What Is the Academic Index?

The Academic Index is a score (roughly 60–240) created from your:

• High school GPA (unweighted)

• Standardized test scores (SAT or ACT)

• Class rank (if available)

Each Ivy League recruit is assigned an AI score. The average AI of all recruited athletes on a team must stay close to the average AI of the student body. This ensures that Ivy athletics stays in line with Ivy academics.

The Recruiting Tiers (Bands)

To help coaches manage recruiting, the Ivy League groups student-athletes into tiers (sometimes called bands) based on their AI.

Here’s a general breakdown:

• Band 1 (Top Tier)

  • AI ~ 210–240

  • SAT: 1400–1550+ (ACT: 32–35)

  • GPA: 3.8–4.0

  • These athletes are very close to Ivy academic standards and might get admitted even without athletics.

• Band 2

  • AI ~ 200–209

  • SAT: 1300–1390 (ACT: 29–31)

  • GPA: 3.6–3.8

  • Strong academics but a step below the student body median.

• Band 3

  • AI ~ 185–199

  • SAT: 1200–1290 (ACT: 26–28)

  • GPA: 3.3–3.5

  • Noticeably lower academic profile. Fewer slots available.

• Band 4 (Lowest Tier)

  • AI ~ 170–184

  • SAT: 1050–1190 (ACT: 22–25)

  • GPA: 3.0–3.2

  • Reserved for exceptional athletes (e.g., nationally ranked, All-American). Very limited spots.

Football Example

Football is the clearest case where tiers are used. Ivy football programs typically bring in 30–35 recruits each year. A common distribution might look like this:

• Band 1: ~14 recruits

• Band 2: ~8 recruits

• Band 3: ~4 recruits

• Band 4: ~2 recruits

That means most recruits need to be in Band 1 or 2, with only a few exceptions in Bands 3 or 4.

In Olympic sports (swimming, track, tennis, etc.), there may be no Band 3 or 4 slots at all—athletes must be academically very strong to be recruited.

Key Takeaways

• Ivy League recruiting is as much about academics as it is about athletics.

• Coaches must balance rosters with the right mix of academic bands.

• Most recruits need to be in Band 1 or 2 to be viable Ivy candidates.

Bottom line: If you’re aiming for the Ivy League, keep your grades and test scores as strong as possible. The better your academic profile, the more valuable you are to a coach—and the more options you’ll have when it comes to recruitment.