Carolina ranks as a top college for career success
The University is one of only seven public institutions to make LinkedIn’s 50-school list.
Tar Heels’ journeys don’t end when they leave Chapel Hill. Carolina graduates go on to be leaders in public health, media and entertainment, business and more, innovating to create a better society for the next generation.
Those strong professional outcomes are a key factor for students and families choosing a college. Carolina was recognized for how it sets graduates up for career success in LinkedIn’s second annual Top Colleges list, ranking as one of just seven public institutions to make the 50-school list.
The ranking evaluates the outcomes that matter most in today’s workforce, from securing early career opportunities to developing professional networks and advancing into leadership roles. LinkedIn looked at five indicators:
- Job placement: The percentage of alumni from 2020-2025 who start a full-time position or a graduate school program within the same year of graduating
- Internships and recruiter demand: The percentage of alumni from recent cohorts who completed an undergraduate internship; and labor market demand for recent cohorts
- Career success: The percentage of alumni with post-graduate entrepreneurship or leadership experience
- Network strength: How connected alumni of the same school are to each other, as well as how connected alumni from recent cohorts are to all past alumni and current students
- Knowledge breadth: Unique fields of study and unique skills gained among recent cohorts during their degree
As America’s first public university, Carolina has for centuries served as a model for higher education across the country. The University counts top healthcare professionals and researchers, business leaders, cultural and sporting icons and even a president among its alumni.
Carolina’s Class of 2026 included 7,183 graduates who excelled in the classroom, conducted research and served their country.
The University is continually innovating, currently launching a unified Division of Student Success that provides student support and learning infrastructure during the full student lifecycle, from enrollment through graduation.
Additionally, Carolina ranks No. 6 on LinkedIn’s list of top public universities for long-term career success and No. 8 among top colleges for business majors. The latter ranking uses LinkedIn data to evaluate career outcomes of alumni who majored in business, management, marketing and related fields.
