Best Colleges in Philadelphia

Questions About Going to College in Philadelphia

How are the career opportunities for college graduates in Philadelphia?

Home to 80 colleges and universities, grads can stay near, rather than move from the greater Philadelphia region once they have diploma in hand. Jobs abound in fields such as advertising/marketing, accounting, public relations, event communications and sales. The federal government, including the Federal Reserve Bank and U.S. Mint, is the area’s largest employer, followed by the city and its school district. Health care is one of the area’s biggest industries, with employers like Merck & Co., Independence Blue Cross, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and a number of health care systems. The region is also a center for finance (MBNA and Vanguard Group Inc.), research (DuPont) and travel (Rosenbluth International). Looking for cool company culture? A survey of 35,000 Philly employees determined the top workplaces in 2015 as PricewaterhouseCoopers, Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack, Power Home Remodeling Group (energy efficiency), The Graham Company (insurance, surety brokerage and consulting), RevZilla (motorcycle gear) and Yards Brewing Co.

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

Want to know the fastest-growing industries and companies in the Philadelphia region? Consult The Philly 100. The project, run by Wharton Small Business Development Center, The Entrepreneurs' Forum of Greater Philadelphia, and the Philadelphia Business Journal, identifies the 100 fastest growing, privately-held entrepreneurial companies in the Greater Philadelphia Region. Those named to the list in 2015 recorded $950 million in combined revenue and an 85 percent average growth rate. The winners run the gamut of needed skills, such as business (Veterinary Practice Partners), finance (Swift Capital), tech (Arcweb Technologies), construction management (Big Sky Enterprises), sales (CRMScience), and art (Pop! Promos).

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

Although the city is circled by two and four-year colleges and universities, and the stores and restaurants surrounding the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, and University of the Sciences certainly have that campus vibe (why else would it be named University City?), Philly is a great place to stay once you get your degree. From Fishtown to Fox Chase to Fairmont, the best neighborhoods share draws such as lower rent/cost of living, less crime and higher walk scores. Not to mention awesome amenities like coffee shops, nightlife and music venues. Ready to mingle? The Young Professionals Network (YPN) of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce offers networking, professional development, and volunteer opportunities to ambitious young professionals throughout the region.

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

There’s a reason (actually a lot of reasons) why CareerBliss.com, which rates the happiness quotient of cities for the 22-35 age group, listed Philadelphia among the top 10 happiest cities for young professionals. Want to mix business with pleasure? Groups like Philadelphia Events for Young Professionals and All Events in Philadelphia have constantly-changing lists of sports, music, and business get-togethers. Join others committed to volunteerism and philanthropy through Young Professionals across Philadelphia. Channel your inter-entrepreneurial spirit by attending evening seminars about branding, public relations and social media strategies. Escape the city vibes during free networking happy hours at pubs in local neighborhoods. If you want to attend activities people in other cities only dream about, check your calendar for the Philadelphia International Auto Show, Philadelphia Film Festival, Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival, and Philadelphia Folk Festival.

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

Those who choose to settle in Philly may have picked it for the same reason as Forbes magazine, which ranked it 12th among the top 40 cities for singles. Center city nightlife and cultural scenes are dynamic, attracting foreigners and transplants from New York City. Not to mention, Philadelphia has strong ethnic neighborhoods of Asian, Greek, Latino, Italian Polish, and West Indian language and culture. The median age is also seven years younger than the rest of the state. Women outnumber men by a considerable margin, but that just makes the hunt for the perfect mate more interesting.