The University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg (www.greensburg.pitt.edu) has been recognized for the second consecutive year as one of the “Best Colleges with Outstanding Career Services” by Colleges of Distinction.
The award recognizes institutions of higher education that offer exceptional career services and that integrate career development into their curriculum to enhance student success and ensure that graduates are workforce-ready. These schools are recognized for their dedication to career readiness by guiding students to gain practical skills while providing networking opportunities and real-world experience.
The criteria used to evaluate the “Best Colleges with Outstanding Career Services” include (from https://collegesofdistinction.com/career-development-colleges/):
- Integrated Career Exploration and Preparation: The career services or development office is introduced during new and transfer student orientation and then reintroduced during the first semester. The office partners with academic departments to incorporate career services resources into the classroom and help guide students toward the services they should seek at various points throughout their academic career. Career and major exploration are integrated across all fields of study.
- Accessible Programs and Training: The career office’s services and resources can be accessed 24/7 online and by appointment for one-on-one counseling. These resources include, but are not limited to, self-assessments, résumés and cover letter writing, interviewing, and networking. The office also hosts events and workshops to help students gain feedback and job search skills.
- Career-Centered Staff:
- Assessments – The institution offers both career and personality inventories to help students better understand themselves as well as their major and career interests. Whether career services are centralized or decentralized, the institution makes trained career counselors and/or coaches available to review every student’s assessment.
- Employer Relations – The school has at least one dedicated staff member for employer relations and corporate partnerships. Furthermore, the university helps connect students and alumni through mentorship and internship programs. Alumni can use some or all services for free.
The Office of Career Services introduces Pitt-Greensburg first-year students to the tools and opportunities available to help with career planning in Cornerstone classes and other seminars. Career-related workshops and major-related speakers, coupled with on-campus recruitment, job fairs and networking events, provide students at all levels of their academic journey with career-related information and opportunities for networking and internships.
Throughout the 2024-2025 academic year, Career Services worked to provide programming, job development, and relevant career information to all majors.
Coordinated approximately 160 career speakers and employer visits;
Planned 47 programs/events;
Provided 67 presentations to classrooms/advising sessions/student organizations;
Provided approximately 1100 appointments;
Worked on focused data collection regarding internships, career-related experience, and first destination.
Dorothy Zilic, director of Career Service, Marcy Yonkey, assistant director of Career Services, and Kristen Stratton, Internship coordinator, help Pitt-Greensburg students to focus on their personal and professional growth—especially through the exploration of skills, passion, and values related to future careers.
“We encourage students to learn about their options for personal and academic advancement, as well as explore their individual interests,” said Zilic. “Part of our mission is to educate students about how to be competitive for their next step in whatever field they are interested in pursuing, while connecting them to viable opportunities for growth. We understand that each student/alum has different interests, skills, and values that contribute to the person they will ultimately be, and we feel privileged to be part of their journey.”
Additionally, Pitt-Greensburg students have multiple opportunities throughout the academic year to participate in career-related fairs, both on campus and off. In particular, the annual Pitt-Greensburg Graduate & Professional School Fair allows students to explore and learn about graduate programs, the prerequisites, admission requirements, and career opportunities. Career workshops, employer recruiting tables, and information sessions also provide opportunities for students to explore career options.
“Internships allow students to gain hands-on, real-life experiences and to ‘test drive’ their ideal career,” explained Stratton, who assists students interested in internships by preparing, assisting, and supporting them throughout their process—whether for academic credit, or just experience. She collects data and tracks approximately 100 students participating in internships each academic year.
Students often share their insight through Internship Spotlight stories, a combination of student-reported experiences and on-site visits. The spotlights are shared on Pitt-Greensburg’s Career Services Facebook and Instagram platforms. “We also encourage students to consider other ways to gain career awareness and experience, such as informational interviewing, networking, job shadowing, volunteering, and part-time jobs in career areas to further explore their interests.”
Pitt-Greensburg’s Office of Career Services also offers students professional attire through its free Career Closet.
“Students preparing to interview or attend a career fair may have left their professional attire at home. They are invited to stop by the closet and choose from a variety of new or gently-used interview attire,” said Yonkey, who oversees the Career Closet. “Items range from clothing to accessories that help the student to present a professional image. Plus, students can keep the items they choose.”
Other campuses in the University of Pittsburgh system were recipients of the 2025-26 Colleges of Distinction recognition. The University’s Pittsburgh, Bradford, and Johnstown campuses were each recognized among Pennsylvania and public colleges, along with the overall 2025-26 rating. The Pittsburgh campus also earned an international distinction. Pitt-Johnstown and Pitt-Bradford joined Pitt-Greensburg in receiving the career development distinction.
About Colleges of Distinction:
Since 2000, Colleges of Distinction has been a trusted resource for more than five million students, parents, and guidance counselors. Its mission is simple: to help students and parents find not just the “best college,” but the right college.
About Pitt-Greensburg:
Founded in 1963, the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg is a publicly assisted, four-year, liberal arts college in southwestern Pennsylvania. Pitt-Greensburg offers 31 baccalaureate degree programs, including new majors in data analytics, nursing, and healthcare management, as well as 31 minors and five certificate programs. With nearly 1,400 students, more than 10,000 alumni, and faculty and staff numbering 260, Pitt-Greensburg provides a vibrant, diverse community that is a dynamic model of a liberal arts education. As part of the University of Pittsburgh system, Pitt-Greensburg offers the resources of a world-renowned university combined with the individualized and immersive experiences of a small liberal arts college. Creativity and an entrepreneurial spirit permeate the campus and extend into its many collaborative projects with the Westmoreland County community. Nestled in Pennsylvania’s beautiful Laurel Highlands, the campus is surrounded by the region’s outdoor recreation venues and rich history. It is a five-minute drive from uptown Greensburg and less than an hour’s drive from Pittsburgh.