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The Daily Insight

Do employers care what college you went to?

Author

Robert Guerrero

Updated on March 30, 2026

Today, whether you go to college retains some importance in your employment options. But where you go to college is of almost no importance. Whether your degree, for example, is from UCLA or from less prestigious Sonoma State matters far less than your academic performance and the skills you can show employers.

Besides, do employers care what university you went to?

In fact, I don't think I've been asked about it once. We still have some way to go before we break the Oxbridge elite and challenge the university status quo, but employers increasingly just don't care which university you attended and care more about you as a person, which is no bad thing.

Beside above, do employers care if you went to community college? However, there are people (fortunately not too many) who will look down on you for attending a community college. To hell with them and their ilk. Most employers either won't care or will admire somebody who took a more challenging route, typically because of financial constraints.

Likewise, people ask, do employers look at where you went to college?

It Doesn't Matter Where You Go to College. But where you go to college is of almost no importance. Whether your degree, for example, is from UCLA or from less prestigious Sonoma State matters far less than your academic performance and the skills you can show employers.

Does it really matter what university you go to?

Yes, it matters. A Biology degree is the same no matter which school you go to. However, if you are paying the extreme high costs of college in the USA just for the credential, you are doing it wrong. If all you want is piece of paper that gets you into a job/trade then you go the cheapest route possible.

Related Question Answers

Do employers take online college degrees Seriously?

Online Degree Myth #2: Your degree won't be taken seriously by prospective employers. A commonly overlooked fact is that grads of online degree programs earn the exact same degree as face-to-face students.

Do companies look at grades?

To be sure, many small employers won't expect to see a GPA on a résumé, but most large companies will. According to a 2013 survey of more than 200 employers by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 67% of companies said they screened candidates by their GPA.

What universities do employers prefer?

Top universities in the United States for graduate employability 2019
US Rank 2019 Employability Rank 2019 Institution
1 1 Harvard University
2 2 California Institute of Technology
3 3 Massachusetts Institute of Technology
4 5 Stanford University

Does it matter where you do your masters?

In terms of everything in your career, it matters where you do your masters. If you do your masters in your unranked local small college (if it offers masters in economics in the first place) you definitely will suffer during and after getting that masters degree.

What do employers care about?

Employers are more concerned about whether a job candidate has the right attitude and work ethic.” Here are the five skills employers say they value most in younger employees—and what you can do during a job interview to prove that you've got them.

Is a first class degree the same at all universities?

One explanation is that some universities are much better at teaching than others and that is why they award more first class degrees than expected. All groups award about the same number of First/2:1 degrees as expected.

Can I just buy a college degree?

The answer is yes. You can buy a college degree and be relevant again. It's a 100% legitimate method to collecting your PhD, masters degree, bachelors or an associate degree. Once you get the degree you want, all that's left is to start getting the necessary on-the-job training and the work experiences for it.

Do employers care about A levels?

At best, they might see what A-levels you took, but they won't care much about the grades. Your A-levels are important for university admissions, gap year jobs, and internships for high school students. At best, they might see what A-levels you took, but they won't care much about the grades.

Does the college you go to affect your salary?

But as they both spend years in the workforce, their salaries will start to correlate with their job performance rather than what school they went to years back. Yes, the college reputation will affect your salary but not much.

Does going to a state school look bad?

It's simply a product of exposure. You could be a great student at a state school but your equivalent at an Ivy has so many more high profile people looking into you and connecting with you. As others have said, there is absolutely nothing wrong with going to a state school, and there are lots of good states schools.

Does going to a bad university matter?

Long story short - work hard, network, do an internship, network more, and you'll be just fine in your career no matter what school you went to. The actual education you receive is 95% the same no matter which college you go to. And even then, the real quality of your education comes down to what you put into it.

Does college ranking really matter?

After having read this article college rankings do not matter. A graduated highschool student should have the ability to realize their desire for a certain career is more important than going to a college because of its ranking. Therefore college rankings don't matter in my opinion.

Is going to an Ivy League worth it?

The Bottom Line Is an Ivy League education worth it? Our discounted cash flow model delivers a resounding no. According to this model, an individual is much better off value-wise to attend a public school as they can expect to receive a much higher return based on their invested tuition and fees.

Do employers care about GPA?

To be sure, many small employers won't expect to see a GPA on a résumé, but most large companies will. According to a survey of more than 200 employers conducted in Aug. and Sept. of this year by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 67% of companies said they screened candidates by their GPA.

Is it smart to go to a community college first?

Attending one for your first two years can allow you to make progress on your education. An additional benefit is that community college course schedules often offer flexibility, allowing you to take classes part-time if needed (tuition is usually by credit, not by semester).

Is going to a community college embarrassing?

Nothing wrong with attending community college. Nothing to be ashamed. It's a great starter, stepping stone if you are still young, and money is tight. However, it depends what classes you take in CC and what classes you had in high school.

Is community college easier than a university?

It's a popular myth that community college classes are “easierthan classes at four-year universities. I for one can testify that this is untrue. Class difficulty depends on the professors and how much work you are willing to put into them—not the type of college you are attending.

Why is it better to go to a community college first?

Community colleges are known for their flexible schedules. At a community college, the smaller financial risk gives you more freedom to explore and change your mind. Plus, community colleges often have smaller classes. This means you get more attention from instructors — and better opportunities for mentorship.

Why community college is a bad idea?

Many community college students simply do not realize what their schools have to offer in terms of career planning and other support services. They may also fail to take their classes and coursework seriously because they too ascribe to the misconception that community colleges offer a lower quality of education.

Can you get a good job with community college?

As it turns out, a four-year college degree isn't the only way to land a good-paying job. A recent study by financial literacy website NerdWallet, based on forecasts by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, reveals that jobs requiring only a two-year associate's degree will have the highest average growth through 2020.

What are the disadvantages of community college?

Community colleges might have fewer sections available for students to enroll. For example, there might be only one section in higher physics while a four-year college might have four or five sections of its equivalent. Some equivalent lower-division classes required for the major may not be offered.

Is going to a community college worth it?

Attending a community college can be a good way for students to ease into the world of higher education and learn at their own pace. This is especially true for students who struggled in high school or anyone who's unsure if they want to make the significant time and money investment in college, experts say.

Is a 2 year degree worth it?

Earning a two-year degree isn't for everyone, and it's certainly not for anyone who desires a career that requires a bachelor's degree or graduate degree. College is undoubtedly expensive, but the cost can be lessened if you do your research and choose a career that will pay off in the long run.

What is the easiest Ivy League school to get into?

Cornell

Are all degrees equal?

All university degrees are equal, but some are more equal than others. "Now it is quite hard to maintain the position that a degree is a degree. People who get As and Bs at A-level tend to go on certain courses at certain universities. Other universities are recruiting people without any A-levels."

What's the worst Uni in the UK?

This is the WORST university in the UK, according to The Guardian. Bucks New University ranked the worst in the country according to the league tables published by The Guardian. Additionally, London Met (117), Cumbria (118) and York St John (119) all maintained the exact same positions on the table as they held in 2018

Do employers care about university rankings?

This is not to say that university rankings are completely pointless. So the university you go to does count for something. But increasingly top graduate employers are starting to disregard educational 'prestige' in favour of hands on experience, in depth knowledge of the field and fresh ideas.

Do employers prefer Russell Group universities?

The Russell Group is essentially a club of 24 UK universities that are very well respected for their research. Employers are typically keen to take on graduates from these universities. They are: University of Birmingham.