Which Colleges Consider Legacy Status?

In the college admissions process, “legacy” applicants are students with some kind of familial tie to a university. An applicant normally has legacy status at a college if a member of the applicant’s immediate family attends or attended the college, but at certain schools it might also mean a grandparent, aunt or uncle, or cousin. Some institutions restrict their consideration to “primary” legacy, meaning children (or grandchildren) of alumni; others are happy to extend it in any direction, and include both undergraduate and graduate alumni.

Why is legacy status important? The short answer is that being a legacy is very likely to increase your chances of being admitted to an individual college or university, particularly a very elite one. As of last year, the estimated admission rate for Harvard legacies was more than four times that of non-legacies! In the Ivy League, it’s estimated that up to 25% of admitted students hold legacy status. That’s a big deal for colleges that admit less than 10% of applicants!

That might sound unfair to you, and indeed, legacy admissions have come under increased scrutiny in recent years as people both inside and outside of universities have called for the most elite schools to abandon legacy admissions. The debate has come to include ongoing Supreme Court cases about affirmative action involving Harvard University and the University of North Carolina; these rulings could spell the end for legacy admissions, according to the New York Times. Nevertheless, with very few exceptions, the vast majority of colleges and universities in the United States still consider legacy status.

So what should you know about legacy status? First, be aware that it can strongly affect the higher Early Decision admission rate at many schools; because most universities primarily consider legacy status in the early round, a disproportionate number of legacies are admitted early, which can drive up that Early Decision or Early Action percentage.

Second, if you are a legacy at your dream school, check what kinds of resources exist for you through the admissions office. Many elite schools offer a variety of resources for potential legacy applicants, including personal advising, tours, even application reviews. While not available everywhere, it’s worth checking!

Below is a list of the top 100 universities and the top 75 liberal arts colleges, as ranked by U.S. News and World Report, and whether they consider legacy status. Although most either do or do not consider it, a handful do report that legacy is “important” to their process, meaning that applicants with an alumni relation may receive particular consideration when their application is reviewed.

Part I: Top 100 Universities

Part II: Top 75 Liberal Arts Colleges

About The Author

Dr. Rachel Rubin

Dr. Rachel Rubin is the co-founder of Spark Admissions and a highly accomplished college admissions consultant. With a doctorate from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, where she was a Presidential Scholar, Dr. Rubin combines her academic expertise with her experience on admissions committees at selective universities. A former university faculty member and high school teacher, she understands the needs of adolescents and excels in guiding them through the admissions process, from identifying best-fit colleges to refining application essays. A U.S. Presidential Scholar and member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association, Dr. Rubin has helped hundreds of students achieve acceptance to their top-choice schools.

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