Wednesday, March 26, Forbes magazine listed the College of William and Mary as one of the nation’s top 10 “New Ivies,” a recognition for public universities that highlights the College’s academic achievements and rich history as the second-oldest college in the country.
Placement on this list was determined by three primary criteria: size, acceptance rates and average SAT scores of admitted students. Amongst the private “new Ivies,” applicants have a 7% chance or lower of acceptance, and a 50% chance or less of acceptance into the public new Ivies. The median SAT score of those admitted to these institutions was 1530 for the private new Ivies and 1410 for the public new Ivies. These numbers speak to the type of student attending these institutions, which accept and educate only the best and brightest.
The education offered by these new Ivies has grand implications in the professional world. Forbes’ survey responses reveal that employers are more likely to hire graduates from non-Ivy League colleges than they were five years ago, suggesting that these schools are perhaps surpassing Ivy League schools in equipping students with the skills they need to land a job in the future.
College President Katherine A. Rowe stated the importance of the College’s recognition.
“National recognition as a ‘New Ivy’ is something we can all take pride in. It speaks to the value of a W&M education and also to our exceptional faculty and staff,” Rowe said. “When you combine the research opportunities we offer with high-touch, smaller classroom experiences, it’s a recipe for successful graduates. Our alumni enter the workforce as agile, multi-dimensional critical thinkers.”
Since 1985, the College has been considered a “public Ivy,” a term coined by Richard Moll in his book “Public Ivies: A Guide to America’s Best Public Undergraduate Colleges and Universities.” This term describes public universities that offer an Ivy League-quality academic experience, dynamic campus life and high standards, all at the price of a public school. Forbes’ latest recognition is a reflection of how much the College has grown and continues to grow since its founding in 1693.
While recognition as a “new Ivy” generates great pride in the College, it also sheds light on the controversies associated with “elite” institutions and college rankings in general.
“I am not the biggest fan of usual college rankings from U.S. News because they are very focused on endowment and the financial resources that the schools have, and the rankings don’t play to what William and Mary’s strengths are,” newly elected Vice President of Student Assembly Matt Swenson ’26 said. “Our undergraduate liberal arts curriculum is very strong — I think it’s one of the best in the country. These school rankings don’t capture that as well, and I think to some degree the school that you go to is what you make of it.”
These rankings may foster a competitive focus on prestige, generating traits among students that are undesirable to future employers and bring the value of an Ivy League reputation into question. For Swenson, the academic rigor associated with the title of a new Ivy can become problematic, posing challenges for students’ mental well-being.
“The school is only as strong as the well-being of its students, and I think Student Assembly is going to step in and make sure the students are getting the resources they need and make sure we are vocal in advocating for what we hear are the concerns of students,” Swenson said.
Senior Associate Director of University News Erin Jay discussed how the educational, social and professional opportunities the College has to offer as a public university shape its reputation as a well-rounded institution beyond academic performance and admissions rates.
“While rankings often alter methodologies and increasingly focus on short-term, transitional metrics, William & Mary takes the long view when it comes to its educational mission, guided by its core values and strategic goals,” Jay wrote. “W&M undergraduate alumni in Virginia earn the highest median income 15 years post-graduation of all public universities in the state, according to the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia. 94% of W&M graduates are employed or pursuing further education within six months of graduation.”
