Forbes: America's Best Employers For New Grads 2026
This ninth annual list is based on survey responses from more than 100,000 young professionals (defined as those with less than 10 years of work experience) working for companies with at least 1,000 employees in the United States.
For recent graduates hunting for jobs, there is no ignoring the AI elephant in the interview room. Is AI replacing the entry-level positions that young job candidates have historically filled? Or will AI tools help early-career employees level-up their productivity?
According to Kristina Wright, senior director of career and professional development at the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the technology is "not necessarily eliminating our entry-level positions but there is a higher expectation now" for the people applying for these roles. The best candidates, Wright adds, are those that can "demonstrate both technical literacy and human skills," and then use those "human skills—communication, teamwork and problem-solving—to make the most of the efficiency that AI is delivering … They are looking for support, mentoring and opportunities for growth."
To help young professionals find employers offering this environment—and to give companies a peek at their peers—Forbes has partnered with market research firm Statista to rank America's Best Employers For New Grads 2026.
In addition to the America's Best Employers For New Grads list, find World Wide Technology on these 2026 Forbes' lists: