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By extension, the term also refers to the eight schools considered as a group, and to social characteristics perceived to be common to the group. The schools of the Ivy League are all old&mdash;all but Cornell having been founded before the American Revolution. They are sometimes referred to as the Ancient Eight.<ref>Harvard, Yale, and Princeton were at one time referred to as the Ancient Three. The phrase Ancient Eight may be an extension of that phrase. The Ivy League is ''not'' comprised of the eight oldest colleges in the U. S., however. It fails to include William and Mary or Rutgers, and includes Cornell, which is younger than many other colleges.</ref> They are all stellar in academics, and all of them have a traditional connection with social prestige.

By extension, the term also refers to the eight schools considered as a group, and to social characteristics perceived to be common to the group. The schools of the Ivy League are all old&mdash;all but Cornell having been founded before the American Revolution. They are sometimes referred to as the Ancient Eight.<ref>Harvard, Yale, and Princeton were at one time referred to as the Ancient Three. The phrase Ancient Eight may be an extension of that phrase. The Ivy League is ''not'' comprised of the eight oldest colleges in the U. S., however. It fails to include William and Mary or Rutgers, and includes Cornell, which is younger than many other colleges.</ref> They are all stellar in academics, and all of them have a traditional connection with social prestige.

Six of them were founded as Protestant institutions, firmly connected with specific denominations. Penn and Cornell were founded as nonsectarian. Brown, although Baptist (and requiring undergraduates to attend chapel) was founded with a charter guaranteeing religious liberty.

Six of them were founded as Protestant institutions, firmly connected with specific denominations. Penn and Cornell were founded as nonsectarian. Of the six founded as Protestant, Brown, although Baptist (and requiring undergraduates to attend chapel) was founded with a charter guaranteeing religious liberty. Princeton's charter was tied to the New Light wing of the Presbyterian Church, but was to be open to all students, "any different sentiments in religion notwithstanding."<ref>[http://www.princeton.edu/pr/facts/revolution.html Princeton University in the American Revolution], Princeton University website: "The charter was issued to a self-perpetuating board of trustees who were acting in behalf of the evangelical or New Light wing of the Presbyterian Church, but the College had no legal or constitutional identification with that denomination. Its doors were to be open to all students, 'any different sentiments in religion notwithstanding.'"</ref>

The nickname comes from the old brick buildings on their [[campus]]es, which have had time to grow dense coverings of [[ivy]].

The nickname comes from the old brick buildings on their [[campus]]es, which have had time to grow dense coverings of [[ivy]].