As top employers reassess their hiring pipelines, a growing number are shying away from Ivy League graduates and toward a broader group of institutions dubbed the “New Ivies.” A previous Forbes article outlines this shift, citing survey data from hiring managers who say they are increasingly focused on work-readiness, adaptability and interpersonal skills — qualities they find more consistently in graduates the University of Notre Dame, Vanderbilt University, Georgia Institute of Technology and Tufts University among others.
According to the article, only 14% of surveyed employers believe Ivy League graduates are better prepared for the workforce than five years ago, while 20% say they are less prepared. Meanwhile, public and non-Ivy private universities have reported sharp increases in employer favorability. The article attributes this shift to employers' desire for candidates with stronger collaboration skills, hands-on experience and professional maturity.
James Otteson, professor of business ethics and concurrent professor of political science at the Mendoza College of Business, mentioned this decline reflects broader concerns about the perceived substance of elite credentials.
“Some of the higher ranked schools … are suffering in the same way that GPAs are suffering,” Otteson said. “There’s been some inflation and when everyone has a high GPA, the signal weakens. I think something similar is happening with Ivy League degrees — there’s skepticism about whether the name still guarantees quality.”
In contrast, Otteson said Notre Dame students tend to stand out for both academic ability and character.
“We challenge our students not just intellectually, but morally,” he said. “Employers want people who are smart, yes, but also people who have integrity and self-discipline.”
Mitchell Olsen, assistant department chair and director of undergraduate studies in the Marketing Department at The Mendoza College of Business, pointed to recent changes in curriculum as a sign of responsiveness.
“Mendoza recently overhauled its curriculum to provide students with more flexibility and choice,” Olsen said. “This includes the opportunity to double major or pick up minors, many of which are open to non-Mendoza students as well.”
Within the Marketing Department, Mendoza launched a new course, “Marketing Me: Navigating Your Career Path with Purpose,” which teaches students how to identify their ideal career path, stand out in the job search and leverage Notre Dame’s career resources effectively. Olsen said the course helps students to “Not only get a job, but find purpose in their work.”
He also emphasized Mendoza’s focus on real-world learning through team-based projects and corporate partnerships. “Teamwork is a very intentional part of the Mendoza experience,” Olsen said. “We tackle issues the same way we would in full-time jobs, in teams.”
This perspective traces to Notre Dame’s founding vision for business education. A quote from John Cardinal O'Hara in 1921 is seen outside Jordan Auditorium of the college: “The primary function of commerce is service to mankind. Business has a code of ethics based very largely on divine principles. When this code is followed, commerce can and does advance civilization.” Olsen said that vision is distilled today into the College’s motto: “Grow the Good in Business.”
Faculty and administrators across colleges explained that the University’s existing academic structure, combined with new initiatives, positions students well in the current job market.
Mary Flannery, associate dean for undergraduate studies at the College of Arts & Letters, described how career preparation efforts are being integrated into both curricular and co-curricular offerings. The College’s Beyond the Dome program connects students with specific industry advising, technical skills workshops and employer outreach efforts designed to bridge the perceived gap between liberal arts degrees and the job market.
“We’re working specifically with companies and helping them see how Arts & Letters students can really do a lot of the work they want,” Flannery said. “Employers want people who are adaptable, collaborative and creative thinkers — those are things our students practice all the time.”
Beyond the Dome also aims to instill skills that are second nature to students in more pre-professional tracks.
“It gives Arts & Letters students the kinds of skills Mendoza students pick up by default,” Flannery said. These include networking, confidence building and professional presentation skills, that are reinforced through tech training, mock interviews and career-focused workshops.
Several new interdisciplinary minors, including computing and digital technologies, data science and health and humanities and society, offer liberal arts students the opportunity to complement traditional studies with applied training in high-demand fields. These additions are designed for students to build their studies that reflect both intellectual curiosity and practical direction.
Flannery explained that Arts & Letters advisors work closely with students to help them create coherent academic paths that connect their coursework, experiences and interests.
“A student who majors in history studies abroad in Chile and minors in health humanities ... is telling a story employers can understand,” she said. That story, she added, reflects a deliberate interest in Latin America, cultural fluency and health policy, rather than just a checklist of classes.
The College also maintains a broad core curriculum that reflects the University's liberal arts tradition. Flannery highlighted the language requirement as one example that some students may initially question but ultimately find meaningful.
“Learning a language introduces you to new ways of thinking,” she said. “It builds cognitive flexibility, cultural awareness and confidence — skills that employers may not list on paper but often value in practice.”
She emphasized that the College’s lengthier core requirements are intentional and purposeful, as they aim to form well-rounded and reflective individuals. Flannery echoed this sentiment, noting that Notre Dame’s curriculum intentionally includes courses in philosophy, theology and language that foster cultural understanding.
Most Arts & Letters majors require only about 30 credits, leaving room for students to double major, pursue minors or explore additional academic interests. Flannery said advisors encourage students to find coherence among their choices as, “It’s not just about collecting credentials. We want students to be intentional."
She pointed to programs such as the Sheedy Family Program in Economy, Enterprise, and Society — a partnership between Mendoza and Arts & Letters requiring students to study across both colleges as examples of integrated learning.
“It’s about getting meaning out of work,” she said. “The program helps students connect disciplines that are often separated, making them more versatile and thoughtful in the workplace.”
Both Mendoza and Arts & Letters maintain strong partnerships with the Meruelo Family Center for Career Development, which supports professional development and facilitates employer connections. In recent years, students have participated in site visits to General Motors, Leo Burnett Worldwide Inc. and the headquarters of Google and Mars Wrigley in the United Kingdom.
Olsen said regular exposure to top business leaders helps students build confidence and fluency in professional environments. Flannery added that Notre Dame is not just interested in career placement but in helping students discern their long-term goals.
“We’re not just trying to get people jobs,” she said. “We’re trying to help them understand who they are and how they want to contribute to the world.”
Otteson believes that mindset of seeking purpose is what differentiates Notre Dame students in the eyes of top employers.
“Notre Dame treats students as whole people — not just as skill sets,” he stated. “Its educational mission sees students as entire souls, not just vessels for knowledge. That perspective sets them up not just for a job, but for a meaningful life.”
He again referenced the quote etched into the wall outside Mendoza’s Jordan Auditorium:
“That quote is still central today ... And when employers meet our students, they see that it isn’t just words on a wall. It’s how we teach [and] it’s who our students are," Otteson said.
