Career outcomes as a college search factor

Searching for the right college is daunting. With nearly 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States, students and families must consider many different factors: fit, cost, and likelihood of admission are all important considerations. College visits, online research, and speaking with admissions representatives are all proven strategies to help families weigh these different factors, and every student’s preferences for college vary. However, one of the most common questions we're asked by families is, “How do I know this college will set me up for future success in finding employment?” There’s no easy answer to this question, so, naturally, students and families often find themselves drawn to the most selective colleges and universities with the most “name brand” appeal. Though many of these schools seem to be synonymous with the idea of long-term success or starting careers in an increasingly competitive job market, it may also be worth considering some less selective—and, often, less expensive—options as well. LinkedIn recently published their first-ever college ranking of 50 best colleges for long-term career success in the U.S.,and, though this list certainly features some of those highly prestigious (and highly selective) colleges that we all know, some other inclusions might surprise you. For example, private institutions like Bentley, Bryant, Fairfield, Washington and Lee, and Southern Methodist University all make the list for their success in graduating students to work in top industries. Likewise, many public universities also make an appearance, like University of Wisconsin-Madison, Indiana University Bloomington, and Miami University (the one in Ohio—yes, there’s a Miami in Ohio...). For high-achieving students who have concerns regarding cost of attendance, acceptance rates, and the “return on investment” of their college degree, considering a few of these less selective, less expensive schools might provide needed balance to their college list. Further, long-term employment and working within one’s chosen field isn’t always an immediate occurrence for every student right after graduating. It’s important to know that many factors may lead a student to seek stopgap employment for several months after graduation. Still, less-selective colleges and universities pride themselves on preparing their students for the “long game” of seeking gainful, lifelong employment. To illustrate this point, the Universities of California have tracked alumni career pathways for 25 years—you can even peruse their survey results on their career dashboard. In doing so, you might notice that less competitive UC campuses like Santa Cruz, Riverside, and Merced all show remarkable career progress and growth for their graduates within five years of earning their degrees, with graduates regularly working in highly sought-after industries like technology, healthcare, engineering, finance, and more. At the end of the day, we at Bright Horizons College Coach always recommend that students and families consider multiple factors when choosing which colleges to apply to. However, in an environment where higher education continues to see increasing costs, competition, and stress, considering a broader range of colleges with proven track records of success may provide the right balance for your student as they begin their college—and career—journey.