Job Placement for Grads Surpasses 90% for 10th Straight Year

For the 10th consecutive year, the initial employment and graduate school placement success rate of recent University of the Ozarks graduates exceeds 90 percent, according to the University's 2026 First Destination and Career Profile Report.

The latest survey looks at the Class of 2025 U of O graduates and whether or not they had employment or were in graduate or professional school within six months of graduation.

The report found that 92 percent of the respondents had either full-time employment, were in graduate or professional school or were employed part-time. Out of 173 graduates, 14 were still seeking employment at the time of the survey.

According to the latest report (2025) from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), the national average is 86 percent for employment and graduate school placement.

It is the 10th consecutive year that U of O's success rate for its graduates has exceeded 90 percent. The average success rate for the University over the past five years is 94 percent.

"For more than a decade, we have maintained a greater than 90 percent success rate on the First Destination Survey, meaning that over 90 percent of our graduates secure part-time or full-time employment, pursue advanced degree programs, or enter military service within six months of graduation," said Matt Bewley, direct of career services. "This consistent achievement reflects the strength of our academic programs, the dedication of our faculty and staff, and the intentional career preparation embedded throughout the student experience. It also demonstrates our ongoing commitment to equipping students with the skills, confidence, and connections they need to thrive after graduation."

According to the 2026 First Destination and Career Profile Report, the 2025 graduates were working in 20 states and 12 countries. In addition, 34 members of the Class of 2025 were in graduate or professional schools in nine different states and two other countries. The largest number of employed graduates were in the professional fields of K-12 education (24), healthcare (21), retail and customer service (17), marketing (8) and environmental services (8).

The University follows the NACE standards and protocols for the collection and dissemination of initial career outcomes for recent graduates.

Topics: Career Services