Which LACs have the Strongest Alumni Networks?

Parents Forum
21

Here’s an interesting piece about Haverford:

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/29/sports/baseball/a-thesis-could-be-written-on-haverford-colleges-influence-in-baseball.html?_r=1

22

One measure of a strong alumni network is the % of alumni who donate. Rates above 50% are considered high. Among LACs some of the highest are
Williams
Bowdoin
Davidson
College of the Holy Cross
Carleton
Middlebury
Amherst
Washington & Lee
Wellesley

23

FWIW - My D, a Scripps student, had a research opportunity with a CMC alumni because her professor connected them. And she has a job lined up through a company run by a Mudd alumni who recruits Claremont students regularly.

My S is at Mudd and I know they do a great job in creating a community among the students and parents…I assume it would be the same for alumni as well.

I see both Scripps and Mudd have many alumni events (though as a parent, I have no idea how well they are attended).

24

I am glad that @wisteria100 ’ s post mentioned Holy Cross. I am Catholic, but didn’t go to a Catholic college and
neither did my offspring. A lot of my first cousins once removed (in this case, my cousins’ kids) went to “the Cross.” I have been impressed by the alum network, at least in New England.

25

A 2nd for Washington & Lee. Those alumni take great care of their own. Married to one!

26

I was wondering about this, too. I’m a Smith grad and wondering if my expectations are too high. We are able to utilize the career development center resources, there are networking events for alum (i.e., annual women’s leadership conference), and a really strong online community. I haven’t heard much about this at other schools.

27

Wabash College. Small school with loyal alumni who take care of their own.

28

I think strong alumni network is pretty common at most top schools. I suspect it’s probably also strong at the big football schools that engender a lot of community building and identity with the schools. I have yet to hear of a top school having a poor alumni network. But maybe there are a few? Maybe people can give examples of schools with bad alumni networks.

29

I came across the Princeton Review list for Best Alumni Networks and @PacNWparent was correct! Wabash tops the list.

https://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings?rankings=best-alumni-network

  1. Wabash
  2. Dartmouth
  3. Penn State
  4. Texas A&M
  5. Claremont McKenna
  6. Clemson
  7. St. Lawrence
  8. Wellesley
  9. Hampden-Sydney
  10. UVA
  11. Va tech
  12. College of the Holy Cross
  13. Bucknell
  14. Ohio State
  15. Gettysburg
  16. UF
  17. Union
  18. De Pauw
  19. Florida State
  20. UGA
  21. Cornell
  22. New College of Florida
  23. Agnes Scott
  24. Colgate
  25. Stanford