Forbes Unveils 2025 New Ivies 20 Universities Redefining Academic

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Dec 5, 2025, 2:46 PM

forbes unveils 2025 new ivies 20 universities redefining academic

President Donald Trump’s attack on what he and others insist is a “woke” epidemic infecting the nation’s higher education system has turned the Ivy League and other elite colleges into pariahs. While still offering rigorous and broad curriculums, these schools have prioritized diversity and inclusion, which the Trump Administration would like to abolish. Trump has not hesitated to wield executive powers, legally and not, to enforce his vision—one that hamstrings research, terminates DEI programs, and prioritizes workforce preparedness. Hundreds of colleges now face steep federal funding cuts, gutted programs and federal investigations. Even the most fiscally fit universities are staring down four years of financial uncertainty. But Trump’s personal beef has mostly centered on the Ancient Eight.

An example: Last Wednesday, the Trump administration paused $175 million in funding for his alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania, because the university had allowed transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports before the... The freeze is “just a taste of what could be coming down the pipe” for Penn, a White House spokesperson told Fox Business. That same day, Columbia University—the epicenter of pro-Palestinian student protests in 2024 that angered alumni, major donors and others—signaled it would comply with a slew of demands from the White House, including suspending and... Earlier this month, the Trump administration cut $400 million in federal funding for the university, claiming university officials failed to address antisemitism on campus. While the ongoing political assault is perhaps the fiercest condemnation of the Ivies, employers share a growing distaste for America’s oldest and most venerable colleges. In a Forbes survey answered by more than 380 C-suite inhabitants, vice presidents and other managers, 37% said they are less likely to hire an Ivy League graduate than they were five years ago—up...

Another 12% said they would never hire an Ivy League graduate. Survey respondents pointed to graduates’ attitudes and lack of humility as sticking points. “I believe Ivy League candidates are over valued, and they frequently have a higher than real opinion of themselves,” one C-suite-level respondent wrote. “Entry-level job candidates should be “eager to learn, have no ego or be ‘stuck-up’ because of the school they attended,” said another. So if America’s favor is turning away from its most elite private schools, where are employers, students and parents looking instead? For the second year, Forbes New Ivies has selected 10 outstanding public universities and 10 top private schools that are attracting the best and the brightest, and graduating students that are outpacing most Ivy...

These colleges are highly selective—applicants have a one in seven chance, or slimmer, to gain admission to one of the private New Ivies, and a 50% chance or less to enroll at one of... And, they accept the best—the private New Ivies admit students with a median SAT score of 1530—slightly higher than the nation’s largest Ivy, Cornell University, which has a median SAT score of 1520. The public universities, which educate a combined 396,000 students, admit students with a median SAT score of 1410. Many of these schools are making their second appearance on our list—Johns Hopkins University, Northwestern University and the University of Michigan, for example, continue to impress. But this year, we welcome six newcomers: Washington University in St Louis, Tufts University in Massachusetts; Purdue University in Indiana; the United States Military Academy at West Point; the University of Pittsburgh; and William... Study at Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Stanford & More!

Explore Fully Funded Scholarships for STEM, Nursing, AI, Business, Engineering & Top Programs! { { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "ItemList", "name": "Forbes New Ivies 2025", "description": "A ranked list of 20 top universities (public and private) redefining elite education and career readiness... Louis", "url": "https://bestfullyfundedscholarships.com/forbes-new-ivies/#wustl" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Purdue University", "url": "https://bestfullyfundedscholarships.com/forbes-new-ivies/#purdue" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "University... This section reflects the official 2025 Forbes New Ivies rankings, updated to highlight the latest trends and schools employers love most. The information below is accurate as of 2025 and reflects the newest additions to the rankings, modifications, and emerging trends shaping the higher education landscape. Here is the full list of the updated Forbes New Ivies List 2025, with details about why each school earned its spot.

Traditional Ivy League schools are falling out of favor due to political tension and shifting employer sentiment, with UT Austin and Rice University named among Forbes' 2025 'new Ivies.' Published September 17, 2025 at 4:20pm by Alexis Simmerman A new era of Ivy League schools is here, and they aren't restricted to the Northeast like the original eight — two can be found in Texas. While Forbes' 2025 list of America's top colleges included several Ivy League institutions, attitudes toward such schools are shifting. This change in sentiment is supported by responses in employer surveys, indicating new preferences for graduates of non-Ivy League education. Ivy League schools have been historically recognized as prestigious, known for intellectual rigor and foundations for elite careers.

But the current political landscape and employer sentiments suggest the regard once reserved for such institutions is now uplifting others. Last year, amid a barrage of negative headlines around Ivy League universities, Forbes introduced a list of New Ivies. These schools, the magazine claimed, reflected public and private universities that were producing smart, successful graduates with excellent employment prospects. This spring, Forbes released its second annual list, using a methodology that considers school size, selectivity, and standardized test scores, coupled with feedback from a survey of 380 employers and hiring managers, to identify... 5. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

7. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Note: UC schools were omitted from this list, as they do not report test scores, which are a key piece of Forbes’ selection criteria. While this list features many of the same schools that appeared in Forbes initial ranking, there are a few new additions. Newcomers include Purdue, Pittsburgh, W&M, Tufts, WashU (a school whose absence from last year’s list was flagged by our commenters), and—perhaps most notably—the United States Military Academy at West Point, which had been excluded... We have often discussed the merits of service academies, which offer students an excellent education and opportunity to support their country, but Forbes also highlights the employment potential of West Point’s cadets: the school...

The University Insider is The Daily’s first faculty and staff-oriented newsletter. This weekly newsletter will give U-M faculty and staff the ability to see the most important issues on campus and in Ann Arbor — particularly those related to administrative decisions — from the perspective... It will also provide a better understanding of student perspectives. On Jan. 17, Forbes published a list naming 20 “New Ivies,” containing 10 public and 10 private universities. The list highlights institutions considered comparable to Ivy League universities due to their high test score standards, competitive entry and high employment rates upon graduation.

The University of Michigan appeared among other institutions such as Binghamton University and the Georgia Institute of Technology. With a shrinking acceptance rate of 18% and ACT test score ranges between 31 and 34, U-M admissions statistics continue to become more selective. While this exclusivity has established the institution as a “New Ivy” academically, faculty, staff and students claim the University’s campus’ culture, opportunities and community also contribute to its prestige. In an email to The Daily, University spokesperson Kay Jarvis said prospective student interest in the University continues to grow, resulting in a more competitive application process for both freshmen and transfer applicants. “Students and families from Michigan and around the world appreciate the profound impact and value of a University of Michigan education,” Jarvis wrote. “U-M’s exceptional faculty, cutting-edge facilities and technologies, designed to enhance the educational experience, and vibrant campus environment are just a few of the numerous factors driving the increasing interest in our university from high-achieving...

As the college admissions landscape grows ever more competitive and cutthroat, families with high school students are increasingly taking education into consideration as they make major decisions about professional growth, personal finance, and where... Cities that offer quality educational options — whether public, private, boarding, or magnet high schools, or colleges and universities where high school students can dual enroll or conduct research — are attracting families who... There are a number of large and small cities across the nation that have seen exciting educational developments in recent years. These cities provide access to top-tier colleges and universities, extracurricular programs, and research opportunities, as well as high-performing K-12 institutions and dynamic cultural landscapes. If you are considering moving in 2025 and seeking an education-rich environment that will offer diverse opportunities for your Ivy League-bound student, add these five areas to your list: South Florida is known for its scenic beaches, vibrant arts scene, and rich cultural offerings.

Now, cities such as Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Palm Beach are carving out a place for themselves within the education sector. “There was a time when our clients moving from NYC, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco wanted to move to Miami for its incredible lifestyle, weather, and cultural offerings, but the constraining element was... The pandemic completely changed this perception,” says Danny Hertzberg, luxury real estate broker with The Jills Zeder Group. “I have had many clients that previously had their children in the most elite schools of NY and once they relocated, they found the same vigorous academics and all around scholastic offerings in South... The area has long been home to elite private schools such as Ransom Everglades in Miami, Pine Crest in Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale, and American Heritage Schools in Plantation and Delray Beach, each... Hertzberg adds: “The top schools in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach are extremely competitive with extensive wait lists and hundreds of applicants for very few spots.

As a result, top tier school acceptance often drives the real estate purchase. Many families moving to South Florida will not commit to an area or specific property until their children have been accepted to schools.” Further, Vanderbilt’s plans to build a $520 million business school campus... The satellite campus will complement the well-established and highly ranked programs in real estate and international business at the University of Miami’s Herbert School of Business, solidifying the region’s reputation as “Wall Street South.” “From cutting edge STEM programs to world class theater, sports and arts/music, word is out that Miami has arrived as a major 2025 destination to move to for education-focused parents,” says Hertzberg.

Forbes Unveils 2025 New Ivies 20 Universities Redefining Academic

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