Bucknell Again Named LinkedIn’s No. 1 Liberal Arts College for Career Success

For the second consecutive year, Bucknell University has been ranked as America's No. 1 liberal arts college on LinkedIn's list of U.S. schools that best set graduates up for long-term success.

The 2026 ranking, released today, follows the University's debut at No. 1 on the inaugural list in 2025. It's based on career outcomes data from the professional networking platform, including alumni employment statistics, advancement into senior-level positions, the prevalence of internships during college, and entrepreneurial activity following graduation.

The University also moved up six positions in LinkedIn's overall ranking of all U.S. colleges, finishing at No. 16 overall, up from No. 22 last year. In addition, Bucknell also placed in the Top 10 in two subrankings:  

• The University finished No. 7 on the list of "where alumni land post-grad opportunities quickly," which tracks schools with the largest share of alumni starting a job or graduate school within the same year of their graduation (93% for Bucknell's Class of 2025).
• Bucknell also ranked No. 9 on the list of colleges with the strongest alumni networks, which identifies the top schools for networking based on connections among alumni as well as between alumni and the institution.

These results not only recognize the efficacy of Bucknell's emphasis on preparing students for a lifetime of critical thinking and strong leadership, they also reflect the University's strategic investments in career resources that ensure Bucknell's graduates continue to stand out in an evolving economy.

Recent advancements include the appointment of Sean Schofield as the inaugural Freeman Family Associate Vice President and Director of the Center for Career Advancement (CCA). In this newly created role, Schofield will oversee a five-year program to prepare students to thrive in meaningful careers and lives of purpose, beginning before arrival and continuing with post-graduation support.

Bucknell students are finding early opportunities for career discovery through a new microinternship program promising experiences specifically designed to fit into their schedules, as well as through Career Community interest groups that first meet during New Student Orientation. These come in addition to the robust internships and advising services facilitated by the CCA as well as mentorship programs that leverage the strength of Bucknell's alumni network.

As they approach the culmination of their Bucknell journey, students have increasing access to personalized guidance that goes beyond traditional career services. The University is working to expand the Career Search Accelerators program piloted by the Freeman College of Management last year, which provides industry-specific, one-to-one counseling for seniors who are seeking employment — before or after graduation. This highly customizable program focuses on the student's specific aspirations as well as strategies for employer outreach, interview preparation and salary negotiation.

"What sets Bucknell's program apart is our institutional commitment to embedding targeted career exploration opportunities at every stage of a student's journey, from the classroom to the residential experience to off-campus immersions with employers," says Maureen "Moe" McGuinness, vice president for Student Affairs and Fritz Family Dean of Students. "We seek to meet students at every stage of their career journey — including after they graduate through lifetime career advising."

Bucknell's most recent post-graduate outcomes data speaks to the effectiveness of this approach. Despite a challenging job market, Bucknell's Class of 2025 reported bright outcomes when surveyed nine months after graduation: 93% of graduates were employed, in graduate school, or pursuing military, civil or volunteer service, with an average starting salary for those employed of $73,346. When asked to rate their Bucknell outcome, 96% said they were "very satisfied" or "satisfied."