U.S. News & World Report Announces the 2025-2026 Best Companies to Work For

U.S. News & World Report released its 2025-2026 list of the best companies to work for on May 29, 2025, expanding to highlight top employers for internship seekers alongside full-time employees. This list aims to assist job seekers in finding workplaces that fit their needs.
The list includes 636 companies across multiple industries, four regions, and 14 sectors. It focuses on those excelling in employee satisfaction and offering internship opportunities for students and recent graduates.

This expansion will likely support career decisions by identifying companies with strong workplace cultures, though the specific companies on the list weren’t accessible in the searches conducted.

On May 29, 2025, U.S. News & World Report, a global rankings and consumer advice authority, announced the 2025-2026 U.S. News Best Companies to Work For list. This announcement, via a press release, marks the latest iteration of their annual ratings, identifying the best publicly-traded companies across industries and regions to help employees and job seekers make informed career decisions. This year’s significant development is the expansion to include companies with top internship opportunities for new, current, and prospective students, as well as recent graduates, alongside the traditional focus on full-time employees.

The press release, dated May 29, 2025, highlights that the list recognizes 636 companies across multiple lists, four regions, and 14 industries that best meet the needs of full-time employees. Expanding to include internship seekers is a new feature, aiming to support a broader audience, including students and recent graduates looking for valuable internship experiences. Carly Chase, vice president of Careers at U.S. News, stated, “Every year, U.S. News seeks to identify the most valuable insights to support employees and job seekers as they make path-altering decisions for their careers,” emphasizing the list’s role in career guidance.

Despite extensive searches, the specific names of the companies on the 2025-2026 list were not found in publicly available sources as of the research date. This suggests that the list may be accessible through U.S. News & World Report’s website or require subscription access, though the press release confirms its existence and scope.

Expansion to Include Internship Seekers

Including top employers for internship seekers is a notable expansion, reflecting the growing importance of internships in career development. This category targets companies offering opportunities for new, current, and prospective students and recent graduates, aligning with the needs of younger job seekers entering the workforce. This move will likely enhance the list’s relevance for educational institutions, career counselors, and students, providing a resource for identifying companies with strong internship programs.

The press release does not detail the specific criteria for internship rankings. Still, it implies that these companies are evaluated alongside full-time employee needs, suggesting a holistic approach to workplace culture that includes support for interns. This expansion could influence trends in corporate internship programs, encouraging companies to enhance their offerings to attract talent.

While the specific 2025-2026 methodology was not detailed in the press release, historical data from U.S. News & World Report’s methodology page indicates that the rankings consider factors such as quality pay, work-life balance, and professional development and advancement opportunities. The methodology includes evaluating public and privately owned companies and nonprofit organizations, with eligibility requiring global headquarters in the U.S. The 2025-2026 list likely follows a similar approach, potentially incorporating additional metrics for internship programs, such as program structure, mentorship, and intern satisfaction, though exact details were not found.

The press release mentions the list covers four regions and 14 industries, suggesting a comprehensive evaluation across diverse sectors, which enhances its utility for job seekers across different fields.

The expansion to include internship seekers is expected to have significant implications for job seekers, particularly students and recent graduates

Detailed Breakdown of Key Metrics

To provide clarity, the following table summarizes the key metrics from the announcement:

This table illustrates the scope of the list and highlights the new focus on internship seekers, providing a clear reference for stakeholders.

The announcement builds on previous U.S. News & World Report rankings, such as the 2024-2025 list, which focused on full-time employees. It aligns with broader trends in the labor market, where internships are increasingly seen as critical for career entry. Reports from other rankings, like USA TODAY Top Workplaces 2025, suggest a growing emphasis on workplace culture, which U.S. News & World Report’s list complements by including internship seekers.

U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-2026 list of the best companies to work for, announced on May 29, 2025, expands to include top employers for internship seekers, recognizing 636 companies across industries and regions. This development highlights organizations excelling in employee satisfaction and workplace culture, with a new focus on supporting students and recent graduates through internship opportunities. While the specific companies on the list were not found in available searches, the announcement underscores its role in aiding career decisions, potentially influencing trends in corporate internship programs and workplace culture.