An independent study says metropolitan Cleveland is one of the top 10 best cities for college graduates.
One of many key reasons students say they choose Baldwin Wallace University is the ideal location: a picturesque campus, surrounded by a safe town and parks, just a hop and a skip from all that metropolitan Cleveland has to offer, from internships to entertainment.
Now, a new list says location is an advantage for BW graduates, too.
According to a recent study from the ADP Research Institute (ADPRI), which factored in job prospects, affordability and wages, Cleveland is among the "Top Ten Best Cities for New Graduates" out of 55 U.S. metro areas nationwide.
"The basic idea is these are the questions new grads ask when planning their job search. They ask, 'Where am I likely to find a job? What kind of salary will I earn?' and 'How far will it go?'" Ben Hanowell, ADPRI's director of people analytics research, told CBS MoneyWatch. "We put the three things together to find out where they can find the best combination of wages, affordability and robust hiring."
To create the list, researchers studied ADP data on more than 4 million employees in their 20s at more than 27,000 U.S. employers over a five-year period ending in April 2024.
On its website, ADPRI explains, "As young graduates embark on their post-college journey, one critical decision is where to work. Higher salaries in bustling metro areas might seem irresistible. But the actual value of a paycheck is more complex than it appears. And to get that paycheck in the first place, you need to get hired."
The study's bottom line states that "some metro areas offer better opportunities for new college graduates than others."
For BW, Cleveland's top 10 ranking reaffirms the University's longstanding location advantage, offering both student internship opportunities and a robust career launching pad.
