Ligature of the Letters “P” and “L”6 photos

#### Ivy League The Ivy League is an association of eight prestigious private American universities located in seven states in the northeastern United States. The name originates from the ivy plants that cover the old buildings of these institutions. Members of the league are renowned for their high-quality education. Initially, it was a sports organization comprising eight private higher education institutions situated in the northeastern region of the United States. This term is also often used to refer to these eight schools collectively, emphasizing their excellence in education, selective admissions processes, and membership in the social elite. Since 1954, when the NCAA Division I sports organization was established, the term “Ivy League” has become widely accepted. Americans have largely divided into supporters of different university sports teams, especially football teams. Over time, however, this concept has also come to encompass other aspects of life at these universities. The universities in the Ivy League are consistently among the top 15 best colleges and universities in the United States according to rankings by publications such as U.S. News and World Report. In 2010, for example, the top three institutions in the U.S. were Harvard University, Princeton University, and Yale University, all of which are part of the Ivy League. These universities are also among the wealthiest academic institutions in the world, enabling them to attract the finest students and faculty. American universities in the Ivy League plan to establish branches in the United Kingdom by the end of this decade. #### Members of the Ivy League Brown University – Providence, Rhode Island; founded in 1764 as the College of Rhode Island. Harvard University – Cambridge, Massachusetts; founded in 1636. Dartmouth College – Hanover, New Hampshire; founded in 1769. Yale University – New Haven, Connecticut; founded in 1701 as the Collegiate School. Columbia University – New York, New York; founded in 1754 as the Royal College. Cornell University – Ithaca, New York; founded in 1865. University of Pennsylvania – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; founded in 1740 as the Academy of Philadelphia. Princeton University – Princeton, New Jersey; founded in 1746 as the College of New Jersey.