Madison Reporter

The University of Wisconsin–Madison has been recognized by LinkedIn as one of the top institutions in the United States for preparing graduates for long-term career success. In LinkedIn's inaugural rankings, UW–Madison was placed 50th nationally and 10th among public universities.

LinkedIn based its rankings on data including career outcomes, job placement rates, and alumni advancement. The platform is known for connecting professionals with colleagues and employers to help build careers.

“Graduates of top programs often land jobs sooner, build strong professional networks and advance into leadership faster,” LinkedIn stated in a release.

UW–Madison was also listed among the top five schools in the “knowledge breadth” category. This reflects the university’s broad range of academic fields and skill-building opportunities. The main industries employing UW–Madison graduates are technology and internet services, higher education, and medical practices. Madison and Chicago are noted as leading locations where many alumni work.

“This ranking highlights how UW–Madison students are prepared for a complex and ever-changing workforce through the breadth of their educational pursuits on campus,” said Tara Milliken, director for Institutional Career Services Strategy in the Office of Academics and Career Success. “We know that employers value the academic preparation our students receive in the classroom and the skills they build on campus and beyond that equip them to be successful in their careers.”

The university offers several resources to support student career development. Each school or college provides tailored support with specific industry connections. In addition, offices such as the Center for Pre-Health Advising, Center for Pre-Law Advising, and Career Exploration Center offer guidance across disciplines. Students can use online tools like Handshake to connect with employers, register for career fairs, or find jobs and internships.

“From alumni and employer connection events, programming, classroom instruction, job and internship preparation and individual career coaching sessions, we help students explore their interests, develop skills and obtain the experiences they need, and learn to articulate their story and what makes them stand out, so they can pursue their next step confidently — whether that’s working in industry, attending graduate school, or pursuing service work,” said Michelle Jackson, director of the Career Exploration Center.

LinkedIn’s analysis drew from anonymized global member profile information to assess colleges using five equally weighted pillars: job placement; internships and recruiter demand; career success; alumni network strength; and knowledge breadth. Eligible institutions included U.S.-based regionally accredited four-year baccalaureate programs actively enrolling first-year students with at least 2,000 total alumni—including at least 500 recent graduates between 2019-2024—according to LinkedIn data.