Group of elite colleges

IVIES

Think of the prestigious schools often linked by a common plant-based nickname.

The clue "Group of elite colleges" refers to the Ivy League, a well-known association of eight prestigious universities in the U.S., like Harvard and Yale. The answer "IVIES" is a shortened, informal term for these schools, playing on the word "ivy" (the climbing plant) that’s part of their name. It’s a common crossword shorthand for the full phrase.