Best Colleges in Cleveland

Questions About Going to College in Cleveland

How are the career opportunities for college graduates in Cleveland?

LeBron James may have left Cleveland (only to think better of it and return), but college graduates should consider staying around. While manufacturing remains the city’s primary industry, science and engineering are a close second, and the city is emerging as a research base for biotechnology. Cleveland serves as the headquarters for American Greetings, Eaton, a multinational power management company, regional bank KeyCorp, Parker Hannifin, which specializes in motion and control technologies, and Sherwin-Williams. The city ranks 17th on the Bloomberg Best Cities for New College Grads list and 41st on entry-level employers. Cleveland makes it easy to find job openings. Potential employers such as Cleveland State University, the Cleveland Clinic and the city post job opportunities on their websites. The 24/7 news and information website Cleveland.com, which attracts an average of five million users each month, lists jobs by industry, skill, and company, and local employers such as Sysco entice job seekers with videos touting their benefits.

Growing industries? What major companies/industries are hiring what type of graduates/skills in Cleveland?

A fire in the once-polluted Cuyahoga River may have given Cleveland the name "Mistake on the Lake," but there is no mistaking the city’s rapid economic growth. Its proximity to Lake Erie has made it a national leader in manufacturing and railroads. Cleveland is also home to 53 of America's 5,000 fastest-growing private companies, the most of any region in Ohio, according to Inc. magazine. The city’s top-10 can be grouped by technology/IT services (Asurint, Insight2Profit, LeanDog, and Vox Mobile), real estate (Accurate Group and Ohio Real Estate Title Agency), media (Content Marketing Institute), healthcare (Bravo Wellness and Cleveland HeartLab), and facility maintenance service (Predictive Service).

Is Cleveland more of a college town or a great place to start a career and family? What communities are best?

Although the draw to Cleveland may have been one of the more than 30 colleges and universities that surround it, the city has plenty to offer graduates. The urban area is an old one with diverse neighborhoods. With a high rate of public transit users and easy-to-navigate roads, professionals can brag that their average commute time falls just under 24 minutes. Live downtown in a loft or apartment in a mixed-use building in the Warehouse District and be surrounded by restaurants, shops, bars and nightclubs. Detroit Shoreway, anchored by the Cleveland Public Theatre and the city’s retail hub, is an up-and-coming neighborhood that appeals to young creative types. Ohio City, one of C-Town’s oldest neighborhoods, is known for tree-lined paths and restaurants like Pier W and Michael Symon’s Lola. Tremont is a vibrant urban community on the fringes of downtown. Those who live in Cleveland Heights boast their reputation for being liberal, Democratic and well read.

What do the locals in Cleveland like to do for fun?

Whether you like rock and roll or classical music, riding Top Trill Dragster at Cedar Point Amusement Park or the horses at the Merry-Go-Round museum, you’ll find endless entertainment options for your free time. The city is home to Playhouse Square Center, the second-largest performing arts center in the country, and the Cleveland Orchestra which ranks as one of the nation’s five major orchestras. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame offers concerts and more than 50 exhibits for locals and visitors alike. Fans of “A Christmas Story” can check out Ralphie’s house with the leg lamp in the window. The Cleveland Botanical Garden, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and Cuyahoga Valley National Park come alive every spring with flora and fauna. Are you a fresh market fanatic? Filled with more than 100 vendors selling a variety of meats, cheeses, baked goods and fresh produce, the West Side Market sparks envy among other cities. The Browns may never figure out who their quarterback should be, but that doesn’t stop fans from being some of the best tailgaters in the country. With great local beers like Blackout Stout and Lake Erie Monster and Micro Woodie, the rentable portable beer truck, who cares if the team has never been to the Super Bowl?

What's the dating scene like in Cleveland? Will I meet my perfect mate?

If you’re past college and clubbing, but certainly not ready to change diapers, it can be a little hard to find a match in this somewhat family-oriented city. But not impossible. The Cleveland Museum of Art attracts more than 1,000 art and music lovers to its monthly Friday night mixers. And mingling is a must at the monthly Booker T. Cleveland Society for the Learned book swaps. The Cleveland Professional 20/30 Club offers events focused on personal and professional networking and development. Bier Markt, Felice Urban Café, and Loop Coffee Shop are hot spots to nosh and chat. For LGBT singles, WH2 Women's Happy Hour gathers the fourth Friday, and the G2H2 Men's Happy Hour, the third Friday of each month, so you’ll be mingling like a pro. Not to mention MeetUp and LunchDate will introduce you to busy, single professionals.