When Mariana Torres began her studies at Arizona State University (ASU), she was the first in her family to attend college in the United States. Initially, she found the experience overwhelming and unfamiliar. “I didn’t know how to get an internship, how to network or even what it meant to navigate college,” Torres said. “Everything was overwhelming, exciting, intimidating, unfamiliar.”
Torres is now a student at the W. P. Carey School of Business and has participated in internships with major companies such as Walmart and Google. She has also analyzed data for organizations including Intel, Netflix, and The Grammys. Reflecting on her progress, she stated, “My network is my net worth. I strongly feel that W. P. Carey unlocked that network for me. If I wasn’t at ASU, I would have not known about these opportunities.”
ASU has been recognized for preparing students like Torres for successful careers after graduation. The latest Global Employability University Ranking and Survey (GEURS) placed ASU second among public U.S. universities for employable graduates—ranking ahead of institutions such as UCLA, the University of Michigan, and Purdue—and 14th among all U.S. universities. Globally, ASU moved up to 37th place from 41st last year.
Nancy Gonzales, executive vice president and university provost at ASU, commented on the ranking: “Our graduates are entering a workforce that values creativity, resilience and adaptability — skills that are relevant to all jobs and industries,” Gonzales said. “At ASU, we are intentional about helping students build durable and AI-proof competencies through every part of their academic experience. This recognition reinforces that employers see ASU graduates as ready to take on complex challenges and lead change in their fields.”
GEURS is developed by Emerging consulting institute and published by Times Higher Education; it is based entirely on feedback from international employers since its introduction in 2010.
The 2026 GEURS survey highlights an increasing demand among employers for candidates who combine digital literacy with subject expertise—skills seen as critical in today’s workforce.
ASU’s educational focus includes sustainability, engineering, data analytics, health care, and digital media—fields identified as meeting current industry needs while addressing global challenges.
Major employers of ASU graduates include Amazon, Intel, Banner Health, Deloitte, Honeywell, Boeing, Charles Schwab, PepsiCo, Honor Health and federal government agencies.
Joanne Vogel serves as vice president of student services with Educational Outreach and Student Services at ASU. She noted: “This ranking reflects ASU’s unparalleled support for students as they navigate their career journey,” Vogel said. “Beginning at first contact with students and continuing through graduation and beyond, we emphasize the importance of taking advantage of ASU’s broad range of resources whether in person or online.” Vogel added that students have access to digital tools for career exploration along with resume review services; they can participate in job fairs as well as research projects.
“We strongly encourage students to engage in an internship to clarify their career aspirations and because employers are more likely to hire students with prior experience quicker and with higher pay,” Vogel said. “We are glad that employers worldwide agree that our students are well prepared for the next phase of their lives and add tremendous value to their companies.”
One example is Sedra Shahin—a Barrett Honors College student set to graduate in May 2026 with degrees in business administration, business law, public service & public policy—who already secured a full-time role at Wells Fargo following an internship there.
Shahin described her experiences: “Every major has a story,” she said,“and every experience shaped me into who I am today.”
Faculty members also emphasize preparing students for employment after graduation.“At the College of Global Futures,we’re focused on making sure students graduate with the hard skills employers need today — data literacy,systems thinking,and collaborative problem-solving — while also preparing them to lead in the careers that are just beginning to take shape,” said Kate Eaton,the college’s associate dean.“Whether they’re advancing sustainable energy solutions shaping ethical uses of AI or designing more resilient communities,we want our students to have the tools and confidence to make an impact now and adapt as the world continues to evolve.”
Detra Montoya,a clinical professor at W.P.Carey School of Business Department of Marketing,says she spends significant time connecting students directly with industry professionals.“I actively forge relationships with companies to create meaningful opportunities for students from inviting guest speakers facilitating live company projects organizing career fairs sales competitions where students can showcase their skills network potential employers,”Montoya said.She also noted efforts within her department toward soft skill development networking opportunities.“I truly value working at a university that prioritizes career readiness supports our efforts prepare students success beyond graduation,”Montoya said.
According to a press release, Arizona State University is collaborating with Argos Vision—a tech startup developing smart traffic cameras—in partnership with Phoenix Street Transportation Department; these cameras will be piloted across Phoenix locations over one year.
Additionally,Arizona State University was named number one in innovation by U.S.News & World Report for eight consecutive years based on nominations from college leaders.The university was also recognized nationally for its undergraduate business,nursing,and engineering programs.
