Editor’s note: Shortly after this story was published, the Wall Street Journal released another career-related ranking, this one focused on colleges for top-paying jobs in tech. In it, William & Mary ranked 16th among public institutions, with graduates working in the technology industry earning about $9,880 more than the median.
For the third consecutive year, the Princeton Review has named William & Mary the best public institution for internships, highlighting the university’s commitment to preparing students for successful careers.
The ranking was part of the Princeton Review’s annual Best Value Colleges report, released this week. It comes on the heels of several other rankings highlighting William & Mary’s nationally recognized approach preparing graduates for success.
Careers is one of the four cornerstone initiatives of W&M’s Vision 2026 strategic plan. As part of that initiative, the university aims to support internship or experiential learning opportunities for every undergraduate student and connect them with alumni in related professions.
“When we look at the outcomes for our graduates, it is so clear that access to impactful, hands-on experiences is the key to landing a great first job,” said President Katherine A. Rowe. “W&M is proud to be among the nation’s leaders in preparing students to succeed in passionate and purposeful careers.”
Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal lauded the career success of W&M alumni. According to the journal, William & Mary graduates who pursue careers in finance, management consulting and law are among the highest earners in the industry when compared to graduates from the university’s peer institutions, according to the Wall Street Journal. W&M graduates ranked fifth for careers in finance, ninth in management consulting and 11th in law.
In addition to ranking W&M first for internships, the Princeton Review also ranked W&M 13th for career placement and 17th for best alumni networks among public universities.
“We are honored to be recognized once again for the outstanding work of so many across the university to provide students with impactful internship experiences,” said Kathleen Powell, chief career officer at W&M. “These learning opportunities lay the basis for the professional networks that can play a significant role in their career progression.
Powell added, “William & Mary alumni are an important part of those internship and networking opportunities, and we are grateful for their support, showing our students that being part of the university community is a lifelong experience.”
In addition to highlighting W&M’s career efforts, the Princeton Review featured the university’s commitment to public service and affordability. W&M ranked fifth among public institutions for students looking to make an impact on the world. Additionally, W&M ranked 13th among the best value public colleges, 12th for best value public colleges for students who don’t qualify for financial aid and 17th for best public institutions for financial aid. According to data from the U.S. Department of Education, W&M offers the lowest personal net cost of all Virginia four-year institutions for low-to middle-income Virginia families earning $110,000 or less annually.
The Princeton Review report is the latest of several recent rankings to laud various aspects of William & Mary. Read more in this recent W&M News article.
Erin Jay, Senior Associate Director of University News