University of Kwazulu-Natal

The Rise Of The New Ivies Why Employers Prefer These 20 Elite Colleges

Bonisiwe Shabane
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the rise of the new ivies why employers prefer these 20 elite colleges

For generations, an Ivy League degree was seen as the golden ticket to career success. Today, that shine is fading. A recent Forbes survey of U.S. hiring managers found that 37% are less likely to recruit Ivy League graduates than they were five years ago. In fact, 12% of respondents said they would never hire an Ivy grad, often citing those graduates’ attitudes and lack of humility. Meanwhile, nearly half of employers report a new openness to talent from other elite colleges — 42% say they are more likely now to hire graduates of public universities than in the past.

This shift has profound implications for high-achieving students. The definition of a “top-tier” education is expanding. We break down the employer sentiment, compare outcomes of New Ivies vs. traditional Ivies, and offer strategic takeaways. Ambitious students should understand why these institutions are gaining favor — and how to capitalize on this evolving landscape. Employers Turn Away from the 'Ancient Eight'

The skepticism toward Ivy League degrees is not isolated. The Forbes 2025 employer poll — drawing on responses from 380 executives and hiring managers — confirmed a sweeping reassessment. One C-suite respondent said, “I believe Ivy League candidates are overvalued, and they frequently have a higher than real opinion of themselves.” Another added that entry-level hires should “have no ego or be ‘stuck-up’... Veteran finance executive Fred Prager called it plainly: “The bloom has been off the Ivies.” He noted that recent events — from the disruptions of the pandemic to widely publicized campus controversies — have... 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! { <br /> {<br /> "@context": "https://schema.org",<br /> "@type": "ItemList",<br /> "name": "Forbes New Ivies 2025",<br /> "description": "A ranked list of 20 top universities (public and private) redefining elite education and career readiness...

Louis",<br /> "url": "https://bestfullyfundedscholarships.com/forbes-new-ivies/#wustl"<br /> },<br /> {<br /> "@type": "ListItem",<br /> "position": 3,<br /> "name": "Purdue University",<br /> "url": "https://bestfullyfundedscholarships.com/forbes-new-ivies/#purdue"<br /> },<br /> {<br /> "@type": "ListItem",<br /> "position": 4,<br /> "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. Tufts University (MA)Our students describe Tufts as creative, collaborative, and a place where quirky intellectualism thrives. Employers value its strong international focus, interdisciplinary programs, and high-caliber graduates in tech and global policy.

Boston College (MA)Students say BC balances academic rigor with values-driven leadership. Employers appreciate its strong business, finance, and education pipelines and a reputation for producing ethical, high-impact professionals. United States Military Academy at West Point (NY)West Point is revered by students for its purpose, discipline, and leadership development. Employers cite West Point grads as elite team players with unmatched leadership, integrity, and discipline. Acceptance Rate: 10% | Tuition: Free (with service commitment) University of Pittsburgh (PA)Our students choose Pitt for its strong research access and pre-health opportunities.

Employers value its emphasis on hands-on learning and health sciences excellence. Employers are souring on Ivy League and Ivy-Plus institutions and have elected the next banner of institutions producing the highest-performing professionals, according to a new breakdown from Forbes. The 20 “new Ivies” educate students with an average 1482 SAT and 33 ACT score and generate graduates who are a better cultural and professional fit at the highest echelons of corporate society, wrote... Forbes examined over 1,700 colleges with at least 4,000 students and parsed its list down to those with highly selective admission rates (below 20% at private schools and 50% at public), applicant classes in... Analysts placed a strong emphasis on standardized test scores due to a recent report by a Harvard think tank that found they are strong predictors for college success at highly selective colleges. Ten public and 10 private nonprofits were eventually selected.

More from UB: What can private institutions do about the middle-class squeeze? “This new recognition underscores UF’s commitment to being both elite and practical,” University of Florida President Ben Sasse said in a statement. “The University of Florida does incredible work, and we are becoming a no-doubt-about-it leader in higher education at a time when too many institutions are losing public trust. We reject the false choice between education that enriches and education that prepares—we want both.” Related: This College Is The Hardest Of The Forbes ‘New Ivies’ To Get Into The “New Ivies” — 20 public and private universities so tabbed by Forbes — were outpacing Ivy League schools in the eyes of employers long before the Trump administration began its assault on the...

The list of 10 public and 10 private colleges comes as President Donald Trump unwinds decades-old diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, programs intended to help public institutions and workplaces mirror society in general. Colleges across the country are facing steep federal funding cuts, eliminated programs and federal investigations, and even “fiscally fit” institutions are looking at four years of uncertainty, Forbes said. The uncertainty is greatest at the “original eight” Ivy League schools.

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