Is an Ivy League Degree Really Worth It?

Is it really worth it?

It is no doubt that education is an important investment to one’s future. However, to be able to succeed  in both your personal and professional life, do you have to receive an Ivy League degree? Should true success be defined by an Ivy League degree?

Yes, education comes with a cost, but is an Ivy League degree worth the cost of admission?


Cost of Attending Ivy League Schools vs. Other Schools

The cost of tuition is one of the biggest factors being considered by parents when sending their children to college. While Ivy League schools guarantee quality education and academic excellence to its students, the high cost of attending these prestigious institutions can really discourage interested applicants.

Below is a table that shows the cost of tuition and other expenses when attending Ivy League schools.

• Brown University 
• Tuition: $ 44,608 
• Fees: $ 1,004 
• Books: $ 1,404 
• TOTAL: $ 47,016

• Columbia University  
• Tuition: $ 46,846
• Fees:  $ 2,292
• Books: $ 1,170
• TOTAL: $ 50,308

• Cornell University  
• Tuition: $ 45,130
• Fees:  $ 228
• Books:  $ 850
• TOTAL: $ 46,208

• Dartmouth College  
• Tuition: $ 45,444
• Fees:  $ 1,308
• Books:  $ 1,101
• TOTAL: $ 47,853

• Harvard University    
• Tuition: $ 38,891
• Fees: $ 3,401
• Books: $ 1,000
• TOTAL: $ 43,292

• Princeton University   
• Tuition: $ 40,170
• Fees:  $ 0
• Books: $ 1,200
• TOTAL: $ 41,370

• University of Pennsylvania   
• Tuition: $ 40,594
• Fees: $ 5,296 
• Books: $ 1,190
• TOTAL: $ 47,080

• Yale University   
• Tuition:  $ 44,000
• Fees: $ 0
• Books: $ 3,400
• TOTAL: $ 47,400

The list above shows the cost of tuition and other expenses when attending Ivy League schools based from this blog.


Quality of Education

The high cost of attending Ivy League schools is often attributed to the quality of education and
enriching culture it provides its students, which includes abundant and readily available resources, small class sizes, low student-professor ratio, personalized instructions, and training and other extra-curricular activities among other contributing factors.

However, some metrics suggest that Ivy League schools don't always have the upper hand. For example, the Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index, a widely recognized ranking system, shows that while Ivy League schools top certain academic departments, so do non-Ivy League colleges, including schools like Penn State for anthropology, Indiana University  for French, New York University for mathematics, and Washington University in St. Louis for political science. This shows that there are other colleges that can also provide quality education at a much lower cost.


Career Prospects after Graduation and Future Earnings

Aside from the apparent excellent quality of education they provide, the other justification for the cost of an Ivy League education is the guarantee of good career prospects, solid employment, and high earnings after graduation. Many people believe that if you earn a degree from an Ivy League school, you will find yourself overwhelmed with countless numbers of job offers from major companies around the world. For many employers who are given two resumes - one from an Ivy League school and the other from a non-Ivy League college - there is a significantly higher chance of them hiring the Ivy League graduate.

According to some employers, however, this is not always the case. While some employers may seek the Ivy League stamp of approval, others focus on other factors such as technical skills and personal
behavior regardless of alma mater. Michael Martin, a senior project manager at ThoughtWorks, an
information technology consulting company in Chicago, shares, “I don't see any disadvantage in having a degree from any accredited college. At Thoughtworks, we don't necessarily look for potential employees with Ivy League degrees.”


Is an Ivy League Education Really Worth It?

It really depends on you and your circumstances. If you are considering applying to an Ivy League school, you should carefully consider your financial capability, your personality, job prospects after graduation, your career path, and the overall quality of the educational experience you want to receive.



Remember that earning an Ivy League degree is not an automatic path to success. It is still up to you to create your own opportunities no matter where you attend college.