Why Grads Of These ‘New Ivies’ Schools Get A Closer Look From Employers

A new Forbes ranking highlights 20 “New Ivies” colleges that employers say are producing job-ready graduates by aligning coursework with the demands of an artificial intelligence-driven economy.

“Young college graduates are entering one of the toughest job markets in recent memory,” Forbes said. “Tech giants like Amazon and Oracle are slashing jobs — many of them entry-level — as firms continue to embrace the cost-cutting benefits of AI.”

The New Ivies list, now in its third year, identifies 10 public and 10 private institutions gaining traction with recruiters, who say graduates from these schools often arrive with practical skills and workplace experience that rival or exceed those from traditional elite universities.

Forbes said its honorees were chosen with input from a survey of more than 100 C-Suite and hiring executives, who this year were asked not only to rate schools but also how AI was changing their hiring of new grads.

Employers cited several reasons for the shift, including a stronger emphasis on hands-on learning with opportunities such as internships, co-ops and project-based coursework that mirrors real-world job demands.

Recruiters say students at these institutions are more likely to have worked directly with emerging technologies such as AI, data analytics and automation tools before graduating.

Companies also value the schools’ focus on interdisciplinary training. Rather than siloing students in narrow majors, many of the programs encourage blending fields such as computer science, business and the humanities, producing graduates who can adapt quickly and communicate across teams.

Another factor is mindset. Employers told Forbes that graduates from these colleges tend to demonstrate stronger problem-solving abilities, curiosity and adaptability — qualities seen as critical as workplaces evolve rapidly with new technology.

The report also notes that some recruiters are placing less emphasis on prestige alone, instead prioritizing candidates who can contribute immediately with relevant technical and soft skills. As a result, the so-called “New Ivies” are becoming a deeper and more reliable talent pool for companies navigating an AI-driven economy.

Here’s the list:

Private Institutions

Carnegie Mellon University

Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Undergraduate Enrollment: 7,852

Acceptance Rate: 12 percent

Median SAT Score: 1540

Median ACT Score: 35

Case Western Reserve University

Location: Cleveland, Ohio

Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,354

Acceptance Rate: 37 percent

Median SAT Score: 1510

Median ACT Score: 34‎

Emory University

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Undergraduate Enrollment: 7,805

Acceptance Rate: 11 percent

Median SAT Score: 1520

Median ACT Score: 34

Georgetown University

Location: Washington, D.C.

Undergraduate Enrollment: 8,537

Acceptance Rate: 13 percent

Median SAT Score: 1490

Median ACT Score: 33‎

Northwestern University

Location: Evanston, Illinois

Undergraduate Enrollment: 10,421

Acceptance Rate: 8 percent

Median SAT Score: 1540

Median ACT Score: 34‎

University of Notre Dame

Location: Notre Dame, Indiana

Undergraduate Enrollment: 9,157

Acceptance Rate: 11 percent

Median SAT Score: 1520

Median ACT Score: 34‎

Rice University

Location: Houston, Texas

Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,836

Acceptance Rate: 8 percent

Median SAT Score: 1550

Median ACT Score: 35

Tufts University

Location: Medford and Somerville, Massachusetts

Undergraduate Enrollment: 7,715

Acceptance Rate: 11 percent

Median SAT Score: 1510

Median ACT Score: 34

Vanderbilt University

Location: Nashville, Tennessee

Undergraduate Enrollment: 7,285

Acceptance Rate: 6 percent

Median SAT Score: 1540

Median ACT Score: 35

Washington University in St Louis

Location: St. Louis, Missouri

Undergraduate Enrollment: 9,064

Acceptance Rate: 12 percent

Median SAT Score: 1540

Median ACT Score: 34

Public‎ Institutions

United States Air Force Academy

Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado

Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,117

Acceptance Rate: 14 percent

Median SAT Score: 1330

Median ACT Score: 30‎

University of Florida

Location: Gainesville, Florida

Undergraduate Enrollment: 38,246

Acceptance Rate: 24 percent

Median SAT Score: 1400

Median ACT Score: 31

Georgia Institute of Technology

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Undergraduate Enrollment: 20,887

Acceptance Rate: 14 percent

Median SAT Score: 1480

Median ACT Score: 33

University of Michigan

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Undergraduate Enrollment: 34,962

Acceptance Rate: 16 percent

Median SAT Score: 1460

Median ACT Score: 33

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Undergraduate Enrollment: 21,906

Acceptance Rate: 15 percent

Median SAT Score: 1480

Median ACT Score: 31

Purdue University

Location: West Lafayette, Indiana

Undergraduate Enrollment: 42,745

Acceptance Rate: 50 percent

Median SAT Score: 1350

Median ACT Score: 31

University of Texas at Austin

Location: Austin, Texas

Undergraduate Enrollment: 44,663

Acceptance Rate: 27 percent

Median SAT Score: 1390

Median ACT Score: 31‎

University of Virginia

Location: Charlottesville, Virginia

Undergraduate Enrollment: 19,033

Acceptance Rate: 17 percent

Median Score: 1480

Median ACT Score: 33

William & Mary

Location: Williamsburg, Virginia

Undergraduate Enrollment: 7,465

Acceptance Rate: 34 percent

Median SAT Score: 1470

Median ACT Score: 33‎

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Location: Madison, Wisconsin

Undergraduate Enrollment: 39,637

Acceptance Rate: 45 percent

Median SAT Score: 1460

50th Percentile ACT Score: 31

» For more, go to Forbes.