UC named a best employer in Ohio by Forbes

UC's ranking climbed from No. 34 in 2025.

The annual list, produced by Forbes in partnership with market research firm Statista, highlights organizations where employees report strong satisfaction with their workplace. To create the 2026 rankings, Statista surveyed more than 245,000 employees at U.S. organizations with at least 500 workers.

Participants across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., rated their employers on factors such as wages and benefits, management, flexibility, career growth, workplace culture and overall reputation, and indicated how likely they were to recommend their employer to others. Companies with the highest scores in each state earned a spot on the list.

This recognition reflects the daily work of UC’s faculty and staff, whose teaching, research, student support and operational excellence shape the university’s impact in Cincinnati and across Ohio. From classrooms and labs to advising offices, clinics and support units, UC employees help prepare students for careers through cooperative education (co-op) and other experiential learning. Faculty advance research and innovation that benefit the region and beyond. Staff members help create a welcoming, student-centered campus environment.

UC’s commitment to professional development, collaboration and impact supports this work and helps make the university a place where employees can grow their careers while contributing to a larger mission.

UC employee perk: Read about UC's tuition remission program.

Forbes’ recognition comes as Ohio was recently named America’s Top State for Business in 2026 by CNBC, which cited the state’s strengths in infrastructure, cost of doing business, technology, innovation and access to capital. As a major public research university and one of the region’s largest employers, UC plays a key role in that success.

UC educates thousands of students each year in business, engineering, health, IT, design and the arts. Through its nationally recognized co-op program, UC connects students with Ohio employers. The university drives economic impact and job creation through research, entrepreneurship and industry partnerships.

Being recognized as a top employer in Ohio underscores UC as a place where people want to work, and as an institution that helps power the state’s workforce and innovation economy.

For current faculty and staff, the Forbes ranking is a reflection of their feedback and experience and a reminder of UC’s ongoing commitment to listening, improving and investing in the workplace. For prospective employees, it signals that UC is a highly regarded employer in Ohio, offering meaningful work, opportunities for growth and a chance to contribute to the university’s mission and the state’s future.