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The Best Mid-Sized Colleges for Securing a Job in 2026
Choosing the right college can be a challenging process, but securing a job after graduation can be even more daunting. In 2026, as the job market continues to evolve, mid-sized colleges offer an ideal balance—providing personalized attention while still offering a diverse range of programs and networking opportunities.
Our focus on mid-sized colleges aims to highlight institutions that excel in job placement, helping you ease the stress of post-graduation employment. We have ranked these colleges based on their job placement rates, offering you insights into the best options available.
Here are the top 10 mid-sized colleges that can help set you on the path to career success:
Top 10 Schools for Job Placement
- Quinnipiac University
- Fairfield University
- University of Wisconsin-Platteville
- Bentley University
- Merrimack College
- Creighton University
- Elon University
- MCPHS University
- Winona State University
- SUNY Cortland
These institutions not only have impressive job placement rates but also foster an environment geared towards student success. Keep reading for a comprehensive list of A+ schools.
How We Determined This
To compile this list, we utilized data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and focused on colleges with an enrollment range of 5,000 to 19,999 students. We then cross-referenced this list with information from College Scorecard to identify institutions with the highest job placement rates, specifically looking at employment levels 10 years post-graduation.
Our selection process involved choosing the college with the highest job placement rate in each state, rounding rates to the nearest decimal point for ease of comparison.
1. Quinnipiac University
State: Connecticut
Job Placement: 96.10%
Quinnipiac University leads our list with an impressive job placement rate of 96.1%. Graduates can feel confident that their investment in education will pay off swiftly.
2. Fairfield University
State: Connecticut
Job Placement: 95.56%
Fairfield University, ranked second, boasts a job placement rate of 95.56%, demonstrating its commitment to student success and career readiness.
3. University of Wisconsin-Platteville
State: Wisconsin
Job Placement: 95.32%
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville ranks third with a job placement rate of 95.32%, making it a strong contender for those looking to launch their careers.
4. Bentley University
State: Massachusetts
Job Placement: 94.81%
Bentley University ranks fourth with a job placement rate of 94.81%, reflecting its strong focus on career-oriented education.
5. Merrimack College
State: Massachusetts
Job Placement: 94.55%
Merrimack College secures fifth place with a job placement rate of 94.55%, providing graduates with ample career opportunities.
6. Creighton University
State: Nebraska
Job Placement: 94.54%
Creighton University is tied for sixth place with a job placement rate of 94.54%, underscoring its dedication to student outcomes.
7. Elon University
State: North Carolina
Job Placement: 94.54%
Elon University shares the sixth position with a job placement rate of 94.54%, highlighting its strong career support services.
8. MCPHS University
State: Massachusetts
Job Placement: 94.54%
MCPHS University rounds out the sixth spot with a matching job placement rate of 94.54%, emphasizing its commitment to graduate employability.
9. Winona State University
State: Minnesota
Job Placement: 94.50%
Winona State University, with a job placement rate of 94.5%, is a solid choice for graduates eager to jumpstart their careers.
10. SUNY Cortland
State: New York
Job Placement: 94.44%
SUNY Cortland completes our top 10 list with a job placement rate of 94.44%, ensuring promising job prospects for its graduates.
Summary of the Best Mid-Sized Colleges
These mid-sized colleges not only provide academic excellence but also excel in job placement, offering students the best chance at employment after graduation. Below is a table showcasing additional colleges with strong job placement rates, proving that these institutions are committed to your career success.
| State | Institution | Job Placement |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | Quinnipiac University | 96.10% |
| Connecticut | Fairfield University | 95.56% |
| Wisconsin | University of Wisconsin-Platteville | 95.32% |
| Massachusetts | Bentley University | 94.81% |
| Massachusetts | Merrimack College | 94.55% |
| Nebraska | Creighton University | 94.54% |
| North Carolina | Elon University | 94.54% |
| Massachusetts | MCPHS University | 94.54% |
| Minnesota | Winona State University | 94.50% |
| New York | SUNY Cortland | 94.44% |
| Indiana | Butler University | 94.32% |
| New York | Ithaca College | 94.30% |
| Missouri | Truman State University | 94.30% |
| New Jersey | The College of New Jersey | 94.26% |
| Pennsylvania | University of Scranton | 94.21% |
| Maryland | Loyola University Maryland | 94.19% |
| Pennsylvania | Lehigh University | 94.15% |
| Wisconsin | University of Wisconsin-Stout | 94.13% |
| Pennsylvania | Duquesne University | 94.12% |
| Connecticut | University of New Haven | 94.11% |
| Massachusetts | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | 94.03% |
| Connecticut | Sacred Heart University | 93.91% |
| New York | SUNY Oneonta | 93.81% |
| Illinois | Bradley University | 93.79% |
| Wisconsin | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point | 93.74% |
| Pennsylvania | Saint Joseph’s University | 93.73% |
| Maine | University of New England | 93.65% |
| Minnesota | Southwest Minnesota State University | 93.61% |
| Massachusetts | Westfield State University | 93.61% |
| Wisconsin | University of Wisconsin-River Falls | 93.56% |
| Illinois | Eastern Illinois University | 93.52% |
| New York | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | 93.52% |
| Pennsylvania | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | 93.52% |
| Wisconsin | University of Wisconsin-Green Bay | 93.50% |
| Ohio | Xavier University | 93.44% |
| Pennsylvania | Thomas Jefferson University | 93.42% |
| Maryland | Salisbury University | 93.40% |
| New York | SUNY College at Geneseo | 93.34% |
| Minnesota | University of St Thomas | 93.27% |
| Nebraska | University of Nebraska at Kearney | 93.25% |
| Pennsylvania | Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | 93.16% |
| Texas | Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center | 93.16% |
| Pennsylvania | East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | 93.13% |
| New Jersey | Ramapo College of New Jersey | 93.10% |
| Connecticut | University of Hartford | 93.02% |
| Michigan | Michigan Technological University | 93.00% |
| Massachusetts | Fitchburg State University | 92.99% |
| Massachusetts | University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | 92.83% |
| New York | SUNY College at Plattsburgh | 92.78% |
| California | University of the Pacific | 92.75% |
| North Carolina | Wake Forest University | 92.73% |
| Illinois | Lewis University | 92.71% |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island College | 92.66% |
| Illinois | Western Illinois University | 92.51% |
| Minnesota | Minnesota State University Moorhead | 92.49% |
| Texas | The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston | 92.46% |
| Pennsylvania | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | 92.38% |
| Missouri | Northwest Missouri State University | 92.37% |
| New York | SUNY College at Brockport | 92.18% |
| Florida | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach | 92.13% |
| South Dakota | University of South Dakota | 92.12% |
| Pennsylvania | Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania | 92.06% |
| Minnesota | Concordia University-Saint Paul | 92.04% |
| California | Loyola Marymount University | 92.04% |
| Pennsylvania | Millersville University of Pennsylvania | 92.02% |
| New Jersey | Stevens Institute of Technology | 92.00% |
| Missouri | Missouri University of Science and Technology | 91.99% |
| Colorado | Colorado School of Mines | 91.91% |
| Georgia | Augusta University | 91.88% |
| Virginia | William & Mary | 91.87% |
| New York | Adelphi University | 91.84% |
| New Jersey | Monmouth University | 91.83% |
| New York | Molloy College | 91.81% |
| California | Santa Clara University | 91.79% |
| Louisiana | Southern University and A & M College | 91.77% |
| Washington | Gonzaga University | 91.73% |
| Tennessee | Belmont University | 91.69% |
| New York | SUNY College at Oswego | 91.65% |
| Connecticut | Western Connecticut State University | 91.62% |
| New Jersey | Rutgers University-Camden | 91.58% |
| Minnesota | Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota | 91.57% |
| Ohio | Ashland University | 91.50% |
| New York | SUNY Buffalo State | 91.50% |
| Connecticut | Southern Connecticut State University | 91.45% |
| Maryland | Frostburg State University | 91.40% |
| Massachusetts | Salem State University | 91.39% |
| Texas | Texas A & M International University | 91.33% |
| Illinois | Aurora University | 91.30% |
| Massachusetts | Framingham State University | 91.27% |
| Washington, D.C. | The Catholic University of America | 91.27% |
| Missouri | Lindenwood University | 91.25% |
| New York | Marist College | 91.25% |
| Michigan | Saginaw Valley State University | 91.21% |
| Maryland | Bowie State University | 91.19% |
| Massachusetts | Simmons University | 91.17% |
| Virginia | Norfolk State University | 91.16% |
| New Jersey | Stockton University | 91.15% |
| Wisconsin | Concordia University-Wisconsin | 91.10% |
| Washington, D.C. | Howard University | 90.98% |
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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