‘Forbes’ names RIT a top college for launching careers

Forbes has named RIT one of the “Top 15 Colleges for Launching Your Career,” highlighting the university’s strong cooperative education program, industry partnerships, and career-focused academic offerings.

Why Forbes recognized RIT

According to Forbes, the universities selected emphasize high-impact career preparation, including:

• Cooperative education and internship participation
• Early career outcomes, including RIT’s median salary of $80,300 three years after graduation
• Strong post-graduation employment rates

The publication noted that top schools don’t just help students get “any job”—they help them secure high-quality positions aligned with their academic interests.

“A few years ago, students were much more focused on college experiences, like the opportunities to go abroad,” said Anjali Bhatia, CEO of college advising firm Collegewise. “Now they’re focused on return on their investment.”

RIT’s legacy in experiential learning

RIT is considered a pioneer in cooperative and experiential education. Experiential learning combines paid co-op work experience, internships, and industry-sponsored projects, allowing students to graduate with real-world professional experience. RIT’s co-op program is one of the oldest and largest in the nation.

Today, RIT’s Career Services and Cooperative Education office supports students with:

• Resume and interview preparation
• Career counseling
• Fall and Spring Universitywide Career Fairs
• Employer recruiting connections
• Career guides and alumni networking

Career outcomes and co-op impact

• U.S. News & World Report ranked RIT’s co-op and internship programs fifth in the nation in 2026.
• 4,300 students completed 5,825 co-op assignments with 2,058 employers across 49 states and 32 countries in 2024-2025.
• 96% of co-op employers reported they would hire their co-op student for a full-time position.

Why students choose RIT

Maria Richart, director of Career Services and Cooperative Education, said career outcomes are a major factor in students’ college decisions.

“Students and their parents are willing to make an investment in RIT because they know it will yield high-caliber employment after graduation,” Richart said. “Time after time, we hear that our students are sought after based on their ability to seamlessly enter the work environment. The quality of education that our students receive, paired with their drive, creativity, and desire to innovate, is the reason for our co-op program’s continued success.”