Employer hiring strategies are signaling renewed reliance on elite-degree sorting in early recruitment, with recruiters using shortlist mechanisms that prioritize degree signals and GPA even as entry-level pipelines expand. A Veris Insights survey of more than 150 companies found 26% recruit from a brief selection of schools, up from 17% in 2022, and many firms shift to “target schools” rather than “talent is everywhere” sourcing. The reporting describes how companies often recruit from about 30 institutions out of thousands, then add proximity-based priority for candidates near corporate headquarters for roles requiring in-person work. Reasons cited include recruiter costs, the rise of AI-generated identical applications that reduce differentiation, and changes to DEI emphasis in hiring. For universities, the immediate operational takeaway is admissions and advising: institutional positioning, GPA support strategies, and career outcomes signaling may matter more for employer screening as AI increases application homogenization.