Exploring the Rise of Illinois Universities in the 'New Ivies' List

Ayushi
28 minutes ago
2 min read

Ivy League Universities have generally established the market norm, but this appears to be changing. Employers are expanding their candidate search to include universities other than the traditional Ivies in order to find top-tier talent. Multiple recruiters have begun to prioritize the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and Northwestern University over other possibilities.

A Changing Hiring Landscape

More than 380 top-level executives across the country documented through surveys that their current probability of employing Ivy League graduates has risen from 33% in 2020 to 37% in 2021. Based on the study, 12% of executives confirmed they would exclude Ivy League graduates from all their hiring considerations. The transformation indicates employers are now seeking different qualities from candidates in their hiring decisions. Decision-makers within the employment sector now place more weight on candidates who possess relevant skills and adaptability alongside their range of educational backgrounds instead of relying on Ivy League degrees as a standard measure of hiring candidates.

Illinois Universities on the Rise

Amid this evolving landscape, Illinois has proven its educational strength.

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) has earned a strong reputation among public universities for producing competent graduates, particularly in engineering, business, and computer science.
Northwestern University, a prestigious private institution, continues to deliver excellence across disciplines like journalism, law, business, and engineering, attracting top students and employers alike.

Both universities are recognized nationally for offering rigorous academics, strong alum networks, and workplace-ready graduates.

How Schools Were Evaluated

Research shows that employer-preferred universities possess the following characteristics:

The public universities maintain an acceptance rate below 50%, while for private universities, the acceptance rate is around 20%.
The median SAT scores for public universities reach 1410 points while private colleges stand at 1530 points.
Public universities enroll at least 4,000 students and private universities enroll 3,500 students.

Traditional Ivy League schools and a few other elite institutions like Stanford, MIT, and the University of Chicago were excluded when evaluating emerging schools.

The Broader List

Northwestern and UIUC stand among multiple institutions that have gained employers' trust throughout the United States. Some notable peers include

Georgia Institute of Technology and Purdue University among public institutions.
Johns Hopkins University and Vanderbilt University among private institutions.

Conclusion

The changing hiring trends have led both UIUC and Northwestern to earn enhanced visibility in their industry. The educational institutions in Illinois attract students and parents who want high-quality education combined with career development success.

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