The foundations of the term “Ivy-League” are not confirmed. There is more than one theory surrounding the name or when it was first coined. Still, most tend to believe the name refers to the ivy covering the buildings of the universities that are now a part of that prestigious pack.
So, what does that have to do with University of the Pacific? For one thing, the buildings are covered in ivy, and the gothic architecture of buildings along campus parallel the Ivy League schools on the east coast. Brick walls and towers, rose gardens and the aesthetic of fallen leaves in the autumn make University of the Pacific one of the most beautiful campuses on the west coast. The Collegiate Gothic architectural style you see in Pacific buildings such as Knoles Hall was popular in the late-19th and early-20th centuries for colleges in the United States, Canada, and to a certain extent, Europe. Collegiate Gothic took its inspiration from English Tudor and Gothic buildings. This style of architecture is typical on the east coast, especially for Ivy League schools.
Aside from the picturesque campus setting, University of the Pacific is gaining national attention for its high rankings across multiple categories:
No. 4 university in California for best value
No. 51 nationwide for best value
(US News & World Report)
Among top 20 of all universities in the West
(Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Ed 2022)
No. 4 in the West among midsize colleges
(Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Ed 2022)
Among top 2% for alumni career earnings
(Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce)
No. 1 nationwide in career earnings for low-income students
(Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce)
No. 7 in campus diversity among California institutions
(US News & World Report)
No. 1 business school in the West (Eberhardt School of Business)
No. 10 business school nationally among small universities
(Poets & Quants)
So, we get why you might think the University of the Pacific is an Ivy League school. Pacific is one of the best schools in the West, celebrates diversity, has high earnings from alumni — and our buildings are covered in ivy!