According to a recent Wall Street Journal study, businesses are hiring more graduates from public universities than the Ivies and other small liberal arts school. At the number one spot for hires was ours truly, Penn State. Rounding out the top of the list was Texas A&M followed by the University of Illinois.

Spanning 30 industries, the study surveyed 479 recruiting executives, asking them to rank schools based on their best recruits. The study said that, “Recruiters say graduates of top public universities are often among the most prepared and well-rounded academically, and companies have found they fit well into their corporate cultures and over time have the best track record in their firms.”

Dr. Eva Reed, Career Counselor at Penn State Career Services confirms, “…Penn State is so large there are so many majors to choose from, [students] can refine their career goals.” In the survey, Penn State fared best in such majors as accounting, engineering, and finance.

So what if no Penn Stater has moved on to become the President of the United States or a Supreme Court Justice, it’s like they always say, it’s quantity over quality. Or is it the other way around?  WSJ highlighted the fact that ”…at Harvard, more than 55% of graduates went on to a doctorate degree… so they tend to stay in a first job for a short period of time—often a year or less.”

Companies recognize that these top private school graduates have their sights set on post-graduate degrees, and thus they prefer to hire someone who is qualified for the job as well as ready to commit to their company.

It should be no surprise that Penn State came out on top. The services the university provides are immense and the WSJ survey proves this.  As you’re reading this, the Career Fair is tearing up the Bryce Jordan Center. “[The university] tends to recruit faculty that are seasoned professionals and strong academics-students can draw from their experiences,” Dr. Reed explained. Not to mention, Penn State’s crazy huge alumni base, which opens up a network most students could only dream of.

Now, aren’t you glad you decided to bleed blue and white at Penn State instead of ride the crimson wave at Harvard?