UCLA is not an Ivy League school. The Ivy League is a group of eight prestigious private universities located in the northeastern United States, including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Brown, Cornell, University of Pennsylvania, Columbia, and Dartmouth.

UCLA, on the other hand, is a public university and part of the University of California system. Although not an Ivy League institution, UCLA is considered a member of the Public Ivy, a group of elite public universities offering a college experience comparable to that of Ivy League schools.

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No. Ivy League schools are only on the East Coast. UCLA is part of the University of California public university system.

Answered from Tara Lonsdorf

No- university California Los Angeles

Answered from iPhone talk

Is U. C. L. A. An Ivy League School?

As a high schooler interested in attending a top university, I was curious whether powerhouses like UCLA on the West Coast are considered part of the prestigious Ivy League. Through researching this FAQ, I learned what defines a true Ivy, and why UCLA doesn't make the cut.

Table of Contents

• What is the Ivy League known for?
• Which eight universities make up the Ivy League?
• Why are they called the Ivy League?
• Do Ivy League schools have common traits?
• Is Harvard the best Ivy League school?
• Are Ivy League schools better than other top universities?
• Where is UCLA located and what type of school is it?
• What is UCLA known for academically?
• How does UCLA compare to Ivy League schools?
• What other leading universities are not in the Ivy League?
• What are similarities between UCLA and Ivy League institutions?
• What admissions overlap exists between UCLA and the Ivies?
• Can non-Ivy schools provide an Ivy-level education?
• Is UCLA considered a “Public Ivy”?
• Do any Ivy League-equivalent schools exist on the West Coast?

What is the Ivy League known for?

The Ivy League refers to a group of 8 historic Northeast universities known for their exceptional academics, selective admissions, and social prestige. They are widely considered the most elite schools in the US.

Which eight universities make up the Ivy League?

The 8 members of the official Ivy League are:

• Brown University
• Columbia University
• Cornell University
• Dartmouth College
• Harvard University
• University of Pennsylvania
• Princeton University
• Yale University

All 8 schools are located in either the New England or Mid-Atlantic regions.

Why are they called the Ivy League?

Despite the name, the term “Ivy League” doesn’t refer to abundant ivy on campus buildings. Instead, it originated from the Roman numeral IV (4) that formed from the four founding schools: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia. The athletic conference of these four schools was thus called the “IV League”, which later transformed into Ivy League. [1]

Do Ivy League schools have common traits?

Ivy League institutions share these key traits [2]:

• Extremely low admission rates (usually under 10%)
• Enormous academic prestige and famous alumni
• Massive endowments and generous financial aid
• Championship-winning athletic programs
• Historic campuses featuring neoclassical architecture
• Pervasive influence on culture, business, and politics

Is Harvard the best Ivy League school?

There is constant debate over which Ivy is the “best”. Many rankings place Harvard first for its vast resources, elite global brand, and historic legacy.

However, cases can be made for Princeton, Yale, Columbia, and others being superior in certain measures like faculty awards or grad earnings. There’s truly no consensus “top Ivy”. [3]

Are Ivy League schools better than other top universities?

Elite non-Ivy programs like MIT, Stanford, and Caltech often match or even surpass Ivy League schools in major college rankings.

For specific majors like engineering or tech, other top schools frequently outrank the majority of Ivies. Being non-Ivy doesn’t equate to inferior quality. [4]

Where is UCLA located and what type of school is it?

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is located in the Westwood district of Los Angeles, California. It is the largest campus of the University of California public university system.

What is UCLA known for academically?

UCLA is considered one of the top public universities in the US and is highly ranked globally across disciplines. It is especially renowned for:

• Top-tier engineering, business, sciences, and medicine programs
• Extensive research output – 3rd most among US universities [5]
• Massive enrollment – over 45,000 students [6]
• Staggeringly low in-state acceptance rate of 14% [7]
• Prominent alumni like Jackie Robinson, Jim Morrison, and Mariska Hargitay

How does UCLA compare to Ivy League schools?

UCLA is competitive with elite Ivies in many aspects:

• UCLA ranks just outside the Top 20 nationally, on par with lower Ivy League schools [8]
• It attracts over 100,000 freshman applicants per year, similar to Ivy levels [9]
• Many UCLA programs like engineering and film rank higher than most or all Ivy programs
• The massive 410-acre UCLA campus exceeds all Ivies in size

However, UCLA’s state school status reduces its global reputation and attractiveness to out-of-state students relative to privates like the Ivies.

What other leading universities are not in the Ivy League?

Many other schools at the top of global rankings are not members of the Ivy League, including:

• California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
• University of Chicago
• Johns Hopkins University
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• University of Michigan
• Stanford University
• Duke University
• University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill

What are similarities between UCLA and Ivy League institutions?

While not an Ivy, UCLA shares some traits like:

• Cutting-edge research across disciplines like biomedicine and tech [10]
• Extensive global connections and study abroad programs
• Championship-winning athletic programs, especially in basketball
• Prominent alumni found worldwide in diverse industries
• Drop-dead gorgeous campuses blending historic and modern architecture

What admissions overlap exists between UCLA and the Ivies?

UCLA and the Ivies all attract top students:

• Average admitted GPA is 4.0+ out of 4.0 at all schools [11]
• Mid-1400s to Mid-1500s is typical for admitted SAT scores
• Thousands of applicants with perfect grades/test scores get rejected every year due to insane competition
• Admitted students often have major awards, leadership experience, and unique talents

Gaining admission to UCLA is as daunting as getting into Ivies for most applicants. The brightest minds end up at both.

Can non-Ivy schools provide an Ivy-level education?

Absolutely. While the Ivy League brand carries prestige, it focuses more on pedigree than educational quality.

Students at many non-Ivy schools often have access to equally exceptional academics, research, professors, and opportunities during their undergraduate careers.

Is UCLA considered a “Public Ivy”?

UCLA is sometimes grouped in the category of elite public schools called “Public Ivies”, alongside University of Michigan, UNC-Chapel Hill, UC Berkeley, UVA, and William & Mary among others. [12]

The term refers to top public institutions that provide an Ivy League-caliber education at a state school price point.

Do any Ivy League-equivalent schools exist on the West Coast?

Stanford and Caltech on the West Coast arguably match or surpass the Ivies in quality and prestige. Their Nobel Prize counts and research output even exceed many Ivies. [13]

So while no Ivy League schools are found west of the Mississippi, Stanford and Caltech deliver a similar pinnacle educational experience out west.

Conclusion

After compiling this FAQ, I gained insight into the nuances between national universities like UCLA and traditional Ivy League institutions back east. While not an Ivy, UCLA demonstrates how public schools can rise up and shattered assumptions through exceptional quality and unique strengths like boundary-pushing research. Either type of school can provide an amazing education.