ability, but also has a relatively relaxed learning atmosphere.

Why is Stanford not an ivy?

However, top institutions like MIT and Stanford, which outperform several Ivy League schools in global rankings, are not part of the League due to geographic and historical reasons. Both universities excel in academic reputation, faculty-student ratio, employer reputation, and employment outcomes.

Is Oxford better than Harvard?

Here is a comparison based on recent rankings. QS World University Rankings 2025: Oxford is ranked 3rd, while Harvard is ranked 4th. Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024: Oxford is ranked 1st, and Harvard is ranked 4th.

Why is Harvard so hard to get into?

Since Harvard is one of the most selective universities in the world, applicants are highly competitive and typically have top GPAs in high school. You must earn the best grades possible while taking the most rigorous classes your high school offers if you want to get into Harvard.

What are the top 3 Ivies?

Princeton University ranks highest among the Ivy League schools, followed by Yale University and then Harvard University, in the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2025 Best Colleges in the U.S. ranking. All three are among the top 10 colleges in the country, with Princeton at No. 1, Yale at No. 4 and Harvard at No.

Who is Yale's rival?

The Harvard and Yale football rivalry, known as "The Game," is the second-oldest continuing rivalry in college football. The Crimson and Bulldogs are the two winningest teams in the FCS, have 26 national championships, two Heisman winners, and 33 Ivy League crowns.

What is the Holy Trinity Ivy League?

The Big Three, also known as the Holy Trinity, is a historical term used in the United States to refer to Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. The phrase Big Three originated in the 1880s, when these three colleges dominated college football.

Is MIT better than Harvard?

Harvard leads in employer reputation, academic reputation, and its international research network, making it an excellent choice for students aiming for top-tier academic and research environments. On the other hand, MIT is ranked No. 2, with an overall score of 94.4.

Is it harder to get into Duke or Stanford?

Acceptance Rates

Stanford, MIT, and Duke, though not part of the Ivy League, are equally selective, with admission rates of 4%, 7%, and 8% respectively. Stanford even boasts the lowest admission rate of any school!

Is Stanford a baby ivy?

Is Stanford an Ivy League School? Stanford does not belong to the Ivy League — that pack of New England universities that includes centuries-old colleges like Harvard and Yale — but it is the most elite university on the West Coast, topping any list of public Ivies and Ivy equivalents.

Which Ivy has the prettiest people?

Ivy League Schools Ranked by Attractiveness
  1. Dartmouth College. Dartmouth's students are physically active, intelligent, and motivated. ...
  2. Brown University. ...
  3. University of Pennsylvania. ...
  4. Columbia University. ...
  5. Harvard University. ...
  6. Yale University. ...
  7. Cornell University. ...
  8. Princeton University.

Is Yale better than Harvard?

Harvard frequently tops the list in global university rankings, with particular strengths in areas like law, business, medicine, and government. Its endowment, the largest of any academic institution worldwide, exceeds $40 billion, underwriting various projects, scholarships, and research initiatives.

What college has the nicest people?

Friendliest Colleges in the US
  • Vanderbilt University – Nashville, Tennessee. ...
  • Rice University – Houston, TX. ...
  • Tulane University – New Orleans, LA. ...
  • College of William and Mary – Williamsburg, VA. ...
  • Colby College — Waterville, ME. ...
  • Clemson University – Clemson, SC. ...
  • University of California-Santa Barbara – Santa Barbara, CA.

Is Harvard or Oxford more prestigious?

Harvard is ranked second in National Universities, first in Global Universities by U.S. News, and first by the Round University Ranking, while Oxford is ranked first in Best Global Universities in Europe, fifth in Best Global Universities by U.S. News, and second by the QS World University Rankings.

What is the best university in Canada?

Canada's top institution – the University of Toronto – scores particularly highly for research impact, which means it produces high-quality academic work that is well respected.

What is Yale the best at?

The institution is known for top-tier programs in an array of disciplines. Some of the most popular majors at Yale include engineering sciences, economics, political science, history, English, biological sciences, global affairs, psychology, computer science, and statistics.