Ranking
America’s Best Employers for New Grads 2026
America's Best Employers for New Grads 2026 recognizes top companies to work for as a recent graduate. These are employers that have been shown to foster a positive working environment based on an in an independent survey of over 100,000 young professionals working for companies employing at least 1,000 people within the U.S.
- Based on a clear and detailed methodology
- Segmented by industry
- Created in partnership with Forbes
Ranking Details
America’s Best Employers for New Grads 2026
Total:
Total companies:
0 companies
AWARDING YOUR EXCELLENCE
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Project Details
About the project
The 9th edition of America's Best Employers for New Grads 2026 is based on an independent survey of U.S. young professionals – employees with less than 10 years of work experience. Researching industry associations, trade publications, economic institutes, as well as the previous year’s list, we identified over 2,800 companies with at least 1,000 employees that were eligible for consideration in the survey.
Using online access panels, feedback on these companies was gathered across several key dimensions, including workplace atmosphere, company image, career growth, compensation, company culture, and working conditions. This feedback was then weighted using our scoring model to determine each company's ranking. The top 500 companies made the final list and were grouped into 25 industries, providing a clear overview of the best employers for early-career professionals in America.
Scoring
How do we identify the best employers for new grads?
We evaluate employers using a scoring model based on independently collected survey data from young professionals across the US. The results are split into two components: a direct score and an indirect score.
Direct score
The direct score reflects employees’ willingness to recommend their own employer. Respondents rate, on a scale from 0 to 10, how likely they are to recommend their company to friends or family, where 0 means “not at all likely” and 10 means “extremely likely.”
Indirect score
The indirect score captures perceptions of employers beyond one’s own workplace. Based on the respondent’s industry, participants are shown a selection of relevant companies and can indicate whether they would recommend or advise against working for them. This provides an external view of each employer’s reputation within its sector.
METHODOLOGY
How we work
Learn about our general approach to creating employer rankings. Further details about how the ranking was created can be found in the America’s Best Employers for New Grads 2026 methodology.
01 Concept
For our employment projects, we evaluate and rank the world’s leading employers, highlighting organizations that excel in fostering positive work environments and sustainable growth. Our rankings help job seekers make informed career choices while providing companies with a benchmark to assess their standing in the global job market.
02 Data Collection
For data collection, our team of analysts creates detailed online questionnaires that ask survey participants about work-related topics. By working with leading online access panels worldwide, suitable participants are identified and surveyed independently of potentially awarded employer brands. Survey responses are then checked for quality and validity (interview length, variances, inconsistencies) and sorted accordingly.
03 Evaluation
To evaluate the data, we apply a scoring model that combines direct feedback on the participants’ own employers with indirect feedback on other employers within their professional fields.
04 Quality Assurance
For each potential award-winning employer, company information is researched and eligibility for the list is confirmed. This step serves as quality assurance and is presented as information in the publication.
Partnership
Our media partner
Forbes Media is a global media, branding and technology company, with a focus on news and information concerning business, investing, technology, entrepreneurship, leadership and affluent lifestyles. The company publishes Forbes, Forbes Asia, and Forbes Europe magazines as well as online at Forbes.com.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
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Matt Green
Matt Green
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Disclaimer - The rankings presented here include only institutions within the defined scope of the respective project. An institution’s inclusion in the ranking reflects positive recognition according to the applied methodology and the data available at the time of compilation. The results reflect the status at the time of data collection and are therefore time-bound. The rankings are not intended to serve as the sole basis for decision-making, and any reliance is at the user’s own risk. They should be considered alongside other sources and, where appropriate, independently verified. No representation is made, and no inference shall be drawn, regarding the quality of institutions not included in the rankings.