📍 NORTHEAST

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.

Acceptance Rate: 9% | Median SAT: 1505

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.

Acceptance Rate: 15% | Median SAT: 1480

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.

Acceptance Rate: 49% | Median SAT: 1340

🏢 MID-ATLANTIC

Johns Hopkins University (MD)
Students find Hopkins intellectually intense and deeply rewarding. Employers consistently rank it high for medical, public health, and engineering talent with research readiness.

Acceptance Rate: 6.3% | Median SAT: 1530

University of Maryland (MD)
UMD is a large, energetic campus with tech and policy opportunities galore. Employers note its strong pipeline into cybersecurity, data science, and federal government roles.

Acceptance Rate: 45% | Median SAT: 1395

William & Mary (VA)
Students see William & Mary as a scholarly and close-knit intellectual community. Employers appreciate its emphasis on writing, critical thinking, and a liberal arts foundation that translates into standout consultants and researchers.

Acceptance Rate: 33% | Median SAT: 1420

🌎 MIDWEST

Northwestern University (IL)
Our students love Northwestern’s fast pace and flexibility to pursue double majors. Employers praise its strength in journalism, business, and STEM—and its grads’ ability to adapt and lead.

Acceptance Rate: 7% | Median SAT: 1535

University of Michigan (MI)
Students say Michigan is vibrant and full of opportunity. Employers value its scale, academic excellence, and its Ross School of Business and College of Engineering as top pipelines for high-impact hires.

Acceptance Rate: 17% (12% out-of-state) | Median SAT: 1475

Purdue University (IN)
Parents say Purdue delivers great ROI, especially in engineering. Employers favor its emphasis on workforce-readiness, internships, and real-world application—especially in STEM.

Acceptance Rate: 50% | Median SAT: 1310

🌞 SOUTH

Vanderbilt University (TN)
Our students love that Vandy is both welcoming and academically intense. Employers respect its elite output in education, economics, and healthcare—backed by strong alumni networks in major metros.

Acceptance Rate: 6.7% | Median SAT: 1530

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (NC)
Students appreciate UNC’s academic flexibility and public mission. Employers see it as a top recruiting school for public health, journalism, and data analysis talent.

Acceptance Rate: 17% (9% out-of-state) | Median SAT: 1450

Georgia Institute of Technology (GA)
Georgia Tech is prized by students for its rigor and career payoff. Employers especially value its top-tier graduates in computer science, engineering, and robotics—many of whom stay in the Southeast tech corridor.

Acceptance Rate: 16% | Median SAT: 1460

⛰️ WEST & SOUTHWEST

Rice University (TX)
Students say Rice is deeply intellectual, inclusive, and residentially intimate. Employers love Rice grads for their research experience, communication skills, and strength in engineering, biotech, and policy.

Acceptance Rate: 7.7% | Median SAT: 1540

University of Texas at Austin (TX)
UT students praise the energy and access across disciplines. Employers favor it for McCombs School of Business, Cockrell School of Engineering, and producing highly employable grads with entrepreneurial grit.

Acceptance Rate: ~29% overall, <15% for top majors | Median SAT: 1410

United States Air Force Academy (CO)
Students describe USAFA as purpose-driven and growth-focused. Employers—especially in aerospace, defense, and leadership pipelines—trust its cadets for discipline, technical mastery, and mission readiness.

Acceptance Rate: 11% | Tuition: Free (with service commitment)

What You Can Do Now

The New Ivies represent more than a shift in college rankings—they signal a broader realignment in how colleges are valued. These schools offer what high-achieving students and top employers are both looking for: academic challenge, character development, and real-world readiness.

For families navigating the admissions process, these colleges should be on the radar early



• Research each school’s strengths and programs by major
• Visit campuses or attend virtual tours to gauge student culture
• Build a balanced list that includes high-performing publics and selective privates
• Focus on "fit to major" and alignment in academics and activities

They aren’t backups or second-tier options—they’re launching pads for future leaders.

The Ivy League may still have the brand, but the New Ivies have the momentum. And for many of today’s students, they’re exactly where they need to be.