Resources
This table brings together the four most useful official links for every Little Ivy school in one place—saving hours of searching and cross-checking. It lets students, parents, counselors, journalists, and researchers quickly move between the institution’s own messaging, independent student coverage, and the actual application pathway without relying on rankings or third-party summaries. By pairing each school’s public narrative with its student voice and admissions entry point, the table makes it easier to compare culture, transparency, and access across the Little Ivies at a glance.
Important Links
Little Ivy Application & Decision Timeline Tracker (2026 Cycle)
Deadlines shown reflect long-standing admissions patterns for each institution. Applicants should always confirm final dates directly with each school before submitting.
| School | Early Decision I | Early Decision II | Regular Decision | Decision Notification | Enrollment Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst College | Nov 1, 2025 | — | Jan 1, 2026 | Mid-Dec / Late-Mar | May 1, 2026 |
| Bates College | Nov 15, 2025 | Jan 5, 2026 | Jan 5, 2026 | Mid-Dec / Late-Mar | May 1, 2026 |
| Bowdoin College | Nov 15, 2025 | Jan 5, 2026 | Jan 5, 2026 | Mid-Dec / Late-Mar | May 1, 2026 |
| Bucknell University | Nov 15, 2025 | Jan 5, 2026 | Jan 5, 2026 | Mid-Dec / Late-Mar | May 1, 2026 |
| Colby College | Nov 15, 2025 | Jan 5, 2026 | Jan 5, 2026 | Mid-Dec / Late-Mar | May 1, 2026 |
| Colgate University | Nov 15, 2025 | Jan 15, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 | Mid-Dec / Late-Mar | May 1, 2026 |
| Connecticut College | Nov 15, 2025 | Jan 5, 2026 | Jan 5, 2026 | Mid-Dec / Late-Mar | May 1, 2026 |
| Hamilton College | Nov 15, 2025 | Jan 5, 2026 | Jan 5, 2026 | Mid-Dec / Late-Mar | May 1, 2026 |
| Haverford College | Nov 15, 2025 | Jan 5, 2026 | Jan 5, 2026 | Mid-Dec / Late-Mar | May 1, 2026 |
| Lafayette College | Nov 15, 2025 | Jan 5, 2026 | Jan 5, 2026 | Mid-Dec / Late-Mar | May 1, 2026 |
| Middlebury College | Nov 1, 2025 | Jan 5, 2026 | Jan 5, 2026 | Mid-Dec / Late-Mar | May 1, 2026 |
| Swarthmore College | Nov 15, 2025 | Jan 5, 2026 | Jan 5, 2026 | Mid-Dec / Late-Mar | May 1, 2026 |
| Trinity College (CT) | Nov 15, 2025 | Jan 15, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 | Mid-Dec / Late-Mar | May 1, 2026 |
| Tufts University | Nov 1, 2025 | Jan 6, 2026 | Jan 6, 2026 | Mid-Dec / Late-Mar | May 1, 2026 |
| Union College | Nov 15, 2025 | Jan 15, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 | Mid-Dec / Late-Mar | May 1, 2026 |
| Vassar College | Nov 15, 2025 | Jan 5, 2026 | Jan 5, 2026 | Mid-Dec / Late-Mar | May 1, 2026 |
| Wesleyan University | Nov 15, 2025 | Jan 5, 2026 | Jan 5, 2026 | Mid-Dec / Late-Mar | May 1, 2026 |
| Williams College | Nov 15, 2025 | — | Jan 1, 2026 | Mid-Dec / Late-Mar | May 1, 2026 |
Little Ivy Financial Aid & “True Cost” Snapshot
This “True Cost” snapshot pulls the most decision-useful financial-aid facts into one scan: whether admission is need-blind for U.S. applicants, whether the school commits to meeting full demonstrated need, whether aid is loan-free (or loan-limited), and whether merit scholarships exist. Use it to quickly separate schools that are functionally affordable from those that are merely “generous on paper,” then click through to each school’s official aid page for the fine print (income thresholds, international rules, renewal terms, and what “need met” actually includes).
| School | Need-blind (U.S.) | Meets Full Need | Loan Policy | Merit Aid | Official Aid Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst College | Yes | Yes | No-loan (aid offers) | No | amherst.edu/offices/financialaid |
| Bates College | Yes (U.S.) | Yes | Loans may be included | No (need-based) | bates.edu/financial-aid |
| Bowdoin College | Yes | Yes | Loan-free | No (need-based) | bowdoin.edu/student-aid |
| Bucknell University | Varies / see policy | Not guaranteed | Loans/work-study common | Some (select programs) | bucknell.edu/apply-aid |
| Colby College | Yes | Yes | No-loan | No (need-based) | colby.edu/cost-and-aid |
| Colgate University | Yes (U.S.) | Yes | No-loan up to income threshold | Mostly need-based | colgate.edu/financial-aid |
| Connecticut College | Yes (U.S.) | Yes | Loans/work-study may be included | Some merit | conncoll.edu/financial-aid |
| Hamilton College | Yes (U.S.) | Yes | Loans/work-study included | Limited / selective | hamilton.edu/finaid |
| Haverford College | Yes (U.S. first-year) | Yes | Policy varies (see page) | No (need-based) | haverford.edu/financial-aid |
| Lafayette College | Yes (U.S.) | Yes | May include loans | Yes (select) | lafayette.edu/financial-aid |
| Middlebury College | Yes (U.S.) | Yes | Limited loans | No (need-based) | middlebury.edu/financial-aid |
| Swarthmore College | Yes | Yes | Loan-free | No (need-based) | swarthmore.edu/financial-aid |
| Trinity College (CT) | Need-aware (per policy) | Yes | Loans may be included | Yes | trincoll.edu/finaid |
| Tufts University | Varies / see policy | Yes | Income-based (Tuition Pact details) | Limited | admissions.tufts.edu/tuition-and-aid |
| Union College | Need-aware | Yes (by deadline) | Loans/work-study included | Some merit | union.edu/admissions/finaid |
| Vassar College | Yes (U.S.) | Yes | Policy varies (see page) | No (need-based) | vassar.edu/financial-aid |
| Wesleyan University | Yes (U.S.) | Yes | No-loan | No (need-based) | wesleyan.edu/finaid |
| Williams College | Yes | Yes | No-loan (no work-study expectation stated) | No (need-based) | williams.edu/financial-aid |
Little Ivy Varsity Sports & Admissions Leverage Map
This table shows the official varsity sports sponsored by each Little Ivy (men’s + women’s) and highlights the sports that tend to be the most admissions-relevant because they’re either large-roster (more slots = more recruiting need) or niche (fewer qualified applicants = easier for a coach to identify and support). It’s not a “sports = guaranteed admission” claim—think of it as a practical map of where athletics most often creates real application leverage at these schools.
| School | Women’s Varsity Sports (Title IX) | Men’s Varsity Sports | Admissions-Leverage Sports | Recruiting Density (1–10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst | Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Squash, Swimming, Track & Field, Volleyball | Football, Lacrosse, Soccer, Squash, Swimming, Track & Field | Track & Field, Swimming, Squash, Field Hockey | 8 |
| Bates | Rowing, Nordic Skiing, Alpine Skiing, Squash, Track & Field | Football, Rowing, Nordic Skiing, Squash, Track & Field | Rowing, Nordic/Alpine Skiing, Track & Field | 9 |
| Bowdoin | Sailing, Nordic Skiing, Ice Hockey, Track & Field | Football, Ice Hockey, Sailing, Track & Field | Ice Hockey, Sailing, Nordic Skiing | 9 |
| Bucknell | Rowing, Water Polo, Track & Field | Football, Wrestling, Water Polo, Track & Field | Football, Rowing, Water Polo | 8 |
| Colby | Crew, Nordic Skiing, Ice Hockey, Track & Field | Football, Crew, Nordic Skiing, Ice Hockey | Crew, Nordic/Alpine Skiing, Ice Hockey | 9 |
| Colgate | Rowing, Ice Hockey, Track & Field | Football, Rowing, Ice Hockey | Rowing, Ice Hockey, Football | 8 |
| Connecticut College | Rowing, Sailing, Water Polo, Squash | Rowing, Sailing, Water Polo, Squash | Water Polo, Sailing, Rowing | 9 |
| Hamilton | Rowing, Squash, Ice Hockey, Track & Field | Football, Rowing, Squash, Ice Hockey | Football, Rowing, Squash | 8 |
| Haverford | Fencing, Squash, Track & Field, Cricket | Fencing, Squash, Track & Field | Fencing, Squash, Track & Field | 7 |
| Lafayette | Field Hockey, Fencing, Track & Field | Football, Fencing, Track & Field | Football, Fencing | 7 |
| Middlebury | Nordic Skiing, Ice Hockey, Track & Field | Football, Nordic Skiing, Ice Hockey | Nordic Skiing, Ice Hockey | 9 |
| Swarthmore | Badminton, Track & Field, Swimming | Track & Field, Swimming | Badminton, Track & Field | 6 |
| Trinity (CT) | Rowing, Squash, Ice Hockey, Track & Field | Football, Rowing, Squash, Wrestling | Football, Rowing, Squash | 8 |
| Tufts | Rowing, Sailing, Squash, Track & Field | Football, Rowing, Squash | Rowing, Sailing, Football | 8 |
| Union | Crew, Ice Hockey, Field Hockey, Track & Field | Football, Crew, Ice Hockey | Football, Crew, Ice Hockey | 8 |
| Vassar | Rowing, Squash, Fencing, Rugby | Rowing, Squash, Rugby | Rowing, Squash, Rugby | 8 |
| Wesleyan | Crew, Squash, Ice Hockey, Track & Field | Football, Crew, Squash, Wrestling | Football, Crew, Squash | 8 |
| Williams | Crew, Skiing, Ice Hockey, Track & Field | Football, Crew, Skiing, Wrestling | Crew, Skiing, Football | 9 |
Little Ivy Non-Athletic Admissions Leverage Map
This table highlights non-athletic activities that tend to create real application leverage at each Little Ivy—because they map to what these schools reliably value: original work, selective validation (auditions, portfolios, competitive programs), research/creation, and leadership with measurable outcomes. Nothing here “guarantees” admission; the point is to focus your effort on activities that are easiest for admissions to verify, easiest to differentiate, and most aligned with each campus’s culture and priorities.
| School | High-Leverage Activities (Non-Athletic) | Why It Can Help Here | How To “Prove It” (Signals admissions trusts) | Leverage Density (1–10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst | Original research/writing, debate & speech, high-level music (auditioned), student publications, community impact projects | Amherst rewards intellectual independence and top-shelf academic signals that look like “future scholar” behavior. | Published work, conference presentations, selective summer programs, audition recordings, editor roles | 8 |
| Bates | Civic leadership, debate, research assistantships, theater/film production, entrepreneurship with traction | Strong fit for “doer” profiles—impact + initiative + collaboration. | Outcomes (funds raised, users served), letters from mentors, portfolio, documented leadership scope | 7 |
| Bowdoin | Service leadership, environmental/climate projects, student journalism, high-level arts, public policy work | Bowdoin often responds well to “purpose + competence” with a track record of contribution. | Impact metrics, press mentions, publication links, portfolio, endorsements from org leaders | 7 |
| Bucknell | Engineering/maker projects, research labs, entrepreneurship, CS competitions, music/performance leadership | A clearer “pre-professional + liberal arts” blend—technical builders with evidence do well. | GitHub, prototypes, patents, competition results, research posters, instructor verification | 8 |
| Colby | Research, climate/sustainability initiatives, entrepreneurship, journalism/media, arts portfolios | Colby often likes “modern excellence”: research + global issues + creative output. | Research deliverables, published clips, portfolio, venture traction, leadership proof | 7 |
| Colgate | Entrepreneurship, public speaking/debate, student government, investigative journalism, service leadership | Leadership + communication + initiative reads well; visible campus roles translate cleanly. | Op-eds, speaking awards, org budgets managed, community outcomes, recommendation specifics | 7 |
| Connecticut College | Interdisciplinary capstone-style projects, arts portfolios, community partnerships, environmental leadership, student media | Conn’s vibe rewards interdisciplinary “connect the dots” builders who ship real work. | Portfolio, documented project deliverables, partner letters, exhibits/performances | 7 |
| Hamilton | High-level writing, debate/oratory, journalism, research, public affairs/policy work | Hamilton’s brand is communication excellence; proof of elite writing/speaking converts. | Published writing, debate rankings, editorial roles, policy memos, research outputs | 8 |
| Haverford | Research, ethics/community leadership, STEM olympiads, music (auditioned), student publications | Haverford tends to value principled, academically serious students with “trustworthy” leadership. | Research letters, competition placements, honor-code style leadership examples, portfolio | 7 |
| Lafayette | Engineering/design builds, research, entrepreneurship, coding competitions, high-impact leadership roles | A strong technical-and-practical tilt: builders with evidence tend to shine. | Prototype demos, GitHub, research posters, competition results, letters from technical mentors | 8 |
| Middlebury | Language achievement (national-level), international/public policy work, environmental leadership, journalism, arts portfolios | Middlebury strongly rewards language + global orientation + serious academics. | Language certifications/awards, published work, international impact documentation, portfolio | 9 |
| Swarthmore | Math/CS competitions, lab research, civic tech, debate, music (auditioned) | Swat is intensity + rigor; validated academic excellence and research read cleanly. | Olympiad/USACO-type signals, research publications, open-source, faculty letters | 9 |
| Trinity (CT) | Public policy/government, arts (theater/music), entrepreneurship, student leadership, research | Trinity often values leadership + engagement + strong cultural/creative participation. | Portfolio/performance, leadership budgets, documented civic outcomes, research work product | 7 |
| Tufts | Civic engagement/service at scale, research, engineering/design, entrepreneurship, arts portfolios | Tufts loves “impactful builders”: service + innovation + real-world orientation. | Impact metrics, prototypes, published work, partner letters, portfolio | 8 |
| Union | Engineering/STEM projects, research, entrepreneurship, pre-med clinical leadership, student government | Union’s differentiator is unusually strong STEM/engineering for its peer set; proof of building is leverage. | Projects + demos, research outputs, technical recommendations, venture traction, competitions | 9 |
| Vassar | Arts portfolio (studio/film/theater), writing/publishing, research, activism with measurable outcomes | Vassar often responds strongly to high-end creative work + intellectual seriousness. | Portfolio, exhibitions, festival selections, publications, research deliverables | 8 |
| Wesleyan | Film/media production, theater/music, social impact initiatives, research, student publications | Wes is unusually friendly to “serious creator” profiles with a coherent body of work. | Portfolio reels, screenings/awards, published work, letters from directors/mentors | 9 |
| Williams | Academic research, elite writing, economics/finance competitions, arts (audition/portfolio), outdoor/environment leadership | Williams tends to reward top-end academic talent with polished execution and verified achievement. | Publications, awards, research outputs, portfolio, selective program admissions | 8 |
Little Ivy Feeder Geography & Prep School Map
This table shows where Little Ivy colleges most consistently draw applicants and admits from, broken into two parts: core feeder geographies and specific high schools / prep schools that appear frequently in enrollment data, alumni rosters, and historical patterns. This is not about favoritism or guarantees—it’s about pipeline reality. Admissions offices read applications in context, and coming from a school or region they know well can make academic rigor, grading norms, and recommendations easier to interpret.
| School | Primary Feeder Regions | Common Feeder High / Prep Schools | Pipeline Strength (1–10) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst | New England, NYC metro, Mid-Atlantic, California | Phillips Exeter, Phillips Andover, Deerfield, St. Paul’s, Roxbury Latin, Dalton, Horace Mann | 9 |
| Bates | New England, Mid-Atlantic, Upper Midwest | North Yarmouth Academy, Milton Academy, Noble & Greenough, Concord Academy, Loomis Chaffee | 7 |
| Bowdoin | New England, NYC metro, Pacific Northwest, California | Phillips Exeter, Andover, Brunswick School, Choate, Hotchkiss, Lakeside (WA) | 8 |
| Bucknell | Mid-Atlantic, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, NYC metro | Lawrenceville, Peddie, Blair Academy, The Hill School, Choate, Friends’ Central | 8 |
| Colby | New England, NYC metro, California, Pacific Northwest | Phillips Exeter, Andover, Deerfield, Choate, Loomis Chaffee, Lakeside (WA) | 8 |
| Colgate | NYC metro, New England, Mid-Atlantic | Trinity School (NYC), Horace Mann, Deerfield, Taft, Salisbury, Loomis Chaffee | 8 |
| Connecticut College | New England, NYC metro, Mid-Atlantic | Choate, Hotchkiss, Taft, Kingswood Oxford, Greenwich Academy, Brunswick | 7 |
| Hamilton | NYC metro, New England, Upstate NY | Horace Mann, Trinity School (NYC), Deerfield, Andover, Loomis Chaffee | 9 |
| Haverford | Mid-Atlantic, NYC metro, New England | Friends’ Central, Germantown Friends, Haverford School, Sidwell Friends, Exeter | 8 |
| Lafayette | Mid-Atlantic, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, NYC metro | Peddie, Blair, Lawrenceville, The Hill School, Morristown-Beard | 7 |
| Middlebury | New England, NYC metro, California, Colorado | Phillips Exeter, Andover, St. Paul’s, Deerfield, Hotchkiss, Colorado Academy | 9 |
| Swarthmore | Mid-Atlantic, NYC metro, California | Friends’ Central, Sidwell Friends, Exeter, Andover, Thomas Jefferson HS (VA) | 8 |
| Trinity College (CT) | New England, NYC metro, Mid-Atlantic | Choate, Hotchkiss, Taft, Loomis Chaffee, Avon Old Farms | 7 |
| Tufts | New England, NYC metro, California, Massachusetts publics | Brookline HS, Newton North/South, Andover, Exeter, Boston Latin | 8 |
| Union | NYC metro, Upstate NY, New England | Horace Mann, Trinity School (NYC), Phillips Exeter, Albany Academy, Deerfield | 8 |
| Vassar | NYC metro, New England, California | Trinity School (NYC), Dalton, Horace Mann, Exeter, Andover | 9 |
| Wesleyan | NYC metro, New England, California | Dalton, Horace Mann, Exeter, Andover, Choate, Crossroads (CA) | 9 |
| Williams | New England, NYC metro, California, Colorado | Phillips Exeter, Andover, Deerfield, St. Paul’s, Hotchkiss, Colorado Academy | 9 |
Ivy Cousins Index
No Little Ivy is an Ivy—and that’s the point. But culturally, structurally, and temperamentally, each tends to orbit a familiar Ivy archetype. This mapping pairs every Little Ivy with its closest Ivy League cousin, based on academic vibe, student personality, campus culture, and the kind of sentence alumni say unprompted at dinner parties.
This is not prestige equivalence.
It’s energy equivalence.
| Little Ivy | Closest Ivy Cousin | Primary Data Signals | Why This Actually Tracks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union College | Princeton | On-campus engineering school; structured curriculum; strong undergraduate focus | Engineering inside a liberal arts environment, no PhD sprawl, and a belief that structure improves thinking. |
| Williams College | Harvard | Tutorial system; highest peer reputation; broad excellence across disciplines | Dominant academically without needing to explain itself. Quiet confidence, maximal outcomes. |
| Amherst College | Yale | Open curriculum; humanities strength; cultural influence disproportionate to size | Intellectual range plus cultural fluency. Serious thinkers who also run the conversation. |
| Swarthmore College | MIT | Heavy STEM load; ABET-accredited engineering; intense academic culture | Rigorous, no-nonsense, and allergic to prestige theater. The math checks out. |
| Bowdoin College | Brown | Open curriculum elements; values-driven culture; strong student satisfaction | Humane rigor. Students care deeply—and somehow still seem relaxed. |
| Middlebury College | Dartmouth | Language immersion; global programs; outdoor-oriented campus culture | Intellectual plus alpine. Owns more Patagonia than required. |
| Hamilton College | Columbia | Writing-intensive curriculum; rhetoric emphasis; structured academic core | Words matter. Arguments matter more. Everyone can write. |
| Vassar College | Brown | Interdisciplinary focus; arts + sciences parity; progressive academic history | Creative, expressive, and structurally unconcerned with hierarchy. |
| Colby College | Cornell | Broad academic menu; growing research footprint; rural scale | Bigger than it looks, more intense than advertised. |
| Colgate University | Dartmouth | Traditional residential model; strong athletics; competitive academic culture | Old-school structure with quiet ambition underneath. |
| Wesleyan University | Brown | Open curriculum; interdisciplinary majors; high rate of self-designed study | Majors you have to explain to relatives—by choice. |
| Haverford College | Yale | Honor code; seminar-based learning; ethical seriousness | Moral gravity with intellectual calm. Quietly formidable. |
| Lafayette College | Cornell | Engineering access; applied STEM; pre-professional strength | Practical, rigorous, and ROI-aware before that was fashionable. |
| Trinity College (CT) | Brown | Interdisciplinary pathways; urban proximity; flexible majors | Curious, independent, and suspicious of rigid tracks. |
| Tufts University | Harvard | Strong internationalism; broad professional pipelines; engineering + liberal arts | Global, ambitious, and academically serious—without the stiffness. |
| Bucknell University | Cornell | Engineering-heavy enrollment; applied sciences; structured curriculum | Builders first, theorists second—and proud of it. |
| Bates College | Brown | Open curriculum; social impact emphasis; collaborative culture | Values-led, non-hierarchical, and deeply student-centered. |
| Connecticut College | Brown | Interdisciplinary pathways; integrative majors; exploratory first years | Big questions, small campus, no rush to specialize. |