Searching for the Public Ivys?

The Ivy League conjures up images of gorgeous campuses, hallowed halls, social elitism, and academic excellence. Unfortunately, it also conjures up the highest tuition prices in the nation! This is one of the major deterrents for students. Thankfully, there is a list of public schools that was constructed and named the Public Ivys. What are these schools and what do they offer?

The Public Ivy League is relatively new. It was created in 1985 by Richard Moll. In his book, he was trying to give students a list of the best public universities that adhere to the same traditions and characteristics of the Ivy League at a fraction of the price.

Listed below are the schools he came up with along with their latest US News & World Report rankings.

25. University of California (Los Angeles, CA)
25. University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA)
29. University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)
30. University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill, NC)
31. College of William and Mary (Williamsburg, VA)
45. University of Texas (Austin, TX)
47. Miami University (Coral Gables, FL)
94. University of Vermont (Burlington, VT)

As you can see, these universities are thought to be world renowned in all different aspects. They have low attrition rates, top research facilities, and excellent athletic teams. They are also more attainable to a majority of students due to their location and lower tuition price. For example, William and Mary boasts a tuition of only $6,100 per semester. So, if you want the best education, look into these “Ivy on a budget” universities.

Searching for the Public Ivy Rankings?

If you dream of getting an Ivy League education but do not live near one of the universities, you may feel like you are out of luck. However, there are many top ranking public schools that may meet your needs. The listing below includes the Public Ivy rankings as determined by US News & World Report.

25. University of California (Los Angeles, CA)
25. University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA)
29. University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)
30. University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill, NC)
31. College of William and Mary (Williamsburg, VA)
45. University of Texas (Austin, TX)
47. Miami University (Coral Gables, FL)
94. University of Vermont (Burlington, VT)

The Public Ivy list was originally researched and determined by Richard Moll in 1985. The same set of characteristics that have made the Ivy League what it is today were applied to the above schools. These include a tradition steeped in excellence, high standing, and top rated academic programs.

For example, UC Berkeley is a leader in scientific research and ranks above all of the schools in the Ivy League. Many of the public ivies also have better athletic teams because they receive more public funding and support than the Ivy League teams.

How does the above list differ from the traditional Ivy League schools? The main difference is mostly the cost of tuition. Typically, public schools are far less expensive than the private schools in the Ivy League.

If you have thought an Ivy League education is not in your future, take a closer look at the public ivies.

Have You Ever Heard of the Public Ivies List?

Want to attend an Ivy League school but do not live on the east coast? There is another list of schools that hold academics and tradition in the same high regard as the Ivy League schools. The public ivies list is just that, a list of public schools that are held with the same prestige and notoriety that made the Ivy League what it is today.

What exactly is the public ivy list? The list was started in the 80’s by Richard Moll who was an admissions officer with the University of California. He traveled the country and reviewed public schools against the same criteria that determine the Ivy League. He came up with the list below.

University of Texas at Austin
University of Vermont
College of William and Mary
University of Michigan
University of Virginia
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of California
Miami University

There has been some debate in recent times that other public universities should be included on the list. Howard and Matthew Greene update the list to include those other schools that are steeped in tradition and prestige. They have also published a list that includes 30 “hidden” public ivies.

Regardless of which list is the correct and true list of public ivies, either list is a great place to start your college research. The universities are located across the country and encompass many different degree programs. Many have even started to offer online degree programs. With this many choices, you are certain to find the perfect college for your needs.

Ivy League schools are some of the most expensive and elite schools in the nation. If you are dreaming of getting an Ivy League quality education, but can’t afford the expensive price tag, there is another option. You may want to look at the public Ivy League list.

What is the Public Ivy League list?

Richard Moll, a former admission’s officer for the University of California, created a list in the 1980′s that contained universities with the same characteristics that make the Ivy League schools elite and applied them to public colleges and universities.

Original Richard Moll Public Ivy League List

• University of Texas at Austin
• University of Vermont
• College of William and Mary
• University of Michigan
• University of Virginia
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• University of California
• Miami University

Additional Public Ivy League List added by Howard and Matthew Green

• Indiana University
• Ohio State University
• Pennsylvania State University
• Rutgers University
• State University of New York
• University of Colorado
• University of Florida
• University of Illinois
• University of Maryland, College Park
• University of Washington
• University of Wisconsin

If you are looking for a great public college or university to attend, the universities on the Public Ivy League list are a great place to start.

The public ivies will give you all of the characteristics that make the Ivy League so great such as tradition, lush campuses, and a top notch overall academic experience.

All at a lower cost!

During the 1980s, a university administrator named Richard Moll saw the positive aspects of Ivy League schools in a number of public institutions, and came up with a list of eight schools now known as the Public Ivy Leagues.

This list of schools was compiled while Moll traveled across the country in the 1980s, evaluating all levels of higher institutions, and was released to the public in 1985 in a book entitled “Public Ivys: A Guide to America’s best public undergraduate colleges and universities.” Moll used strict criteria when comparing schools to the Ivy League, as this is the most prestigious category of schools in the nation.

All of the schools in the Public Ivy Leagues List share characteristics with each other and with the original Ivy League schools. They have a long, rich history that has sparked many traditions that students and alumni alike support. Their academic quality is superior to all but the cream of the crop. They have beautiful grounds that are well-kept and lush. And the teaching staff are some of the best in the nation.

The main difference between the Public Ivy Leagues List and the original Ivy League schools is two-fold: the Public Ivies are public, not private institutions, and they are usually much cheaper to attend. That’s not to say they are a steal: their tuition rates are among the highest in the public realm. However, they are much less expensive than the Ivy League.

The Public Ivy Leagues List includes the following schools:

• College of William & Mary (Williamsburg, Virginia)
• Miami University (Oxford, Ohio)
• University of California
• University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• University of Texas at Austin
• University of Vermont (Burlington)
• University of Virginia (Charlottesville)

In addition to these schools, several runner-up schools were later added to the Public Ivy Leagues List in order to give recognition to other top universities and colleges in the nation:

• University of Colorado at Boulder
• Georgia Institute of Technology
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• New College of the University of South Florida (Now New College of Florida)
• Pennsylvania State University at University Park
• University of Pittsburgh
• State University of New York at Binghamton
• University of Washington at Seattle
• University of Wisconsin–Madison

The Public Ivies are institutions of excellence, like their Ivy League cousins, and if you are looking for some of the best education that this country can provide, your search should start with them.

The original eight Public Ivies Universities:

• College of William & Mary (Williamsburg, Virginia)
• Miami University (Oxford, Ohio)
• University of California
• University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• University of Texas at Austin
• University of Vermont (Burlington)
• University of Virginia (Charlottesville)

Public Ivies are successfully competing with the Ivy League schools in academic rigor, attracting superior faculty and competing for the brightest students of all races. All of these schools have a rich history of tradition; have successful and renowned graduates, lush campuses, and a supreme academic experience. The Public Ivy university list contains schools that are public, not private, and usually have a lower tuition cost than the Ivy League.

In his book, he states that public Ivy League schools are universities or colleges that provide the college experience and rigor of Ivy League schools, but at a more reasonable tuition fee. Public Ivy League schools have certain attributes that the eight Ivy League schools do not have. For instance, the University of Virginia is recognized as a World Heritage Site. The University of California Berkeley also surpasses Ivy League schools in terms of research output.

In the 1980s, Richard Moll, then admissions officer for the University of California, traveled across the United States in order to test the quality of its public schools. He came up with the Public Ivy List, a list of the top eight schools, ranked according to many of the criteria that make the Ivy League so great.

Public Ivy List Criteria

These criteria applied to both the Public Ivy list of schools as well as the traditional Ivy League. All of these schools have a rich history full of tradition, have successful and renowned graduates, lush campuses, and a supreme academic experience. The major difference is that the Public Ivy list contains schools that are public, not private, and usually have a lower tuition cost than the Ivy League.

The original list of schools that Moll put together includes:

• University of Texas at Austin
• University of Vermont
• College of William and Mary
• University of Michigan
• University of Virginia
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• University of California
• Miami University

The idea of public ivy schools has spread from Moll’s original list of eight schools. Howard and Matthew Greene put together a list of additional schools that they felt belonged in the prestigious Public Ivy list, after reading Moll’s publication and doing some research of their own. These additional schools include:

• Indiana University
• Ohio State University
• Pennsylvania State University
• Rutgers University
• State University of New York
• University of Colorado
• University of Florida
• University of Illinois
• University of Maryland, College Park
• University of Washington
• University of Wisconsin

The Greene’s also made another list at a later date that included 30 “hidden” public ivies. These lists and Moll’s original list are used by many students as a compass for public school excellence.

The Public Ivy list of the top eight schools is considered nearly sacred by some people, and shouldn’t be tainted by the additional schools. No one can argue that all of the above mentioned schools are among the best in the nation. They made the cut, and they are a great starting place if you are considering further education.

The original Public Ives:

• College of William & Mary
• Miami University
• University of California
• University of Michigan
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• University of Texas at Austin
• University of Vermont
• University of Virginia
Additionally, several newer universities have been added to the list:

• Pennsylvania State University
• Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
• State University of New York at Binghamton
• University of Connecticut
• University of Delaware
• University of Maryland
• University of Arizona
• University of Colorado at Boulder
• Indiana University
• Ohio State University
• University of Illinois
• University of Iowa
• University of Michigan
• University of Minnesota
• University of Wisconsin
• University of Florida
• University of Georgia

Several schools that are also considered to be a public ivy school are consistently ranked among the top schools in the United States. One of the differences between a public ivy school and an Ivy League school is that Ivy Leagues don’t award athletic scholarships. Many public ivy schools, however, attend major athletic conferences like the Big Ten, Big East, Big 12, SEC, ACC, and Pac-10, and award athletic scholarships to deserving students. Enroll in a public ivy school and receive the best college education you deserve.