Cortland No. 4 in New York for jobs

10/17/2019 

SUNY Cortland takes pride in offering an education that helps prepare its students for a crowded and competitive job market.

Zippia.com has recognized the university’s efforts, ranking Cortland No. 4 in New York state on its “Best Colleges for Jobs in New York for 2019” list.

Cortland was the highest-ranked SUNY college in Zippia’s study, which used data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

With a 94.44% employment rate, Cortland trailed No. 1 Siena College (95.13%) by less than one percentage point.

Career outcomes are especially strong for SUNY Cortland’s newest graduates. The university’s Career Services has compiled a “First Destinations and Graduate Outcomes” report for the Class of 2018. The study found that of the 1,598 undergraduate degree recipients between August 2017 and May 2018, 50% were employed in a related field, 33% were continuing their education and 15% were employed in an unrelated field.

Of those graduates, 73% had secured employment within six months of graduation, including 20% who had lined up a job before they graduated.

The Class of 2018 had a self-reported full-time average starting salary of $42,801. Many graduates, approximately 86 percent, remained in New York state, but others found jobs in 32 other states or countries after leaving Cortland.

“These results reflect the quality of our graduating students as well as the dedication of our talented staff, who work with students and alumni to help them strategically develop their career potential,” said Nan Pasquarello, SUNY Cortland’s director of Career Services. “We are fortunate to have campus, community and alumni partners committed to helping Cortland graduates develop their knowledge and skills.”

Cortland’s Career Services offers a number of resources for students to prepare for their future employment while they are still on campus. Those resources include resume and cover letter tips, connections to internships and career fairs as well as a clothing closet that allows students to acquire professional attire for job interviews.

Learn more about Career Services at Cortland.edu/offices/career-services.

Zippia specifically looked at job placement ratings and employment levels at year 10 after students graduated. Data was limited to the 129 public and non-profit, four-year institutions in New York that offer at least a bachelor’s degree.