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Top Large Colleges for Launching Your Career in 2026
Choosing the right college is a pivotal decision that can shape your career trajectory. With a wide range of options available, it’s natural to ponder how a different choice might have influenced your professional path. Given that your career will likely span several decades, it’s crucial to make an informed decision that aligns with your long-term goals and aspirations.
In this article, we explore the best large colleges in the United States based on their job placement rates, helping you to make a choice that enhances your future career prospects.
Top 10 Large Colleges
- James Madison University, Virginia
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia
- University of Delaware, Delaware
- University of Iowa, Iowa
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin
- University of Missouri-Columbia, Missouri
- Iowa State University, Iowa
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois
- Illinois State University, Illinois
Ready to embark on a successful career journey? These top colleges are well-equipped to guide you toward a bright future. For a more comprehensive list, check out the complete table of colleges below.
How We Determined This
Our analysis utilized data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) to identify four-year colleges with an enrollment of over 20,000 students in each state. We then cross-referenced this information with College Scorecard data, focusing on job placement rates ten years post-graduation to identify the institutions with the highest placement percentages.
1. James Madison University
State: Virginia
Job Placement: 94.35%
James Madison University tops our list with an impressive job placement rate of 94.35%. This high percentage suggests you’re almost guaranteed employment upon graduation.
2. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
State: Virginia
Job Placement: 93.83%
Virginia Tech ranks second with a job placement rate of 93.83%, reflecting its commitment to student success and career readiness.
3. University of Delaware
State: Delaware
Job Placement: 93.82%
The University of Delaware ranks third, with a solid job placement rate of 93.82%, ensuring graduates are well-prepared to enter the workforce.
4. University of Iowa
State: Iowa
Job Placement: 93.72%
The University of Iowa boasts a job placement rate of 93.72%, making it a top choice for students seeking successful careers post-graduation.
5. University of Wisconsin-Madison
State: Wisconsin
Job Placement: 93.38%
Ranked fifth, the University of Wisconsin-Madison has a job placement rate of 93.38%, indicating a strong support system for its graduates.
6. University of Missouri-Columbia
State: Missouri
Job Placement: 93.31%
The University of Missouri-Columbia makes the list at sixth place with a job placement rate of 93.31%, making it a favorable choice for prospective students.
7. Iowa State University
State: Iowa
Job Placement: 93.29%
Iowa State University ranks seventh, with a job placement rate of 93.29%, showcasing its effectiveness in preparing students for the job market.
8. University of Nebraska-Lincoln
State: Nebraska
Job Placement: 93.16%
At eighth place, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln offers a job placement rate of 93.16%, enhancing its attractiveness for students seeking employment after graduation.
9. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
State: Illinois
Job Placement: 93.14%
Ranked ninth, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign boasts a job placement rate of 93.14%, making it a reliable choice for aspiring graduates.
10. Illinois State University
State: Illinois
Job Placement: 93.13%
Concluding our list, Illinois State University ranks tenth with a job placement rate of 93.13%, ensuring a solid foundation for your career path.
Summary of the Best Large Colleges
Deciding on the right college can be challenging, with numerous factors to weigh. However, one of the most significant considerations is the institution’s ability to facilitate employment after graduation. Our research highlights the best large colleges based on their job placement rates, providing you with excellent options for your future.
Explore the complete table below for more educational institutions that can set you on the path to success.
| State | Institution | Job Placement |
|---|---|---|
| VA | James Madison University | 94.35% |
| VA | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | 93.83% |
| DE | University of Delaware | 93.82% |
| IA | University of Iowa | 93.72% |
| WI | University of Wisconsin-Madison | 93.38% |
| MO | University of Missouri-Columbia | 93.31% |
| IA | Iowa State University | 93.29% |
| NE | University of Nebraska-Lincoln | 93.16% |
| IL | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | 93.14% |
| IL | Illinois State University | 93.13% |
| NY | Syracuse University | 93.11% |
| MA | Northeastern University | 93.06% |
| CT | University of Connecticut | 93.04% |
| MI | Michigan State University | 92.80% |
| PA | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | 92.65% |
| SC | Clemson University | 92.51% |
| GA | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus | 92.51% |
| MD | Towson University | 92.48% |
| MN | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | 92.47% |
| KS | University of Kansas | 92.31% |
| PA | Drexel University | 92.25% |
| MA | Boston University | 92.17% |
| MI | Western Michigan University | 92.17% |
| VA | University of Virginia-Main Campus | 92.14% |
| IN | Ball State University | 92.13% |
| NY | Cornell University | 92.09% |
| MA | University of Massachusetts-Amherst | 92.07% |
| IN | Indiana University-Bloomington | 92.02% |
| PA | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | 92.02% |
| MI | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | 91.93% |
| NC | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | 91.92% |
| MI | Grand Valley State University | 91.91% |
| LA | Louisiana State University and Agricultural Mechanical College | 91.87% |
| IL | Northwestern University | 91.87% |
| IN | Purdue University-Main Campus | 91.87% |
| TX | The University of Texas at Austin | 91.79% |
| KY | University of Kentucky | 91.68% |
| WI | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | 91.63% |
| NY | University at Buffalo | 91.62% |
| MD | Johns Hopkins University | 91.60% |
| NJ | Rutgers University-New Brunswick | 91.58% |
| MS | University of Mississippi | 91.42% |
| AL | Auburn University | 91.39% |
| OH | Ohio State University-Main Campus | 91.34% |
| DC | George Washington University | 91.27% |
| SC | University of South Carolina-Columbia | 91.26% |
| FL | University of Florida | 91.23% |
| KS | Kansas State University | 91.17% |
| CA | University of Southern California | 91.17% |
| NC | East Carolina University | 91.16% |
| CA | University of California-Santa Barbara | 91.09% |
| WV | West Virginia University | 91.03% |
| TX | Texas Tech University | 90.92% |
| VA | Virginia Commonwealth University | 90.88% |
| NC | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 90.86% |
| CA | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 90.84% |
| FL | Florida State University | 90.79% |
| TX | Texas A M University-College Station | 90.79% |
| MD | University of Maryland-College Park | 90.79% |
| GA | University of Georgia | 90.65% |
| TN | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | 90.52% |
| IL | University of Illinois at Chicago | 90.50% |
| MO | Missouri State University-Springfield | 90.48% |
| CO | Colorado State University-Fort Collins | 90.46% |
| FL | University of Central Florida | 90.42% |
| GA | Georgia Southern University | 90.39% |
| AL | The University of Alabama | 90.37% |
| TX | Texas State University | 90.36% |
| PA | University of Pennsylvania | 90.28% |
| NJ | Montclair State University | 90.25% |
| CA | University of California-Riverside | 90.21% |
| CA | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | 90.20% |
| TX | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | 90.16% |
| PA | Temple University | 90.14% |
| WA | Washington State University | 90.11% |
| NY | St John’s University-New York | 90.10% |
| VA | Old Dominion University | 90.05% |
| MS | Mississippi State University | 90.02% |
| OR | Oregon State University | 89.95% |
| TX | The University of Texas at Arlington | 89.92% |
| TX | Sam Houston State University | 89.90% |
| NC | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | 89.88% |
| CA | University of California-Irvine | 89.77% |
| CA | University of California-Davis | 89.74% |
| NC | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | 89.59% |
| TX | University of North Texas | 89.59% |
| NY | New York University | 89.57% |
| TX | University of Houston | 89.56% |
| CO | University of Colorado Boulder | 89.52% |
| CA | California State University-Fresno | 89.46% |
| CA | California State University-Long Beach | 89.44% |
| CA | California State University-Sacramento | 89.40% |
| CA | San Jose State University | 89.39% |
| NH | Southern New Hampshire University | 89.38% |
| VA | George Mason University | 89.33% |
| CA | San Diego State University | 89.30% |
| FL | University of South Florida-Main Campus | 89.30% |
| TX | The University of Texas at El Paso | 89.28% |
| OH | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | 89.23% |
Author
Amanda Postma is a writer for the Zippia Career Advice blog with a focus on creating entertaining content to help you through your job search. She received her BA from the University Of Missouri-Columbia.
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