Should strong employment outcomes matter more than general university prestige?
Employment outcomes do not always deserve priority, but if your post-graduation goal is clear, it is reasonable to value outcomes in your intended field or faculty, the types of employers, and the quality of career support more than general name recognition. Prestige can still matter in some industries or for further study, so compare these factors together with curriculum, cost, environment, and personal fit.
Key points
- Look for data related to your intended faculty, field, and type of work rather than relying only on university-wide figures.
- Check the nature and relevance of destinations, career support, and further-study pathways—not just the employment rate.
- Compare prestige with curriculum, research or learning environment, cost, commuting, and overall fit.
Things to check
- Definitions and calculation methods for employment outcomes vary by university, faculty, and academic year, so check the details in official information.