Best Places to Launch a Career 2007

To determine which employers are best for entry-level workers, BusinessWeek used a three-part method. First, we surveyed career services directors at U.S. colleges to learn which employers were tops on their list. We then asked those employers to complete a survey on their hiring, pay, benefits, and training programs, which we then compared with others in the same industry. Finally, we obtained from Universum Communications, a Philadelphia research company, the results of its 2007 survey of 44,000 U.S. undergraduates who were asked to identify their five most desirable employers. The employer survey counts for 50% of the final ranking, while the career services and student surveys count for 25% each.


Click column heading once to reorder from highest to lowest. Click twice to reorder from lowest to highest.
2007
Rank
2006
Rank
Employer
Ticker
Industry (1)
2006
Entry Level
Hires
Top Degree
Among Entry-Level
Hires
Most Desirable
Trait
Employer
Survey
Rank
Career
Services
Survey
Rank
Student
Survey
Rank(2)
Average
Pay
(thousands)
Management
Training
program(3)
1 3DELOITTE & TOUCHE (4)Private  ACCOUNTING1995 BUSINESSCOMMUNICATION SKILLS3112$50-$55YES
2 NewPRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS (5)Private  ACCOUNTING3744 BUSINESSCOLLEGE MAJOR926$50-$55NO
3 12ERNST & YOUNG Private  ACCOUNTING3250 BUSINESSCOLLEGE MAJOR25310$50-$55NO
4 NewIBM (6) IBM  TECHNOLOGY1962 COMPUTER SCIENCEANALYTICAL SKILLS41221$60-$65YES
5 13GOOGLE GOOG  INTERNETNACOMPUTER SCIENCECOLLEGE MAJOR6271NANO
6 NewMICROSOFT MSFT  TECHNOLOGY1350 COMPUTER SCIENCEANALYTICAL SKILLS10147$70 AND ABOVENO
7 1WALT DISNEY (7) DIS  HOSPITALITYNABUSINESSCOMMUNICATION SKILLS43112$50-$55NO
8 20ACCENTURE CAN  CONSULTING1040 ENGINEERINGCOLLEGE MAJOR41528$55-$60NO
9 2LOCKHEED MARTIN LMT  MANUFACTURING4573 ENGINEERINGCOLLEGE MAJOR151315$50-$55YES
10 43TEACH FOR AMERICA Private  NONPROFIT/GOVERNMENT2503 LIBERAL ARTSLEADERSHIP SKILLS27108$35-$40YES
11 15KPMG Private  ACCOUNTING2962 BUSINESSCOLLEGE MAJOR18520$50-$55YES
12 8GENERAL ELECTRIC (8) GE  MANUFACTURING723 ENGINEERINGCOLLEGE MAJOR29619$55-$60YES
13 4GOLDMAN SACHS GS  INVESTMENT BANKING663 BUSINESSCOLLEGE GPA4599$60-$65NO
14 NewBOEING BA  MANUFACTURING1016 ENGINEERINGWORK EXPERIENCE142811$50-$55YES
15 10ABBOTT LABS ABT  PHARMACEUTICAL980 ENGINEERINGLEADERSHIP SKILLS24847$50-$55YES
16 NewMERRILL LYNCH MER  INVESTMENT BANKING321 BUSINESSANALYTICAL SKILLS132917$55-$60NO
17 9JPMORGAN INVESTMENT BANK (9) JPM  INVESTMENT BANKING252 BUSINESSLEADERSHIP SKILLS201618$60-$65NO
18 31BP AMERICA BP  ENERGY259 ENGINEERINGCOLLEGE MAJOR1NA45$55-$60YES
19 6U.S. STATE DEPT. (10)   NONPROFIT/GOVERNMENT764 LIBERAL ARTSJUDGMENT35293$55-$60YES
20 NewGENERAL MILLS GIS  CONSUMER GOODS265 OTHER LEADERSHIP SKILLS83335$45-$50YES
21 NewHYATT Private  HOSPITALITY330 HOSPITALITY,CULINARY, FACILITY MGMT. COMMUNICATION SKILLS737NALESS THAN $35NO
22 NewCAPITAL ONE (11) COF  FINANCIAL SERVICES190 ENGINEERINGANALYTICAL SKILLS668NA$55-$60YES
23 38PEACE CORPS   NONPROFIT/GOVERNMENT4095 NALEADERSHIP SKILLS7883LESS THAN $35NO
24 NewJOHNSON & JOHNSON JNJ  PHARMACEUTICAL479 BUSINESS, ECONOMICSLEADERSHIP SKILLS511713$55-$60YES
25 33MACY'S (12) Private  RETAIL435 BUSINESSANALYTICAL SKILLS162359$35-$40NO
26 5ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CARPrivate  TRANSPORTATION7500 BUSINESSLEADERSHIP SKILLS56460LESS THAN $35NO
27 NewNORTHROP GRUMMAN Private  MANUFACTURING1704 ENGINEERINGCOLLEGE MAJOR301927$50-$55YES
28 7RAYTHEON RTN  MANUFACTURING1082 ENGINEERINGCOLLEGE MAJOR174132$60-$65YES
29 49EXELON EXC  ENERGYNAENGINEERINGCOLLEGE GPA1251NA$55-$60YES
30 NewPRUDENTIAL PRU  INSURANCE102 BUSINESSCOLLEGE MAJOR1183NA$45-$50YES
31 22LEHMAN BROTHERS LEH  INVESTMENT BANKING447 BUSINESSLEADERSHIP SKILLS361925$55-$60NO
32 27ELI LILLY LLY  PHARMACEUTICAL574 NACOLLEGE GPA214131$55-$60NO
33 25VANGUARD VFH  FINANCIAL SERVICES1250 LIBERAL ARTS COMMUNICATION SKILLS242751NAYES
34 24UPS UPS  TRANSPORTATION3723 ENGINEERINGLEADERSHIP SKILLS282551$50-$55YES
35 16L'OREAL USA Private  CONSUMER GOODS55 ENGINEERINGLEADERSHIP SKILLS414722$50-$55YES
36 NewHARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENTHET  HOSPITALITY2270 HOSPITALITY, CULINARY, HOTEL OPERATIONSANALYTICAL SKILLS23NA44$35-$40NO
37 NewTRAVELERS Private  INSURANCENABUSINESSANALYTICAL SKILLS2540NA$35-$40YES
38 11VERIZON VZ  TELECOMMUNICATIONS35072 BUSINESSANALYTICAL SKILLS1973NA$35-$40YES
39 NewCHUBB CB  INSURANCE458 BUSINESSANALYTICAL SKILLS2264NA$45-$50NO
40 NewINTEL INTC  TECHNOLOGY1425 ENGINEERINGCOLLEGE MAJOR405324$55-$60NO
41 23WELLS FARGO WFC  FINANCIAL SERVICES196 BUSINESSLEADERSHIP SKILLS482140$40-$45NO
42 NewUBS UBS  INVESTMENT BANKING263 ECONOMICSCOMMUNICATION SKILLS383941$55-$60NO
43 29PHILIP MORRIS (13) MO  CONSUMER GOODS288 BUSINESSLEADERSHIP SKILLS373150$50-$55YES
44 NewST. JUDE MEDICAL STJ  PHARMACEUTICAL175 ENGINEERINGTEAMWORK3159NA$65-$70YES
45 NewMARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL MAR  HOSPITALITY269 HOSPITALITY LEADERSHIP SKILLS494126$35-$40NO
46 NewSPRINT S  TELECOMMUNICATIONS150 ENGINEERINGANALYTICAL SKILLS337356$50-$55YES
47 NewNEW YORK LIFE (14) Private  INSURANCE2518 BUSINESSCOLLEGE GPA328155$40-$45NO
48 47KOHL'S Private  RETAIL131 BUSINESSCOMMUNICATION SKILLS3459NA$40-$45NO
49 18MERCK MRK  PHARMACEUTICAL887 NACOLLEGE MAJOR592523$60-$65NO
50 32CIA   NONPROFIT/GOVERNMENTNALIBERAL ARTSNA85185NANO
51 NewWACHOVIA WB  FINANCIAL SERVICES275 BUSINESSCOMMUNICATION SKILLS582246$45-$50NO
52 40BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON Private  CONSULTING240 BUSINESSCOMMUNICATION SKILLS476448$50-$55NO
53 37PROGRESSIVE Private  INSURANCE2858 OTHERCOMMUNICATION SKILLS387057LESS THAN $35YES
54 NewLIBERTY MUTUAL Private  INSURANCE667 BUSINESSCOMMUNICATION SKILLS465354$45-$50YES
55 NewNIKE NKE  CONSUMER GOODSNAOTHERCOLLEGE GPA736714NAYES
56 NewAETNA Private  INSURANCENANALEADERSHIP SKILLS4162NA$40-$45YES
57 NewHEWLETT-PACKARD HPQ  TECHNOLOGY257 BUSINESSCOLLEGE MAJOR526443$70 AND ABOVEYES
58 19AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL AMP  FINANCIAL SERVICES2335 NACOMMUNICATION SKILLS4379NA$35-$40YES
59 26AT&T (15) T  TELECOMMUNICATIONS212 UNDECLAREDCOLLEGE MAJOR5234NANAYES
60 52PROTIVITI Private  CONSULTING333 BUSINESSCOMMUNICATION SKILLS50NA58$50-$55NO
61 NewDELL DELL  TECHNOLOGYNABUSINESSCOMMUNICATION SKILLS635330$55-$60NO
62 NewNESTLE NESN  CONSUMER GOODS28 ENGINEERINGLEADERSHIP SKILLS644539$40-$45NO
63 NewWALGREEN WAG  RETAIL17359 NACOMMUNICATION SKILLS5459NANANO
64 NewSHERWIN-WILLIAMS SHW  CONSUMER GOODS780 BUSINESSLEADERSHIP SKILLS5556NALESS THAN $35NO
65 NewDEUTSCHE BANK DB  INVESTMENT BANKING278 NACOMMUNICATION SKILLS665133$60-$65NO
66 NewPROCTER & GAMBLE PG  CONSUMER GOODS323 ENGINEERINGANALYTICAL SKILLS833116NANO
67 NewBEAR STEARNS BSC  INVESTMENT BANKINGNANAANALYTICAL SKILLS664649$60-$65NO
68 NewUNION PACIFIC UNP  TRANSPORTATIONNABUSINESSANALYTICAL SKILLS6141NA$40-$45NO
69 NewCALIF. STATE AUDITOR   NONPROFIT/GOVERNMENT29 INTL RELATIONS, PUBLIC POLICY, POLI. SCI.COLLEGE MAJOR5680NA$35-$40NO
70 39IRS   NONPROFIT/GOVERNMENTNABUSINESSCOLLEGE MAJOR725634$35-$40NO
71 NewBLUECROSS BLUESHIELD Private  INSURANCE46 OTHERCOMMUNICATION SKILLS6073NA$45-$50NO
72 30WOLSELEY (16) WOS  MANUFACTURING1250 BUSINESSCOMMUNICATION SKILLS7424NA$35-$40NO
73 34GRANT THORNTON Private  ACCOUNTING570 BUSINESSLEADERSHIP SKILLS6562NA$50-$55YES
74 NewUNILEVER UN  CONSUMER GOODSNABUSINESSANALYTICAL SKILLS698153$45-$50YES
75 35SUNTRUST BANKS STI  FINANCIAL SERVICES211 BUSINESSANALYTICAL SKILLS7056NA$45-$50NO
76 NewINGERSOLL RAND IR  MANUFACTURINGNANALEADERSHIP SKILLS6876NA$50-$55YES
77 NewCISCO CSCO  TECHNOLOGY343 ENGINEERINGCOMMUNICATION SKILLS785037NAYES
78 NewDHL Private  TRANSPORTATION420 NACOMMUNICATION SKILLS71NA63$40-$45NO
79 46SOUTHWEST AIRLINES LUV  TRANSPORTATION2304 NAFUN-LOVING ATTITUDE807029LESS THAN $35NO
80 NewDUKE ENERGY DUK  ENERGYNASCIENCELEADERSHIP SKILLS7670NA$35-$40NO
81 NewAIG (17)AIG  INSURANCE87 BUSINESSANALYTICAL SKILLS7584NA$45-$50NA
82 NewNATIONWIDE Private  INSURANCENANACOMMUNICATION SKILLS7768NALESS THAN $35NA
83 55BEARINGPOINT BE  CONSULTING1344 BUSINESSCOLLEGE MAJOR813562$45-$50NO
84 45NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL (18)Private  INSURANCE1619 BUSINESSENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT8436NA$45-$50YES
85 NewARAMARK Private  HOSPITALITY425 CULINARY, FOOD SVC. MGMT., HOSPITALITYWORK EXPERIENCE827660$40-$45NO
86 36SHELL Private  ENERGY157 ENGINEERINGCOLLEGE MAJOR874838NANO
87 NewMOTOROLA MOT  TECHNOLOGYNAENGINEERINGCOLLEGE MAJOR883735$50-$55NO
88 54C.H. ROBINSON Private  TRANSPORTATION1058 OTHERCOMMUNICATION SKILLS86NA64LESS THAN $35NO
89 44KRAFT FOODS Private  CONSUMER GOODSNANANA897842NAYES
90 NewNORFOLK SOUTHERN Private  TRANSPORTATION277 BUSINESSCOMMUNICATION SKILLSNANANA$50-$55YES
91 NewCAREERBUILDER.COM Private  INTERNET1050 BUSINESSANALYTICAL SKILLSNANANALESS THAN $35YES
92 51U.S. PATENT & TRADEMARK OFFICE   NONPROFIT/GOVERNMENT1275 ENGINEERINGCOLLEGE MAJORNANANA$60-$65YES
93 NewCONSTELLATION ENERGY CEG  ENERGY42 BUSINESSCOLLEGE MAJORNANANA$50-$55NO
94 53NAVIGANT CONSULTING NCI  CONSULTING99 BUSINESSANALYTICAL SKILLSNANANA$50-$55NO
95 NewMETLIFE (19) MET  INSURANCE4253 NACOMMUNICATION SKILLSNANANALESS THAN $35YES
Note: All data are self-reported by employers. Eight employers ranked in 2006 were not ranked this year. Bain & Co. declined to participate; National Instruments, Pepsi Bottling, MTV Networks, NASA, CapGemini, the Comptroller of the Currency, and Progress Energy were not selected by career services directors as top employers for new college graduates.
(1) Comparison group for employer survey.
(2) Data provided by Universum Communications.
(3) Only training programs of more than a year, excluding analyst programs at investment banks and financial services companies.
(4) Entry-level hires for fiscal year (July 1-June 31); excludes 5-year accounting students working toward BS and MS simultaneously. Career services survey rank also reflects respondents who identified Deloitte Consulting as a top employer for entry-level hires.
(5) Entry-level hires for fiscal year (July 1-June 31).
(6) Career services survey rank also reflects respondents who identified IBM Consulting as a top employer for entry-level hires.
(7) Walt Disney footnote: Career services survey rank also reflects respondents who identified ESPN and ABC as top employers for entry-level hires.
(8) Career services survey rank also reflects respondents who identified GE Healthcare as a top employer for entry-level hires.
(9) Career services survey rank also reflects respondents who identified JPMorgan Chase as a top employer for entry-level hires.
(10) Entry-level hires include Foreign Service Officers, Foreign Service Specialists, and Civil Service employees.
(11) Entry-level hires for campus recruiting only; based on academic year.
(12) Ranked as Federated Department Stores in 2006. Career services survey rank also reflects respondents who identified Bloomingdale's and Federated Department Stores as a top employer for entry-level hires.
(13) Entry-level hires includes salaried employees only; unionized hourly employees excluded.
(14) Top degree for agents only.
(15) Career services survey rank also reflects respondents who identified BellSouth and Cingular as a top employer for entry-level hires.
(16) Ranked as Ferguson Enterprises in 2006; Wolesely is Ferguson's parent company. Career services survey rank also reflects respondents who identified Ferguson Enterprises as a top employer for entry-level hires.
(17) Entry-level hires includes only those hired into entry-level training programs.
(18) Entry-level hires are independent contractors affiliated with branch offices; their compensation is commission-based.
(19) Pay data for non-sales positions only.

Data: BusinessWeek, Universum Communications Inc., Cambria Consulting. Research by: Lindsey Gerdes, Louis Lavelle, Frederick F. Jespersen, Sophia Asare, Jenna Goudreau, Ben Levisohn, and Erica Pelzek.



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