Find a Job You Really Want In
While college is a time of personal and professional growth, for many students it is an expensive investment in their future.
Students attend college with the expectation of securing gainful employment. However, not all schools are equal in job placement success.
Some colleges are vastly more supportive of their students’ post-graduation concerns than others. In particular, small colleges, with smaller class sizes and a stronger sense of community, do an excellent job at setting students up for success.
To help bring attention to exceptional small schools, we at Zippia put together a list of the top small schools for getting a job.
Best Small Colleges For Jobs
- South Dakota – Augustana University
- Ohio – Ohio Northern University
- Massachusetts – Stonehill College
- Pennsylvania – Lebanon Valley College
- Illinois – Illinois Wesleyan University
- Rhode Island – Providence College
- New Hampshire – Saint Anselm College
- Minnesota – Saint Johns University
- New York – Siena College
- Iowa – University of Dubuque
These 10 small colleges are the best for job placement. Did your state not make the top 10? Keep reading to see the best small college in your state.
How We Determined This
Using information found on the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) , we searched for the college in each state with an enrollment level between 1,000 to 5,000
From there, we cross-referenced the small colleges with data from College Scorecard to find the highest listed job placement ratings, looking at employment levels 10 years after students have graduated.
From there, we selected the institution with the highest job placement rate in each state. For the purposes of readability, we rounded each school’s placement to the nearest decimal point.
1. South Dakota – Augustana University
Institution: Augustana University
City: Sioux Falls
Placement Rate: 96.1%
Augustana University is the #1 small college for securing a job, out of more than 1,000 schools. An impressive 96% of alumni are gainfully employed, thanks to the education and support provided by this South Dakota school.
2. Ohio – Ohio Northern University
Institution: Ohio Northern University
City: Ada
Placement Rate: 95.9%
Ohio Northern University is one of best schools in the state for preparing students for success. The private, United Methodist Church affiliated school will surely appeal to students seeking to continue their education at a private religious institution. Those who attend can be reassured by the high job placement rate of 95.9%.
3. Massachusetts – Stonehill College
Institution: Stonehill College
City: Easton
Placement Rate: 95.8%
Stonehill College has the highest job placement rate of any college in Massachusetts, of 95.8%. In addition to excellent job prospects, Stonehill offers its students a tight-knit community feel with intimate class sizes. The school boasts a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 100 programs in the liberal arts, sciences and business.
4. Pennsylvania – Lebanon Valley College
Institution: Lebanon Valley College
City: Annville
Placement Rate: 95.6%
In Pennsylvania, small Lebanon Valley College has big results when it comes to graduating students ready to enter the workforce. LVC boasts an 95.6% job placement rate.
5. Illinois – Illinois Wesleyan University
Institution: Illinois Wesleyan University
City: Bloomington
Placement Rate: 95.5%
llinois Wesleyan University is a liberal arts schools with exceptional job placement rates. The school has a fairly selective acceptance rate of 59%. However, students who get in are treated to a world-class education that leaves them ready to hit the job market.
6. Rhode Island – Providence College
Institution: Providence College
City: Providence
Placement Rate: 95.3%
Providence College is one of the “bigger” small colleges on this list. Students looking for a balance between a small community feel and exiting social opportunities will find this Rhode Island school particularly appealing.
7. New Hampshire – Saint Anselm College
Institution: Saint Anselm College
City: Manchester
Placement Rate: 95.2%
Saint Anselm has the highest job placement rate of any small college in New Hampshire. 95% of students successfully land a job from their education at St. Anselm.
8. Minnesota – Saint Johns University
Institution: Saint Johns University
City: Collegeville
Placement Rate: 95.2%
St. Johns University carries an impressive 150 year legacy. But that is not it’s only legacy- St. Johns has a track record and history of success. This includes students successfully launching their careers upon graduation.
9. New York – Siena College
Institution: Siena College
City: Loudonville
Placement Rate: 95.1%
Siena Colleges has the highest job placement rate in New York- a distinguished 95%. Students who attend Siena can choose between 36 majors, 80-plus minors and certificates, and prestigious joint-degree programs in liberal arts, science and business. While different choices may appeal to different students, judging by the placement numbers all will find the job market welcoming.
10. Iowa – University of Dubuque
Institution: University of Dubuque
City: Dubuque
Placement Rate: 94.7%
The University of Dubuque sets its students up to land the job they want. Their placement rate of 94.7% shows what current students already know- the education is quality, and the school offers a network of support. About 2,200 students attend the university, making it the perfect choose for those who want an excellent private education with small class sizes to flourish.
Where You Go To School Matters
The data doesn’t lie. Some colleges quite simply doing a better job of setting their students up for success. The ten colleges featured above have the best job placement rates for small colleges.
However, choosing the right college for you, is more than just one factor. Geographic location, extracurricular activities, fields of study, and more can all contribute to finding the perfect school for you. Below is a list of the best small college in each state, that might help narrow day your choices
The Best Small College For Getting A Job In Each State
| State | Institution | Placement Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Birmingham-Southern College | 90.9% |
| Alaska | University of Alaska Southeast | 81.3% |
| Arizona | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | 92.1% |
| Arkansas | Hendrix College | 89.3% |
| California | Samuel Merritt University | 94.5% |
| Colorado | Colorado College | 89.6% |
| Connecticut | University of Connecticut-Stamford | 93.0% |
| Delaware | Wesley College | 92.9% |
| Florida | University of Florida-Online | 91.2% |
| Georgia | Spelman College | 92.7% |
| Hawaii | Hawaii Pacific University | 89.1% |
| Idaho | The College of Idaho | 90.0% |
| Illinois | Illinois Wesleyan University | 95.5% |
| Indiana | Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | 94.7% |
| Iowa | University of Dubuque | 94.7% |
| Kansas | Baker University | 93.1% |
| Kentucky | Union College | 94.2% |
| Louisiana | Xavier University of Louisiana | 93.5% |
| Maine | Maine Maritime Academy | 93.2% |
| Maryland | Stevenson University | 93.9% |
| Massachusetts | Stonehill College | 95.8% |
| Michigan | Kettering University | 94.1% |
| Minnesota | Saint Johns University | 95.2% |
| Mississippi | Delta State University | 89.9% |
| Missouri | Culver-Stockton College | 94.4% |
| Montana | Carroll College | 91.6% |
| Nebraska | Midland University | 94.3% |
| Nevada | Western Nevada College | 74.1% |
| New Hampshire | Saint Anselm College | 95.2% |
| New Jersey | Centenary University | 90.0% |
| New Mexico | Luna Community College | 79.2% |
| New York | Siena College | 95.1% |
| North Carolina | Johnson C Smith University | 93.1% |
| North Dakota | University of Mary | 93.8% |
| Ohio | Ohio Northern University | 95.9% |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma Wesleyan University | 88.9% |
| Oregon | Linfield College-McMinnville Campus | 92.6% |
| Pennsylvania | Lebanon Valley College | 95.6% |
| Rhode Island | Providence College | 95.3% |
| South Carolina | Citadel Military College of South Carolina | 94.3% |
| South Dakota | Augustana University | 96.1% |
| Tennessee | Rhodes College | 92.8% |
| Texas | Trinity University | 93.5% |
| Utah | Davis Technical College | 78.0% |
| Vermont | Castleton University | 94.7% |
| Virginia | University of Richmond | 93.1% |
| Washington | Pacific Lutheran University | 91.3% |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Wesleyan College | 91.3% |
| Wisconsin | Marian University | 94.6% |
| Wyoming | Northwest College | 85.1% |
Author
Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.
