"It takes four years just to learn the role and then another couple of years to figure out what to do with it," James Birge says, who will soon retire from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

By demonstrating clear, tangible pathways from education to employment, institutions don't just prepare students for a first job—they prove the enduring value of a degree.

The Department of Education implores these universities to return to standardized testing, limit international students and freeze tuition for five years.

LinkedIn has rolled out a new college ranking focused on the long-term career success of undergraduates. Some may be surprised by how well liberal arts graduates fared.