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Top 20 US universities most sought after by employers

By Khanh Linh   April 26, 2026 | 04:40 pm PT Google Get VnExpress first in Google Search info See more of the news you trust. Make VnExpress a preferred source to prioritise our updates in your Google search results
Employers are increasingly looking beyond the traditional Ivy League and turning to 20 other leading U.S. public and private universities that emphasize AI skills.

Forbes recently released its list of "New Ivies," highlighting non-Ivy League universities that employers rate highly for the quality of their graduates. Based on surveys of more than 100 senior executives and recruiters, the list shows that all 20 schools share a strong focus on artificial intelligence proficiency as a core part of education.

Purdue University, for instance, recently became the first public university to require AI proficiency for graduation. At Rice University, advanced data science students must have AI models such as ChatGPT and Claude debate each other before analyzing their arguments.

Northwestern University students on graduation day, May 2025. Photo by Northwestern University

Northwestern University students on graduation day, May 2025. Photo by Northwestern University

Many of these schools are also expanding AI-related courses and faculty. Case Western Reserve University has tripled its offerings to more than 100 courses and places students in groups for hands-on experience with companies. The University of Florida, Notre Dame, Wisconsin-Madison and Texas-Austin are among institutions planning to add 40 to 50 AI-focused teaching positions.

Most of the universities are ranked among the top 50 nationally by U.S. News for 2026. Tuition for international students at these in-demand schools ranges from $30,900 to $71,300 per year.

"Artificial intelligence has entirely redefined the anatomy of the entry-level role. Consequently, the baseline for new hires has skyrocketed and lessened our need for traditional entry-level headcount," a C-suite level executive told Forbes.

The top 20 most sought-after U.S. universities by employers, according to Forbes:

University Type 2026 Ranking by US News Acceptance Rate Median SAT Score Tuition (USD/year)
Carnegie Mellon University Private 20 12% 1540 68,100
Case Western Reserve University Private 51 37% 1510 69,300
Emory University Private 24 11% 1520 68,100
Georgetown University Private 24 13% 1490 71,300
Northwestern University Private 7 8% 1540 70,600
University of Notre Dame Private 20 11% 1520 67,600
Rice University Private 17 8% 1550 65,500
Tufts University Private 36 11% 1510 73,600
Vanderbilt University Private 17 6% 1540 71,200
Washington-St. Louis University Private 20 12% 1540 69,600
U.S. Air Force Academy Public - 14% 1330 -
University of Florida Public 30 24% 1400 30,900
Georgia Institute of Technology Public 32 14% 1480 35,100
University of Michigan Public 30 16% 1460 66,200
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Public 26 15% 1480 45,200
Purdue University Public 46 15% 1480 28,800
University of Texas-Austin Public 30 27% 1390 44,900
University of Virginia Public 26 17% 1480 62,900
William & Mary University Public 51 34% 1470 52,200
University of Wisconsin-Madison Public 36 45% 1460 44,200
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