Three New York universities were named to LinkedIn's list of the 50 best colleges and universities in the United States for helping graduates build successful careers in 2026.
Cornell University and Columbia University, New York's two Ivy League institutions, ranked No. 8 and No. 24, respectively. Colgate University, a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, ranked No. 30.
LinkedIn said the rankings identify the colleges and universities that "best set their graduates up for career success" based on data from the platform's users. The rankings focus on outcomes such as job placement, internships, professional networking and skills development.
Unlike traditional college rankings that emphasize factors such as academic reputation, admissions selectivity
and graduation rates, LinkedIn's methodology relies heavily on career information voluntarily shared by its users, including alumni employment histories and professional connections.
How LinkedIn ranked colleges
LinkedIn evaluated schools using five metrics:
- Job placement: The percentage of recent alumni who began graduate school or full-time employment within a year of graduating.
- Internships and recruiter demand: The share of alumni who completed internships and the level of recruiter interest in those graduates.
- Network strength: The strength of connections among alumni on LinkedIn.
- Knowledge breadth: The range of fields of study and skills represented among recent graduates.
- Career progression: Alumni advancement based on LinkedIn career data.
Because the rankings emphasize professional outcomes and networking, smaller institutions can perform well if their graduates maintain strong networks and achieve favorable employment outcomes.
Why these New York schools made the list
Cornell and Columbia are regularly recognized among the nation's top universities, while Colgate's strong alumni network helped it stand out among smaller institutions.
Cornell University
Cornell University in Ithaca ranked No. 8 nationally.
The university enrolls about 16,140 undergraduate students. According to LinkedIn, top industries for Cornell alumni include technology, capital markets and business consulting.
Many Cornell alumni on LinkedIn are based in New York City, Boston and the San Francisco Bay Area. Their most common skills include development tools, scientific computing and aerospace engineering.
Columbia University
Columbia University ranked No. 24 nationally.
The New York City institution has about 9,835 undergraduate students. LinkedIn identified capital markets, technology and internet services, and business consulting among the top industries for Columbia alumni.
Many graduates are based in New York City, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Their most common skills include AI engineering, development tools and project management.
Colgate University
Colgate University ranked No. 30 nationally and No. 3 among liberal arts colleges on LinkedIn's 2026 rankings.
The private university in Hamilton benefitted from strong alumni networking outcomes, according to LinkedIn's methodology.
Many Colgate alumni work in capital markets, technology and internet services, and legal services. The largest concentrations of alumni are in New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C.
Top 10 colleges on LinkedIn's 2026 list
- Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
- Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
- Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana
- Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
- Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
- Stanford University, Stanford, California
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: 3 New York colleges rank among LinkedIn's 50 best for career success
