“The Ivy League”, “Ivy League schools”, & “Ivies” are terms which have world wide value and respect.
In much of the world “Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, & MIT” and “HYPSM” are also well known, highly valued, & respected.
Phrases such as "a top 20 school’ or “an elite college” seem to have much less prestige & value.
Protecting a brand’s value does not necessarily equate to a judgment about the quality of other college’s and universities. Just that that brand has value, respect, & prestige worth protecting.