OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Two separate lists have recently recognized Oshkosh as amongst the most livable places in the country for those fresh out of college.
“Well, we’re obviously very pleased, but not surprised,” UW-Oshkosh Chancellor Andrew Leavitt said.
In early May, SmartAsset ranked Oshkosh as number one, citing a 0.5% unemployment rate and the average income for those with a bachelor’s degree.
“We require in three of our four academic colleges for our students to have an internship before they graduate, which is really powerful,” Leavitt said. “In more than 50% of the time, when a student leaves with an internship, they leave with a job offer.”
Leavitt said it’s a priority at UW-Oshkosh to connect students to jobs. Students themselves say that’s been their experience, too.
“I’m going into education and I actually got a really great volunteer opportunity through Oshkosh and now I actually work at this school,” UWO Student Adamaris Rodriguez said.
The other article, written just weeks later by Checkr, ranks Oshkosh number four, citing a number of reasons — including a low cost of living.
“We have a campus portal where we can find off campus housing, which makes it really easy for every student and we easily found it in like, a month, not even,” UW-Oshkosh student Tori Deptula said.
Leavitt said a strong community connection is a selling point for prospective students.
“It’s hard to convince an 18-year-old where they’ll be six years from that point after they graduate and beyond, but at the same time, it’s about creating that sense of belonging,” Leavitt said.
“It just has everything, like you can kind of travel any direction and you can find anywhere to work or shop or anything,” Deptula said. “I think that was one of my biggest things coming here.”
“At first I didn’t want to, but after being here I actually really enjoy it,” Rodriguez said. “So I don’t think I would mind staying here after I graduate actually.”
In an age where enrollment is down at many universities, including Oshkosh, livability will continue being a part of the plan moving forward.
“Workforce changes, and it’s a pretty dynamic place and we need to make sure that we are providing the kinds of certificates and degrees and other kinds of training that would be provided so our students are viable in this economy,” Leavitt said.
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