Editor’s note: This story is featured in the 2024 year in review.
Students usually seek higher education degrees to build their skills and aptitude in their chosen vocation, and advance their life opportunities. And Arizona State University is a good place to do that, according to a group of international businesses and organizations.
The newest Global Employability University Ranking and Survey, or GEURS, again ranked ASU second among public U.S. universities for employable graduates, ahead of UCLA, the University of Michigan and Purdue. Among all U.S. institutions, ASU was ranked No. 14.
“The words of the ASU charter compel us to measure ourselves not only by whom we include, but by how they succeed,” said Nancy Gonzales, executive vice president and university provost. “Enabling the career success of our graduates is one of our most fundamental responsibilities as a university. This ranking demonstrates that an ASU degree is in demand by employers and a significant return on investment for our graduates.”
GEURS is the only ranking based exclusively on international employers' point of view. First released in 2010, the GEURS ranking is produced by Emerging, a consulting and polling institute, and published by Times Higher Education. It is, for employability, currently the most consulted ranking by employers worldwide.
The GEURS ranking lists the top 250 universities worldwide for employability. The 2025 survey also points out that increasingly, employers are looking for graduates with strong digital literacy and subject specialism skills.
Among the top employers of ASU graduates this year are Amazon, Intel, Banner Health, Deloitte, Honeywell, Boeing, Charles Schwab, PepsiCo, Honor Health and the federal government, according to ASU Career Services.
Joanne Vogel, vice president of student services with Educational Outreach and Student Services, emphasized that ASU's strength lies in preparing students to meet the demands of a rapidly changing workforce.
“ASU prides itself on providing students with an education that prepares them for the future workforce,” Vogel said. “Through our quality academics, abundant enrichment opportunities and support from fellow Sun Devils, students graduate prepared to accomplish their goals throughout their life.”
This commitment aligns with the university's focus on sustainability, engineering, data analytics, health care and digital media — areas that reflect current industry demands and address evolving global challenges. Employers consistently recognize ASU graduates for their ability to combine technical expertise with a global perspective and a commitment to lifelong learning.
Vogel also highlighted the critical role of ASU Career Services in supporting students’ career readiness.
“From career advising and support finding internships to professional networking events and skill-building workshops, ASU Career Services plays an integral role in helping students define their goals and launch successful careers,” she said.
ASU faculty and staff say it’s a point of pride — as well as their duty — to help students find quality employment.
“Helping students in finding jobs is an essential part of my role,” said Kate Eaton, associate dean for graduate programs and a clinical professor of marketing at the W. P. Carey School of Business, where she has been a faculty member since 2014. “Since most students pursue higher education with career goals, job placement is a critical aspect of the value we provide.”
Eaton said students are often surprised by how early the recruitment cycles at major companies begin.
“To secure a summer internship, they often need to start their search within the first quarter of their graduate program,” Eaton said. “That’s why we begin discussing career journeys right from orientation and equip students with the tools they need to succeed from day one. We’ve also integrated regular touchpoints with the career team into our program curriculum.”
Beyond practical job search support — like resume assistance, interview prep and application guidance — Eaton said the college’s career services team focuses on understanding each student’s unique goals, whether that’s advancing in their current role, securing a promotion or pursuing new opportunities.
“This helps students seek the right positions from the start and craft a compelling narrative around their education and experience so they can truly stand out in interviews,” Eaton said.
Detra Montoya said she spends about 50% of her time creating opportunities for students to engage with prospective employers.
“For example, I include guest speakers in my classes as well as feature companies for live projects. As part of the professional sales program, we host events to promote connections between students and employers, such as career fairs and sales competitions, where employers can judge and network with students,” said Montoya, a clinical professor in the W. P. Carey School of Business Department of Marketing. “We recently launched a mentorship program to expose students to executives in the industries in which they are interested. Essentially, if students ask me to help them find a job, I ask them questions to understand their preferences and connect them with hiring managers or recruiters.
“There is nothing more rewarding than hearing that one of my students lands their dream job.”
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