Find a Job You Really Want In
The college with the highest employment rate in the U.S. is Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, at 96.10%.
The best state college with the lowest employment rate is University of Alaska Anchorage, in Alaska, at 83.35%.
Those who earn a college degree are nearly 25% more likely to become employed (86% average employment rate compared to 69% for High School graduates).
Only 6 out of 10 Americans agree that college is worth the time and effort.
While college is a time of personal and professional growth, for many students it is also an expensive investment in their future.
Students attend college with the expectation of securing gainful employment and launching a successful career. However, not all schools are equal in job placement success.
Some colleges are vastly more supportive of their students’ post-graduation concerns than others. Whether it comes from excellent career centers, strong academic offerings, stellar reputations, or networking opportunities, certain colleges just flat-out do a better job of helping students launch their careers than other colleges.
To help bring attention to these exceptional schools, we at Zippia put together our annual ranking of the best college in each state for getting a job in 2021.
The Best Colleges for Getting a Job
- Quinnipiac University – Connecticut
- Augustana University – South Dakota
- Ohio Northern University – Ohio
- Stonehill College – Massachusetts
- Lebanon Valley College – Pennsylvania
- Marquette University – Wisconsin
- Illinois Wesleyan University – Illinois
- Providence College – Rhode Island
- Saint Anselm College – New Hampshire
- Saint Johns University – Minnesota
These 10 colleges do an exceptional job of preparing their students for the workforce upon graduation. Unsurprisingly, these colleges have ranked exceptionally well in the past, showing a continuous pattern of student support. Keep reading to see their outstanding job placement rates- and what sets them apart from other institutions.
How We Determined This Data
Using the Department of Education College Scorecard data, we searched for the college in each state with the highest listed job placement numbers ten years after graduation.
We then sorted every college in the country from the highest employment levels to the lowest. Any college that did not have this data or suppressed it was excluded from the running. We opted to focus on the best colleges to graduate with your bachelor’s degree. To do this we only looked at colleges that predominantly offer four-year degrees, excluding some excellent two-year colleges.
We then selected the college with the highest rate of employment in each state, rounding to the second decimal point for readability.
1. Quinnipiac University
State: Connecticut
City: Hamden
Placement Rate: 96.10%
For the second year in a row, Quinnipiac University has topped our list as the best college for getting a job. The private university has the highest job placement rate at 96.1%. With those kinds of odds, you’re liable to join the Bobcats on your road to employment. The school’s motto? Bobcat Strong. And with that kind of rate, we couldn’t agree more.
2. Augustana University
State: South Dakota
City: Sioux Falls
Placement Rate: 96.05%
The Vikings at Augustana University come in at No. 2 on the list. If Quinnipiac doesn’t work out, this really isn’t a bad backup to have. The schools’ job placement rate is so close to being No. 1, there’s practically no difference between the two schools. If you choose Augustana, you may fall under the schools’ 96.05% for job placement. That’s a pretty solid percentage.
3. Ohio Northern University
State: Ohio
City: Ada
Placement Rate: 95.86%
If you like playing UNO, you may like this school. Ohio Northern University, ONU (literally UNO spelled backward), tops the list at No. 3 with a job placement rate of 95.86%. Not only do you have a great chance of finding a job after graduation, but with the school’s top-notch financial aid program you also won’t find yourself in too much debt. Say hello to not being in debt for most of your life with ONU.
4. Stonehill College
State: Massachusetts
City: Easton
Placement Rate: 95.83%
The private Roman Catholic, liberal arts college of Easton, Massachusetts, makes the top 10 list with a job placement rate of 95.83%. Only .03% behind third place, Stonehill College is a great home for your future. The school boasts a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 100 programs in the liberal arts, sciences and business.
5. Lebanon Valley College
State: Pennsylvania
City: Annville
Placement Rate: 95.63%
Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania, is next on our list. With a 95.63% job placement rate, it’s easy to see why so many students end up there. The college sets students up to achieve more and go further, and by the looks of that rate, the college definitely takes that very seriously.
6. Marquette University
State: Wisconsin
City: Milwaukee
Placement Rate: 95.55%
Settled in at No. 6, Marquette University inspired students to “Be the Difference.” It’s that motto that drives the schools’ 95.55% job placement rate. The college promises that upon graduation you will be ready to change the world.
7. Illinois Wesleyan University
State: Illinois
City: Bloomington
Placement Rate: 95.45%
Curiosity killed the cat. Unless you’re a student at Illinois Wesleyan University, in which case your curiosity is not only welcomed but also embraced. Maybe that’s the reason the school has such a successful job placement rate. At 95.45% you’re sure to find a job upon graduation.
8. Providence College
State: Rhode Island
City: Providence
Placement Rate:95.28%
Providence College fills the No. 8 spot on the list of best colleges to getting a job. Students who attend here have a 95.28% chance of finding a job after graduation. That’s a pretty solid chance.
9. Saint Anselm College
State: New Hampshire
City: Manchester
Placement Rate:95.21%
Coming in at No. 9 is Saint Anselm College. The school is known for its delicious homemade food that every student enjoys, but did you also know that it has a really high job placement rate? At 95.21%, it shouldn’t take you too long to find a job after graduation.
10. Saint Johns University
State: Wikimedia Commons
City: Collegeville
Placement Rate: 95.16%
The 150-year-old traditions at Saint Johns University are all super important to students and faculty alike. But perhaps the most important thing to the school is the 95.16% job placement rate that it boasts.
These Colleges Excel At Preparing Students For The Workforce
In a time when many college students struggle to launch their careers, it is important to recognize colleges that set students up for success.
The 10 colleges above have the best job placement rate overall and in their state. Below we took it a step further and highlight the best college for getting a job in each state. After all, in state tuition can be a major benefit to starting your post-college life with low debt; Making these colleges a particularly desirous choice for many students in their home state looking to save money without cutting quality.
| State | College | Employment Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Auburn University | 91.39% |
| Alaska | University of Alaska Anchorage | 83.35% |
| Arizona | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | 92.13% |
| Arkansas | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | 93.06% |
| California | Samuel Merritt University | 94.46% |
| Colorado | Colorado School of Mines | 91.91% |
| Connecticut | Quinnipiac University | 96.10% |
| Delaware | University of Delaware | 93.82% |
| Florida | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach | 92.13% |
| Georgia | Spelman College | 92.69% |
| Hawaii | Hawaii Pacific University | 89.08% |
| Idaho | The College of Idaho | 90.04% |
| Illinois | Illinois Wesleyan University | 95.45% |
| Indiana | Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | 94.65% |
| Iowa | University of Dubuque | 94.72% |
| Kansas | Baker University | 93.10% |
| Kentucky | Georgetown College | 92.22% |
| Louisiana | Xavier University of Louisiana | 93.46% |
| Maine | University of New England | 93.65% |
| Maryland | Loyola University Maryland | 94.19% |
| Massachusetts | Stonehill College | 95.83% |
| Michigan | Kettering University | 94.13% |
| Minnesota | Saint Johns University | 95.16% |
| Mississippi | University of Mississippi | 91.42% |
| Missouri | Culver-Stockton College | 94.39% |
| Montana | Carroll College | 91.56% |
| Nebraska | University of Nebraska Medical Center | 94.96% |
| Nevada | University of Nevada-Reno | 88.75% |
| New Hampshire | Saint Anselm College | 95.21% |
| New Jersey | The College of New Jersey | 94.26% |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology | 87.12% |
| New York | Siena College | 95.13% |
| North Carolina | Elon University | 94.54% |
| North Dakota | University of North Dakota | 94.18% |
| Ohio | Ohio Northern University | 95.86% |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma Wesleyan University | 88.91% |
| Oregon | Linfield University-McMinnville Campus | 92.58% |
| Pennsylvania | Lebanon Valley College | 95.63% |
| Rhode Island | Providence College | 95.28% |
| South Carolina | Citadel Military College of South Carolina | 94.29% |
| South Dakota | Augustana University | 96.05% |
| Tennessee | Rhodes College | 92.78% |
| Texas | Trinity University | 93.52% |
| Utah | Westminster College | 88.38% |
| Vermont | Castleton University | 94.66% |
| Virginia | James Madison University | 94.35% |
| Washington | Gonzaga University | 91.73% |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Wesleyan College | 91.28% |
| Wisconsin | Marquette University | 95.55% |
| Wyoming | University of Wyoming | 88.61% |
Author
Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.
