A total of 51 US universities appear in the Global University Employability Ranking 2020, designed by HR consultancy Emerging and published exclusively by Times Higher Education. The ranking reveals which universities recruiters at top companies think are the best at preparing students for the workplace.
The top 10 includes many of the usual suspects – Harvard University, the California Institute of Technology and Stanford University – but also New York University, which is not always found at the top of university rankings.
Tuition fees at US colleges vary widely, particularly for international students, so value for money arguably depends on both the cost of tuition and the likelihood that graduates will succeed in their future career.
A number of state universities in the US, such as the University of California, Berkeley, which generally have lower tuition fees, do particularly well when evaluated by employers.
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Top three universities in the US for graduate employability
1. California Institute of Technology
According to the Caltech website, a high percentage of graduates go straight into the workforce. Many of these students have been recruited on campus.
The Career Development Center at the university provides networking sessions and twice-annual careers fairs to assist students in finding a job. Some 150 recruiters from various fields are present at each fair.
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Graduates of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have helped to develop some of the most innovative technologies of today, such as 3D printing and bionic prostheses.
Among MIT’s alumni are 89 Nobel laureates, 58 National Medal of Science winners and 48 MacArthur fellows.
3. Harvard University
Harvard is not only one of the most prestigious universities in the world, it is also the top choice for recruiters, for many reasons.
Students are taught by world-leading academics and can take advantage of events on campus outside the core curriculum, on topics ranging from Chilean film to the psychology of prosperity.
Alumni are supplied with a HarvardKey, which gives them access to an alumni directory to help them build a strong professional network.
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Top universities in the United States for graduate employability 2020
Click each institution to view its full World University Rankings 2021 results