College Rankings Show Plymouth in Top Ten Percent

The internet is filled with lists of “The Best Colleges for Partying,” “The Best Colleges for Hooking Up,” and even “The Best Colleges for Breaking Up.” Yet recently, more serious lists have come out, such as “Top Colleges for Graduation Rates,” “Top Colleges for Landing an Internship,” and “Top Colleges for Best Salaries after Graduation.”

With so many lists, it can become daunting for any high school graduate to pick the right school and impossible for any current college student to feel comfortable with their choice. In mid-September, the college rating organization Educate to Career (ETC) offered students a new perspective. 

In their comprehensive list that factors in such metrics as percentage of graduates employed in occupations which utilize their field of study and the percentage of individuals employed within one year of graduation, ETC ranked a total of 1,224 US colleges from best to worst value. Due to ETC’s algorithm of measuring student improvement, Ivy League schools like Harvard, Yale, and Brown are seen very far down the list as the students they seek are typically career-ready upon enrollment, and statistically show little improvement upon graduation.

In the organization’s most recent update, Plymouth State University made the top 10 percent cutoff at number 114, beating out rivals Granite State College (unranked) and Keene State College (302). 

“Rankings like this support the quality of education students receive, and [show] that when students graduate they are ready for their careers,” said Vice President for Enrollment Management Jim Hundrieser. 

However, not all students are as confident in their University. “I feel like I’m not getting the connections I need to get into grad school or even apply,” said sophomore anthropology major Hannah Dutton. “We don’t have enough information [on graduate school applications] or how to get to where we want to be in the future.”

With the college debt ceiling growing higher every year, graduates are now at a higher risk of defaulting on their student loans. With the ever climbing cost of tuition, the incentive to even attend college has decreased for many. That outlook was evident this fall as Plymouth State missed their enrollment mark by 100 students, cutting into the University’s already critical financial situation. 

Hundreiser’s hope is that the recent rankings might help attract prospective students in the future. “Plymouth has everything to offer,” he said. “And with reports like this, it confirms graduating from Plymouth State is valuable and [a student’s] degree is of value.”

Another group of students expressing concern over their own preparedness is graduating seniors. A recent survey found that the highest percentage of unemployment between age groups was among young adults, many of which are college graduates. “Surveys like [ETC’s] build Plymouth State’s reputation,” said Hundreiser. “Employers [have] reported positive outcomes and experience with PSU grads. This builds momentum and gets students in the door to make a good impression that they are ready to work.”

Class of 2014 graduate Ali Myers once feared her own employment future. “To be honest, I was a bit worried at first because PSU isn’t considered an ‘ivy league’ school,” she said. “…but being involved with extra-curricular activities and sports can give students like me an edge and can set you apart amongst competition.”

Plymouth State has often fallen under the shadow of larger schools such as the University of New Hampshire, and ETC’s rankings were no exception as UNH landed the number eight spot, but Hundreiser is confident that Plymouth State will continue to climb to the top.

“We are expanding our goals to have more internships, more experiences, and have set a University strategic metric that 90 percent of our students who graduate will have a capstone experience. These capstone experiences directly link to jobs and job readiness,” said Hundreiser. “We are well on our way to being in the top [percent] very soon.”

Echoing Hundreiser’s sentiment, Myers said she was pleased with the guidance she was able to receive along the way. “Plymouth really prepared me for life after graduation by the variety of organizations and athletics one can become a part of,” she said. 

Myers also had advice for current students. “There’s more to college than just partying,” she said. “It’s important to focus on what is important: building a résumé and sets of skills that will prepare you for the work field. I think I just want the kids at home to know that there is life after college, and it’s not an easy one. You can’t get very far by only being good at beer pong.”

Considering the competition, Plymouth State’s recent ranking could make the University one of the most underrated colleges in the region. “PSU collectively has everything most students look for in their perfect school,” said Myers. “Great teachers and academic programs, competitive athletics and updated facilities, a small town and tightly knit community, scenic views wherever you look, and everyone is extremely friendly. I think PSU does deserve more credit as the hidden gem of colleges in New England.”

The full list of college rankings can be seen at www.jobsearchintelligence.com/etc/collegerankings.