When it comes to launching a career, Keuka College graduates have geography on their side. A new ADP Research study ranks Rochester, N.Y., among the nation’s top 25 cities for new college graduates, making the regional job market especially promising for Keuka College students preparing to take their first steps on the career ladder.
Researchers examined anonymized payroll records for hundreds of thousands of young professionals, along with hiring rates for bachelor’s-level roles and regional cost-of-living data. Rochester not only cracked the overall top 25 but ranked eighth nationwide in hiring rate (2.7%). And because living expenses run below the national average, the city’s median annual salary buys roughly $1,000 more in real purchasing power.
“That’s terrific news for Keuka College students,” says Dr. Carrie Roberts, associate vice president for experiential education and wellness. “Every student in every major completes a self-designed Field Period® experience each year. Our lakeside campus sits only about an hour from downtown Rochester, so internships and careers in high-demand fields are within easy reach.”
The benefits are already clear for graduates like Chloe Sears ’25, who turned a Rochester-based Field Period into a full-time role. As a nursing student, she completed an externship at the University of Rochester Medical Center Division of Palliative Care. Chloe graduated in May 2025 and now serves as a registered nurse on that same unit.
“One thing I really appreciated about Keuka College was being so close to Rochester and having access to tons of opportunities for real-world experience while I was still in school. It also made the job search much less stressful since there were so many options nearby.”
Rochester employers including Eastman Kodak, Rochester Regional Health, Xerox, Trillium Health, the Rochester School for the Deaf, the Mary Cariola Center, and the Rochester City School District have all partnered with Keuka College’s Field Period program in recent years, offering internships that build hands-on experience, professional networks, and career confidence.
As Rochester continues to grow as a hub for healthcare, education, business, and technology, Keuka College graduates are uniquely positioned to benefit from both the College’s emphasis on experiential learning and the region’s expanding opportunities.
About Keuka College
Founded in 1890, Keuka College is a liberal arts-based, private, four-year college in the Finger Lakes region of New York. With small classes and its signature Field Period® program – annual, 140-hour experiential learning internships – students graduate with meaningful real-world experience. Recognized nationally for its commitment to career readiness and upward mobility, the College sees 96% of graduates employed or in graduate school within six months. Many alumni stay in upstate New York, contributing to local communities and economies. Home to 16 varsity athletics teams, a scenic Keuka Lake campus, and global partnerships, Keuka College continues its mission of education for service.
