Bentley Named a 2026 LinkedIn Top College for Career Success
For the second consecutive year, LinkedIn has named Bentley University one of the 50 best colleges in the country for long-term career success.
Bentley lands at No. 28 on the 2026 LinkedIn Top Colleges list, placing ahead of Georgetown University, the University of Michigan and the University of Southern California. The relatively new ranking, which LinkedIn launched last year, distinguishes itself from other rankings by using LinkedIn member data to identify the colleges that “best set their graduates up for career success.”
Bentley Career Outcomes: Top Industries, Skills and Cities
In its 2026 list, LinkedIn identified capital markets, technology and internet and accounting as the top industries for Bentley graduates.
Boston, New York City and Hartford, Connecticut, were listed as the top cities for Bentley alumni beginning their careers. Data storage technologies, investment banking and project management were identified as the skills most strongly associated with Bentley graduates.
For students and families comparing colleges based on career outcomes, the list offers a data-driven look at where graduates go and how they progress after earning their degrees. Bentley’s inclusion reflects not only immediate employment outcomes but also the industries, skills and networks that support career growth over time.
These findings reflect Bentley’s longstanding emphasis on connecting academic learning with career preparation. Students begin exploring their interests, strengths and professional goals early in their undergraduate experience and receive continued support as they pursue internships, build professional networks and prepare to enter the workforce.
The recognition also adds to Bentley’s strong record for graduate outcomes. Ninety-eight percent of the undergraduate class of 2025 are employed or attending or planning to attend graduate school within six months of graduating. In addition, graduates have reported a median starting salary of $75,000 — the highest in university history.
In 2025, Bentley’s Pulsifer Career Development Center was ranked No. 1 in the U.S. for the Best Career Services by The Princeton Review for the third consecutive year. Through career-design seminars, individual coaching, employer partnerships, internships and recruiting programs, the center helps students translate their Bentley education into meaningful professional opportunities.
How LinkedIn Ranks Top Colleges
Rather than focusing solely on graduates’ first jobs, LinkedIn considers several indicators of longer-term professional momentum, including:
- Job placement
- Internship experience
- Recruiter demand
- Advancement into leadership roles
- Alumni network strength
- Skill represented among graduates
The ranking draws on anonymous and aggregated LinkedIn profile data. Depending on the measure, LinkedIn examined either a university’s broader alumni population or recent graduates from the classes of 2020 through 2025.