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The Best College In Each State For Getting A Job

By Ryan Morris
Mar. 28, 2017
Last Modified and Fact Checked on:

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For college freshmen in 2026, securing a job post-graduation has become increasingly crucial. Students are more discerning than ever about the colleges they choose, seeking institutions that can effectively support their career aspirations.

According to a survey from the Higher Education Research Institute, a significant 60.1% of incoming students now view the job placement success of a college’s alumni as “very important,” a trend that has steadily risen over the years. This highlights a growing awareness that finding a job after graduation is not guaranteed.

Not all institutions are created equal. Some colleges offer robust support systems to enhance their students’ employment prospects. To spotlight these exemplary universities, we at Zippia have compiled a list of the best colleges in each state based on their job placement ratings.

The rankings are derived from data sourced from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and the College Scorecard. Here’s a look at the top ten colleges:

  1. Virginia Military Institute — Virginia
  2. Saint John’s University — Minnesota
  3. Assumption College — Massachusetts
  4. Hastings College — Nebraska
  5. Wartburg College — Iowa
  6. Saint Michael’s College — Vermont
  7. Rhodes College — Tennessee
  8. University of Mary — North Dakota
  9. Susquehanna University — Pennsylvania
  10. Illinois Wesleyan University — Illinois

We identified the college in each state with the highest job placement rates, focusing on employment levels ten years after graduation. Each school’s rating was rounded to three decimal places, along with the city location of each college.

If you’re preparing to enter the workforce, consider browsing jobs by your college major or learning about effective job-seeking strategies.

Now, let’s dive into the detailed rankings.

1. Virginia

  • College: Virginia Military Institute
  • City: Lexington
  • Placement Rate: 96.594%
  • VMI’s rigorous academics and high standards play a significant role in attracting employers, alongside its unique military training programs.

2. Minnesota

  • College: Saint John’s University
  • City: Collegeville
  • Placement Rate: 96.402%
  • Once the site of lively discussions about naming conventions, Collegeville now celebrates its educational legacy.

3. Massachusetts

  • College: Assumption College
  • City: Worcester
  • Placement Rate: 96.205%
  • A Roman Catholic institution with notable alumni, Assumption College continues to contribute to various professional fields.

4. Nebraska

  • College: Hastings College
  • City: Hastings
  • Placement Rate: 96.065%
  • Recognized as a “best buy” school, Hastings College is noted for its affordability and quality education.

5. Iowa

  • College: Wartburg College
  • City: Waverly
  • Placement Rate: 95.995%
  • Wartburg, Iowa’s sole private college offering a music therapy major, is proud of its commitment to leadership and service.

6. Vermont

  • College: Saint Michael’s College
  • City: Colchester
  • Placement Rate: 95.766%
  • Located near stunning Burlington, VT, Saint Michael’s College offers a picturesque setting for education.

7. Tennessee

  • College: Rhodes College
  • City: Memphis
  • Placement Rate: 95.765%
  • Renowned for its mock trial program, Rhodes College prepares many graduates for successful legal careers.

8. North Dakota

  • College: University of Mary
  • City: Bismarck
  • Placement Rate: 95.669%
  • The University of Mary stands out as North Dakota’s only private Catholic institution, fostering a unique educational environment.

9. Pennsylvania

  • College: Susquehanna University
  • City: Selinsgrove
  • Placement Rate: 95.455%
  • Susquehanna is recognized as one of the top liberal arts colleges, with a focus on preparing students for professional success.

10. Illinois

  • College: Illinois Wesleyan University
  • City: Bloomington
  • Placement Rate: 95.367%
  • Illinois Wesleyan boasts a rich history and notable alumni, including influential figures in conservation.

Job Placement Ratings: An Overview

No college can guarantee employment, yet many strive to maintain their reputations based on alumni success. With the increasing importance of job placement rates for prospective students, transparency in these figures is critical.

As highlighted by a recent Hechinger Report article, some institutions may misrepresent their placement rates, with insufficient oversight in reporting practices. This lack of transparency can complicate students’ choices.

Fortunately, organizations like the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) remain dedicated to providing unbiased educational data, ensuring the integrity of job placement statistics.

State Institute Name City Median Earnings After 10 Years Median Earnings After 6 Years Percentage Of Grads Employed After 10 Years Rank
Alabama Birmingham Southern College Birmingham 45,300 30,200 92.17% 35
Alaska University Of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks 43,300 35,000 83.14% 50
Arizona Universal Technical Institute Of Arizona Inc Avondale 45,500 35,700 89.39% 44
Arkansas Hendrix College Conway 44,500 29,000 90.88% 40
California Santa Clara University Santa Clara 81,000 51,900 92.24% 34
Colorado Colorado School Of Mines Golden 82,300 66,200 93.08% 29
Connecticut Fairfield University Fairfield 76,700 54,800 94.99% 12
Delaware University Of Delaware Newark 59,000 44,100 93.97% 23
Florida Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach Daytona Beach 65,500 50,100 92.51% 31
Georgia Spelman College Atlanta 49,900 34,800 93.67% 27
Hawaii University Of Hawaii At Manoa Honolulu 51,000 37,600 87.13% 47
Idaho University Of Idaho Moscow 45,600 33,900 88.39% 45
Illinois Illinois Wesleyan University Bloomington 62,100 43,100 95.37% 10
Indiana Rose-Hulman Institute Of Technology Terre Haute 78,200 64,800 94.5% 16
Iowa Wartburg College Waverly 47,100 36,600 95.99% 5
Kansas Kansas State University Manhattan 48,600 37,800 91.49% 39
Kentucky Transylvania University Lexington 45,000 29,300 94.17% 20
Louisiana Xavier University Of Louisiana New Orleans 58,900 44,700 92.01% 36
Maine Bates College Lewiston 62,000 42,500 93.75% 26
Maryland Goucher College Baltimore 49,400 31,000 93.8% 24
Massachusetts Assumption College Worcester 55,800 40,700 96.21% 3
Michigan Kettering University Flint 73,900 62,600 95.25% 11
Minnesota Saint John’s University Collegeville 66,200 42,600 96.4% 2
Mississippi University Of Mississippi University 52,700 41,600 90.77% 41
Missouri Northwest Missouri State University Maryville 43,400 31,500 92.9% 30
Montana Carroll College Helena 46,700 36,700 91.7% 38
Nebraska Hastings College Hastings 44,500 34,400 96.06% 4
Nevada University Of Nevada-Las Vegas Las Vegas 48,400 36,600 87.1% 48
New Hampshire Keene State College Keene 42,300 32,500 94.37% 18
New Jersey The College Of New Jersey Ewing 61,000 44,600 93.51% 28
New Mexico University Of Phoenix-Albuquerque Campus Albuquerque 60,500 44,300 87.33% 46
New York Clarkson University Potsdam 69,500 54,000 94.46% 17
North Carolina Wake Forest University Winston Salem 78,800 52,300 93.78% 25
North Dakota University Of Mary Bismarck 50,100 42,100 95.67% 8
Ohio University Of Dayton Dayton 58,500 43,100 94.86% 13
Oklahoma Oklahoma City University Oklahoma City 45,100 40,400 90.53% 42
Oregon Linfield College-Mcminnville Campus Mcminnville 54,200 46,000 92.33% 32
Pennsylvania Susquehanna University Selinsgrove 55,000 39,500 95.45% 9
Rhode Island Bryant University Smithfield 67,300 51,000 94.2% 19
South Carolina Citadel Military College Of South Carolina Charleston 55,100 40,500 94.06% 22
South Dakota Dakota State University Madison 41,900 32,700 94.14% 21
Tennessee Rhodes College Memphis 65,000 40,800 95.77% 7
Texas Southwestern University Georgetown 54,000 37,500 94.57% 15
Utah Westminster College Salt Lake City 51,500 42,600 85.54% 49
Vermont Saint Michael’s College Colchester 51,400 38,300 95.77% 6
Virginia Virginia Military Institute Lexington 60,000 42,000 96.59% 1
Washington University Of Puget Sound Tacoma 55,100 37,400 92.33% 33
West Virginia Wheeling Jesuit University Wheeling 48,000 37,800 91.93% 37
Wisconsin University Of Wisconsin-Platteville Platteville 48,300 38,500 94.7% 14
Wyoming Wyotech-Laramie Laramie 44,700 38,300 90.25% 43

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Author

Ryan Morris

Ryan Morris was a writer for the Zippia Advice blog who tried to make the job process a little more entertaining for all those involved. He obtained his BA and Masters from Appalachian State University.

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