The United States of America has some of the most prestigious schools in the world. Students who graduate from them are believed to be some of the best minds, making them instantly attractive to employers. Hence, these universities have high employability rates.
However, identifying what makes these schools so special can be tricky. That is why this article provides vital information on the top schools in the USA that have the most employable graduates. Read till the end for all the details.
Where Do Universities in the USA Stand in Global Rankings for Graduate Employability?
For the past few years, American universities suffered a decline in employability due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even before that, the United States’ employability score fell by 51% or 2000 points in the past ten years (2010 to 2020). Despite all these, though, the nation has retained its spot as among countries with the most reputed universities, whose graduates are sought-after by companies.
Such impressive performance may be because the country’s most prestigious universities, such as the California Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard University, still dominate the university ranking charts. Thus, they have sustained high employability rates amidst setbacks like the pandemic and global inflation.
Which University in the USA Has the Most Employable Graduates?
Massachusetts Institute of Technology tops the list of universities with the most employable graduates in the USA. It was ranked first by Times Higher Education (THE) Global Employability Rankings in 2021 after a survey involving 11,000 international recruiters across 23 countries.
An MIT degree is attractive because students who graduate from the school are considered brilliant, dedicated, and innovative. They are also known to have gained experience in various fields before graduating because the school allows them to work 20 hours a week.
MIT also ensures students have access to employers by organizing annual career fairs. In these fairs, over 400 companies like Apple, Google, and Amazon meet the students, scout talents, and encourage them to work with them.
Best Schools in the USA with High Employability Rates
If you want a great job even as a fresh graduate, you should study at the best universities in the USA with high employability rates. They are the following:
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a prestigious institution with the highest employability rate in the world. It is well known for providing students with knowledge that supports intellectual stimulation, thereby ensuring they can work both effectively and creatively.
Students who graduate from this school have advanced knowledge in science and technology, making them worthy contributors to today’s technologically advancing industry. The school has also produced notable alumni, such as Jun H. Choi, the former Mayor of Edison, New Jersey, and Sanju K. Bansal, co-founder of MicroStrategy.
2. California Institute of Technology
Recognized as one of the best US institutions with high employability rates in the engineering and science sectors, the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) produces students who deeply understand the fundamentals of science and are interested in finding solutions to societal challenges.
Interestingly, Caltech manages famous and impactful organizations like NASA. The two often collaborate in exploring our solar system and studying the changes on Earth and other planets.
In addition, the school operates an international network of seismological laboratories and astronomical observatories. Having access to all these organizations and facilities makes Caltech graduates desirable to science-based or technological institutions like SpaceX and Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
3. Harvard University
Harvard University is a member of the prestigious Ivy League and one of the world’s most famous private institutions. Its world-class education, cutting-edge technology, expert professors, and dynamic student community enable it to produce the most intellectual, ambitious, and talented individuals, which recruiters find impressive.
Employers also believe Harvard graduates have broad experience. Such experience makes them much more skilled and enthusiastic about contributing to whichever institution or company they find themselves in.
4. Stanford University
Founded in 1891, Stanford University is a top-rated private research university that educates students to become visionary leaders with advanced knowledge, creativity, and problem-solving skills. Such qualities make Stanford grads instant favorites among employers, allowing it to join this list of US universities with high employability rates.
Employers also believe that students who graduate from Stanford University offer a fresh perspective, which makes them more open-minded. This attribute is crucial as it enables them to create and consider different angles and decisions at the workplace.
Such a belief has been proven true by the alumni of the school, which include Rishi Sunak, the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and Herbert Hoover, the former president of the United States.
5. Princeton University
Princeton University ranks number nine on the Global Employability University Ranking and Survey (GEURS). The school, which was founded in 1746, has shown remarkable effort toward training passionate students who believe in finding a worthy pursuit that benefits society. They are driven to impact their community and workplace through research and service.
Employers believe that such a passion is a remarkable quality needed by any organization to grow. Combine that with Princeton grads’ abundance of hard and soft skills, these students become readily employable in government organizations, hospitals, schools, and entertainment. In these institutions, they can be of service to humanity and make resourceful contributions.
6. Yale University
Since its founding in 1701, Yale University has been consistently training world leaders interested in preserving scientific and cultural information. It also actively promotes diversity, ensuring that there are many different minds from varying backgrounds that contribute to discussions and brainstorming moments.
The benefit of diversity extends beyond the university. Since several employers are looking to make their companies more diverse, they seek minority grads who are self-sufficient, adaptable, risk-takers, and initiators. To find such people, they discovered that Yale is a good place to start with. Therefore, Yale is among the best universities in the US for minority students as they have high employability rates for the said demographic.
Yale has also produced notable alumni such as Sarah Hughes, an Olympic figure skater, and Harvey Cushing, a brain surgery pioneer. You may join that impressive list soon enough!
7. Columbia University
Columbia University (CU) is ranked by GEURS as the school with the 13th highest employability rate. Formerly called Kings College until 1784, this institution is considered one of the most vital research centers. Since it is located in one of the largest cities in the world, CU attracts a diverse, international, and inclusive body of academics, which encourages the growth of advanced learning, research, creativity, and innovative reasoning.
CU graduates are also brilliant and well-knowledgeable in their field of study. That then makes them highly attractive to employers who are looking for bright minds who can ensure the success of their brand and organization.
8. New York University
Since New York University (NYU) was established in 1831, the school has become one of the most respected research universities worldwide. It provides rigorous, demanding, and up-to-date academic instruction to students who will become some of the best minds in government, art, science, and other fields.
Employers believe that students who graduate from NYU with degrees in business, commerce, computer, information science, and social science are efficient and well-experienced since they are allowed to work while studying.
9. University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley was established in 1868 and has built a community of people with intellectual, social, and economic value. Its graduates contribute to the growth and development of various sectors globally. Such an impact is a result of the institution’s impeccable mentorship, which can also be credited for its placement in this list of US universities with highly employable grads.
As such, employers want UC Berkeley grads to be part of their organization so they can add value, solve problems, pitch innovative ideas, and help beat competitors. Graduates from this school are also considered professionals with impressive leadership skills that are needed to move an organization forward.
10. Boston University
Boston University is one of the best universities where you can obtain a degree. Why so? Well, firstly, this school is also recognized by the Association of American Universities (AAU), a prestigious association that identifies the top research institutions in the USA. It also produced many bright minds like American activist Martin Luther King Jr. and actress Julianne Moore.
That recognition and impressive alum list combined with the university’s rigorous and innovative educational program allow a BU degree to open doors to several job opportunities. In addition, recruiters see Boston graduates as people invested in building a meaningful career and dedicated to developing progress-driven ideas.
11. Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a renowned private university that uses cutting-edge technology and impressive academic techniques. Such an approach allowed it to produce graduates with admirable leadership skills, interpersonal skills, problem-solving ability, and in-depth disciplinary knowledge.
Recruiters also see CMU graduates as world-class talent who are creative. They are deemed impactful, transparent, accountable, and committed to creating transformative and entrepreneurial values for an organization. Lastly, they are perceived as driven and committed to using and achieving their full potential.
12. Duke University
Duke University was established in 1838. It was able to join this list of universities in the US with high employability rates because it dedicated years to building a community of world-class talent. These talents create a collaborative work environment where research, innovation, entrepreneurship, technology, and leadership thrive. Therefore, when they move out of the university walls, several graduates of the institution provide value to their employees or companies.
Duke University graduates also have impressive resumes, excellent interpersonal skills, and ample work experience, which they derived from internships & part-time jobs. They also have the drive to attain success, which are some of the reasons employees would like them in their organization.
13. Arizona State University
Arizona State University is one of the best public schools worldwide. It provides students with access to suitable and valuable resources. Its professors are also highly supportive and ready to keep the students engaged.
Although its courses encompass many fields, ASU is best regarded for its journalism program. Thus, it has become a go-to institution for both media houses that are hiring aspiring journalists.
Besides its journalism grads, ASU completers from business, finance, and agriculture programs are in high demand.
14. Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University (JHU) was established in 1876. It revolutionized university education in the United States by introducing teaching and research. It also encouraged the scientific discovery of new ideas and knowledge. These are among the reasons JHU is part of this list of US universities with high employability rates, as its graduates have a great understanding of applied science and the importance of research in attaining incredible success in various fields.
Hence, employers in the marketing industry, medicine, automotive industry, biotechnology, and media industries are more than willing to employ students who graduate from JHU. The students’ contributions are projected to be valuable, and the ideas they will come up with are hoped to bring immense improvements.
15. Georgia Institute of Technology
Established in 1876, Georgia Institute of Technology (GT or Georgia Tech) offers high-quality academic instruction in civil, electrical, environmental, chemical engineering, and other technical fields.
Georgia Tech has produced notable people such as Retired Vice Admiral Richard H. Truly, the eighth administrator of NASA, and Kary Mullis, who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1993. Georgia Tech’s development of innovative individuals makes it attractive for employers looking to hire graduates in various fields of science and technology.
The high employability rates of universities in the USA result from the value employers believe they can acquire when they employ graduates from these schools. As such, the only burden left on graduates from this school is to prove that they are, indeed, some of the best minds in this industry.
We hope this article has provided you insight into US universities with high employability rates. If you want to know more about finding work in the US after graduating as an international student, read this article.
