Why are they called Ivy League schools?

The term "Ivy League" was first used in 1937 by sportswriter Stanley Woodward to describe the eight prestigious private universities in the Northeastern United States that play American football in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS):

- Brown University

- Columbia University

- Cornell University

- Dartmouth College

- Harvard University

- University of Pennsylvania

- Princeton University

- Yale University

The term "Ivy League" likely refers to the Roman numeral IV (four), which is the highest score on a Roman die, and is traditionally associated with excellence and prestige. Another theory is that the term “Ivy” came from the thick vines of ivy covering older university buildings.

Regardless of the exact origin, the Ivy League has become synonymous with academic excellence, selectivity, and prestige, and its member institutions continue to be ranked among the top universities in the world.