The field of education is evolving! In short, if you are considering a Master’s degree in the United States, you should be aware of the “New Ivies.”
Having worked in the field of student counseling for many years, I have seen this change take place firsthand. Ambitious students have always aspired to attend the traditional Ivy League universities (Yale, Harvard, and their six allies).
However, Forbes recently released its “New Ivies 2025” list, and believe me, employers are taking notice.
What’s crazy? These 20 outstanding schools— 10 public and 10 private—are not only replacements for the Ancient Eight; in many aspects, they are outperforming them in the areas that matter most, such as landing a job and starting a career.
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What Are the "New Ivies" (And Why Should You Care)?
The “New Ivies” aren’t simply another college rating that is easy to find. They mark a major change in the American definition of elite education.
Forbes identified these schools based on several key factors:
- They're crazy selective (private options admit as few as 6% of applicants)
- Students bring serious academic credentials (median SAT: 1530 for private, 1410 for public)
- They offer killer research opportunities and faculty mentorship
- Most importantly, employers are actively recruiting their graduates
The Great Employer Shift: Why Companies Are Cooling on Traditional Ivies
Here’s something that would have been stunning five years ago: a Forbes survey of 380+ executives and managers found that the chance of employing Ivy League graduates has decreased by 37% in only five years.
Ivy League graduates are now more likely to get hired, according to just 6% of hiring managers. In contrast, 38% prefer non-Ivy League private college graduates, and 42% are more interested in graduates of public universities.
The skills gap is real: Four in ten employers told Forbes that Ivy League schools are doing a worse job preparing entry-level candidates than five years ago.
Value perception is changing: Many hiring managers mentioned that Ivy League candidates can be “overvalued” and sometimes bring an “ego” that doesn’t mesh with entry-level positions.
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The gap is closing : As one VP at a major company put it: “The gap between graduates from Ivies and other public/private universities is shrinking.”.
This change goes beyond words; it is changing the way that industries hire people. This indicates a significant shift in the ROI calculation for your Master’s option..
Meet the Public "New Ivies" : Excellence Without the Price Tag
| Institution | State | Acceptance Rate | Median SAT | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Tech | Georgia | 16% | 1450 | Engineering & Computing |
| Purdue University | Indiana | 50% | 1320 | STEM Leadership & Innovation |
| University of Texas at Austin | Texas | 29% | 1370 | Business & Research |
| U.S. Military Academy | New York | 14% | 1330 | Leadership Development |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Illinois | 44% | 1410 | Tech Industry Connections |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | Michigan | 18% | 1470 | Liberal Arts & Professional Studies |
| UNC Chapel Hill | North Carolina | 19% | 1470 | Healthcare & Life Sciences |
| University of Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | 50% | 1360 | Medical Research & Healthcare |
| University of Virginia | Virginia | 17% | 1490 | Public Policy & Governance |
| William & Mary | Virginia | 33% | 1450 | Liberal Arts & Government Service |
- Value that's hard to beat – Especially for in-state students, with annual costs often under $20,000 compared to $80,000+ at traditional Ivies
- Scale plus excellence – Purdue, for example, educates 58,000+ students while freezing tuition for 13 years straight
- STEM leadership – Many are national leaders in science and tech fields with direct pipelines to top employers
Spotlight: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Michigan strikes the ideal mix between innovative technologies, especially in business, health, and technology, and a strong liberal arts legacy. Their Ross School of Business BBA Class of 2023 reported a median base salary of US$100,000, with 99.1% receiving job offers by September 30th.
For Master’s students, this track record matters – It demonstrates the depth of your job connections and alumni networks. Michigan’s overall undergraduate placement rate hits 95%, with Google, IBM, Amazon, Deloitte, and Microsoft among the top employers.
The Private "New Ivies": Elite Without the Ivy
| Institution | State | Acceptance Rate | Median SAT | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carnegie Mellon | Pennsylvania | 11% | 1540 | Computer Science & Arts |
| Emory University | Georgia | 11% | 1520 | Healthcare & Business |
| Georgetown University | DC | 13% | 1500 | International Affairs & Public Policy |
| Johns Hopkins | Maryland | 8% | 1550 | Medicine & Public Health |
| Northwestern | Illinois | 7% | 1530 | Journalism & Performing Arts |
| Rice University | Texas | 8% | 1550 | Engineering & Natural Sciences |
| Tufts University | Massachusetts | 10% | 1510 | International Studies & Medicine |
| Notre Dame | Indiana | 12% | 1500 | Business Ethics & Catholic Education |
| Vanderbilt | Tennessee | 6% | 1540 | Medicine & Education |
| Washington University in St. Louis | Missouri | 12% | 1540 | Medicine & Social Work |
These schools aren’t playing around. They’re often more selective than some traditional Ivies, with acceptance rates as low as 6% (Vanderbilt) and median SAT scores topping 1540.
From my counseling perspective, these private “New Ivies” excel at:
- World-class specialized programs – Johns Hopkins has ranked #1 in federal R&D spending since 1979, dominating in medicine and public health
- Career outcomes – Carnegie Mellon's graduates see 93% employment or grad school placement, with average starting salaries exceeding $92,000
- Elite selectivity with practical focus – These universities combine demanding admissions with courses intended to have practical applications.
Spotlight: Johns Hopkins University
With a typical SAT of about 1550 and an admittance rate of 7-8 percent, Johns Hopkins offers classic Ivy League selectivity with a more realistic focus. The university reports that 91% of undergraduates are employed full-time or in graduate school within six months of graduation, with an average starting salary of $76,800.
Perhaps most impressively, 100% of Fortune 100 companies employ Hopkins graduates, showing the breadth of its network across industries.
New Ivies vs. Traditional Ivies: A Fresh Calculation
Cost & ROI: A Game-Changer
- Public "New Ivies" (in-state): $20,000-$40,000 annually
- Private "New Ivies": $75,000-$92,000+ annually
- Traditional Ivies: $80,000-$92,000+ annually
Selectivity: The Gap Has Closed
- Public "New Ivies": 14%-50% acceptance rates
- Private "New Ivies": 6%-13% acceptance rates
- Traditional Ivies: 3.9%-10% acceptance rates
Student Demographics & Campus Culture
In my experience, students find more diverse geographic and socioeconomic environments at many “New Ivies” compared to some traditional Ivy League institutions. For example, Georgia Tech’s Fall 2024 undergraduate enrollment showed 33.3% White, 36.4% Asian, 8.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 8.1% Black or African-American students.
Your future career depends on the more dynamic learning environments and wider professional networks that this variety creates.
Finding Your Best Fit: A Counselor's Approach
1. Know Your Career Path
- For engineering/CS: Georgia Tech, Carnegie Mellon, Purdue
- For medicine/healthcare: Johns Hopkins, Washington University, Pittsburgh
- For business: Michigan, Notre Dame, Georgetown
- For public policy/government: William & Mary, Georgetown, UVA
2. Calculate True ROI
- Financial aid packages – Many "New Ivies" offer competitive funding
- Starting salaries in your field – Vanderbilt reports a mean salary of $85,600 for recent grads
- Employment rates – William & Mary boasts 94% employment/continuing education within six months
3. Consider the Employer Perspective
What are the real preferred colleges for companies in your field? According to Forbes, there has been a notable change, as 42% of hiring managers now prefer graduates of public universities.
Schools like Georgia Tech, Carnegie Mellon, and Michigan are frequently chosen over conventional Ivies in IT professions because of their innovative, hands-on instruction.
Application Strategy: Landing Your New Ivy Spot
- Target programs, not just schools – Identify specific Master's programs that align with your goals
- Build relationships – Reach out to faculty and current students in your target programs
- Get practical experience – These schools value hands-on skills alongside academic credentials
- Tell your "why" story – Explain how this specific program connects to your career vision
The Future of Elite Education: What This Means For You
- More pathways to excellence – Elite education isn't confined to eight Northeastern schools
- Better alignment with employer needs – Schools that focus on practical skills are winning
- Greater emphasis on specific strengths – The best school overall may not be the best for your field
Conclusion: The Smart Play for Your Future
As a counselor who’s guided students through this decision, I’ll leave you with this: the smartest Master’s choice isn’t about chasing the most exclusive acceptance letter – it’s about finding the program that launches your specific career dreams.
The “New Ivies” listed by Forbes are universities that have figured out what counts most: delivering education that translates directly to career success. Whether it’s Purdue’s innovation ecosystem or Johns Hopkins’ research powerhouse, these institutions are redefining what it means to get an elite education.
Your Master’s degree is an investment in your future. The New Ivies offer a compelling combination of prestige, practicality, and proven outcomes that make them worth serious consideration, perhaps even more than their Ivy League counterparts.
What’s been your experience with these institutions? Are you considering a New Ivy for your Master’s journey? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
