Forbes has released its inaugural “New Ivies” list, recognizing 20 colleges in the U.S. that have risen to Ivy League status in the eyes of employers. This comes as the Ivy League brand undergoes a status change, with 33% of employers saying they are less likely to hire Ivy League grads than five years ago. In contrast, 42% say they are more likely to hire public university grads than they were five years ago.
The New Ivies list includes 10 private and 10 public colleges that stand out for their high-achieving students who are catching the eyes of recruiters and hiring managers. Some well-known institutions on the list include Vanderbilt University, Johns Hopkins, and Georgetown, as well as surprising names like Binghamton University, University of Maryland-College Park, and the University of Florida.
To compile the list, Forbes identified undergraduate institutions with at least 4,000 full-time students and high median SAT or ACT scores for the class entering school in 2022. Consideration was also given to schools where at least 50% of incoming freshmen submit test scores. The final 20 schools were evaluated based on the responses of nearly 300 subscribers to Forbes’ human resources Future of Work newsletter, three-quarters of whom hold direct hiring authority.
The survey found that public universities are seen as doing a better job at preparing job candidates than they were five years ago, with 37% of respondents agreeing. In comparison, only 14% say Ivy League colleges are doing a better job, and 20% say they are doing worse. The New Ivies list aims to highlight schools that attract and educate hard-working students who are highly regarded by employers.
The public colleges on the list include Binghamton University, University of Texas-Austin, University of Florida, and University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, among others. Private colleges like Boston College, Georgetown University, and Vanderbilt University also made the cut. These institutions have proven themselves to be producing graduates that are in demand in today’s job market.
Overall, the Forbes “New Ivies” list is a nod to the changing landscape of higher education, where traditional Ivy League status is no longer the sole determinant of success in the job market. Employers are recognizing the value of students from a wider range of institutions, and the 20 colleges on this list have proven themselves to be among the best at preparing their graduates for the workforce of today and tomorrow.
