Forbes names William & Mary a leader for launching careers

The university is featured in Forbes' new list of the "15 Top Colleges For Launching Your Career."

Located in the Cohen Career Center, the Office of Career Development & Professional Engagement offers programs, services, connections, and resources for students and alumni throughout their careers. (Photo by Alfred Herczeg)

With its commitment to helping students thrive from their first job to their last, William & Mary is a top university for launching careers, according to a new report from Forbes.

The university is featured in the magazine's new list of the "15 Top Colleges For Launching Your Career," which was released Monday. William & Mary is the only Virginia institution included. This follows William & Mary's inclusion in Forbes' list of the "The New Ivies" in the spring. That list included the universities "that are attracting the best and the brightest and graduating students that are outpacing most Ivy Leaguers in the eyes of employers."

According to Forbes, the 15 top colleges for launching careers share "a commitment to preparing students to successfully enter the workforce." The magazine picked the institutions based on participation in co-ops and internships, median salaries three years after graduation and post-graduation employment rates.

"It truly takes a community to make applied learning possible for every student, and the dedication of our colleagues, partners and champions across campus continually inspires me," said Kathleen Powell, chief career officer and associate vice president for advancement. "Ensuring that all students have access to compensated, coached and credited internship experiences is a mission we hold close to heart - and seeing Forbes recognize the Office of Career Development & Professional Engagement is a testament to the power of that shared commitment."

Careers is one of the cornerstone initiatives of William & Mary's Vision 2026 strategic plan, with the goal of providing every undergraduate with a funded internship or other applied learning opportunity. William & Mary's Funding for Unpaid and Underfunded Student Experiences (F.U.S.E.) provides myriad resources to support students pursuing unpaid or underfunded opportunities. Earlier this year, The Princeton Review ranked William & Mary sixth among public universities for internships and in the top 20 for best career placement.

William & Mary's TribeShadow externship program provides students with invaluable one- or two-day job shadowing experiences, allowing them to observe professionals in their field. A collaboration between the Office of Career Development & Professional Engagement and the Parent & Family Council, TribeShadow leverages the support of alumni and community members to offer a variety of opportunities, enhancing students' career readiness and professional networks. The program was recognized with the Gold 2024 Circle of Excellence Award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).

The university also leverages its community through the W&M One Network, which connects students to alumni - and alumni to other alumni - to explore career possibilities and connections.

In the latest Next Destination Survey at William & Mary, 92% of the Class of 2024 reported positive career outcomes - either employed or attending graduate or professional school - within six months of graduation. Of those employed, 97% reported that their jobs aligned with their career interests.

Staff, University News & Media

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