Lehigh University has again been recognized as one of the nation’s leading institutions for preparing students for career success, earning the number 23 spot in LinkedIn’s 2026 Top Colleges rankings. The recognition underscores Lehigh’s continued strength in helping students build meaningful careers through a combination of rigorous academics, experiential learning and a highly engaged alumni network.
Lehigh’s continued recognition reflects its distinctive combination of rigorous academics, interdisciplinary learning opportunities, commitment to preparing students for lifelong success and a robust, engaged alumni network. This past year, 92% of the Class of 2025 were employed, continuing their education or engaged in other pursuits within six months of graduation.
Rather than relying on traditional academic metrics, LinkedIn’s rankings evaluate colleges and universities based on long-term career outcomes. The results reinforce Lehigh’s dedication to preparing students for success post-graduation.
The rankings, which launched in 2025, use LinkedIn data to create a list of the top 50 U.S.-based institutions that prepare students for prolonged success. The data used to create the rankings is based on five pillars:
- Job placement: Assesses the percentage of young alumni (Classes of 2020-2025) who started a full-time position or graduate school program within the same year of graduating.
- Internships and recruiter demand: Considers the percentage of alumni from cohorts noted above who completed an undergraduate internship, as well as labor market demand for recent cohorts.
- Network strength: Analyzes how alumni are connected to peers in the same class year, and how young alumni are connected to the broader alumni network.
- Career success: Examines the percentage of alumni with post-graduate entrepreneurship or C-suite experience.
- Knowledge breadth: Analyzes unique fields of study and differentiating skills gained by recent graduates.
As a trusted, data-driven platform connecting students, employers and alumni globally, LinkedIn offers a contemporary perspective on career-focused outcomes. This recognition further reinforces Lehigh’s standing as an institution that prepares graduates to lead and succeed across a wide range of industries and fields.
The full rankings list and methodology are available on LinkedIn.
Prospective students interested in learning more about Lehigh’s nationally recognized career outcomes and academics are encouraged to visit our Undergraduate website, schedule a campus visit or attend an information session.
