Top 10 US universities with the most freshmen entering the workforce.
California State University has an exceptionally high rate of freshmen taking part-time jobs, at 82%, more than four times higher than the national average.
Research byUS News and World ReportThis shows that income plays a significant role in students' college choices. Students from affluent families are less likely to choose to study far from home compared to those from less privileged backgrounds. According to research from the University of California (Los Angeles), approximately 56% of students tend to choose a school within 160 km of their home.
If they need to study further away or have money to cover living expenses, students and international students often take on part-time jobs. This provides opportunities for learning and a vibrant environment for exchanging experiences, which is helpful for them during internships. However, starting work at a young age can cause them to neglect their studies.
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| California State University (Fresno). Photo: Fresno State News |
According to the data ofUS News and World Report,during the 2019-2020 school year,Only 20% of freshmen at American universities work part-time or live off-campus. However, the following 10 national universities have significantly higher-than-average rates of student employment.
| No. | School | First-year university graduates finding employment | Ranking within the national university group |
| 1 | California State University (Fresno) | 82% | 196 |
| 2 | University of Michigan (Flint) | 78% | 298-389 |
| 3 | Florida International University | 75% | 187 |
| 4 | University of Nevada (Las Vegas) | 75% | 258 |
| 5 | Rutgers University (Newark) | 73% | 118 |
| 6 | University of New Orleans | 73% | 298-389 |
| 7 | University of New Mexico | 72% | 187 |
| 8 | University of Texas (San Antonio) | 71% | 289-398 |
| 9 | University of Illinois (Chicago) | 69% | 112 |
| 10 | Adelphi University (New York) | 67% | 170 |
California State University has an exceptionally high rate of freshmen taking part-time jobs, reaching 82%. It is also the only university in the U.S. with a freshman employment rate exceeding 80%, four times the national average.
Next, a number of universities have graduate employment rates of 71-79%. The majority of these universities are ranked 289-398 in the national university group.
The last two positions in the top 10 are occupied by the University of Illinois (Chicago) and Adelphi University (New York), with 29% and 67% of students respectively working part-time. Of these, the University of Illinois ranks highest in the top 10, at 112th among national universities.
