What are Public Ivy League schools?

I've heard the term 'Public Ivy League' tossed around, but I'm not quite sure what that actually means. How do these schools compare to the Ivy League, and can anyone list a few examples of these schools? Trying to see if one might be a fit for me.

The term 'Public Ivy' was first coined by Richard Moll in his 1985 book "Public Ivies: A Guide to America's best public undergraduate colleges and universities." These schools are public institutions that offer a level of academic rigor and campus experience comparable to those of Ivy League schools.

The 'Public Ivies' are renowned for their emphasis on providing top-tier education while also being publicly funded, which often means they have a considerably lower cost, especially for in-state students, compared to Ivy League institutions.

Here are a few example institutions often included in the 'Public Ivy' category:

1. University of California—Berkeley (UC Berkeley)

2. University of California—Los Angeles (UCLA)

3. University of Michigan—Ann Arbor (UMich)

4. University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill (UNC Chapel Hill)

5. University of Texas—Austin (UT Austin)

6. University of Virginia (UVA)

7. University of Washington (UW)

8. University of Illinois—Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)

You'll see that these are all highly ranked schools that have outstanding academic programs spanning various disciplines. They also have vibrant campus climates that encourage scholarly debate and discussion while also fostering community connections through various student organizations and activities.

Each of these universities also underlines a commitment to research, and many of them have faculty who are leaders in their fields.

Similar to Ivy League schools, competition for admission into these schools can be quite intense. The average standardized test scores and GPA of admitted students at Public Ivies tend to be high, and they also value well-rounded applicants who engage in various extracurricular activities demonstrating leadership, initiative, and passion.

Given their academic rigor, these schools may be a great fit if you're looking for a challenging educational environment akin to an Ivy League, but at a more affordable cost, especially if you're eligible for in-state tuition.