EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The University of Texas at El Paso has placed in Forbes’ ranking of Top 15 Colleges for Launching Careers.
The ranking was created by evaluating 500 colleges and universities across the nation on their “effectiveness in helping graduates successfully enter the workforce,” read the news release by UTEP.
In the Forbes article, unemployment rates for recent college graduates have been “uncharacteristically higher,” with 4.8 percent as of mid-year reporting.
According to a survey, 30 percent of 2025 college graduates secured full-time jobs related to their degrees. Nearly half of the graduates expressed feeling unprepared to apply for entry-level positions in their fields.
Forbes selected the 15 schools for “their emphasis on work experience, including student participation in co-ops and internships; median salaries three years after graduation; and post-graduation employment rates,” read the news release.
UTEP was ranked among institutions such as Carnegie Mellon University and Drexel University. UTEP was also the only Texas college on the list.
Forbes ranked UTEP No. 359 out of 500 top-ranked colleges and 8th for the lowest average student debt at graduation, averaging at $4,410.
In the article, Forbes highlights that UTEP has expanded partnerships with the nonprofit Education at Work, which helps students gain work experience while lessening some costs of their tuition.
“UTEP opens doors for anyone who is willing to work for it,” UTEP President Heather Wilson said. “I’m proud that UTEP is being recognized nationally for our real-world impact on students’ lives.”
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