Career opportunities were plentiful this fall as a near record number of companies from throughout the country came to Rose-Hulman in search of students with keen problem solving, technical, and teamworking skills learned at the nation’s top-ranked undergraduate engineering, science, and mathematics college.

More than 750 recruiters from 261 companies met a record 1,879 students at this year’s Fall Career Fair, an event that culminated a flurry of recruitment activities during the opening weeks of the fall academic quarter. The Office of Career Services reports that these events have resulted in several offers for full-time, internship, and co-op work opportunities being exchanged – and accepted.

Junior mechanical engineering major Erin Nolan has had interviews with Marathon Petroleum, Elanco Animal Health, and Honda, where she completed a valuable internship experience this past summer at the automaker’s production plant in Greensburg, Indiana. She also interviewed with golf equipment manufacturer PING, Inc., which aligns with her career aspirations in creating golf clubs. (Nolan is a three-year member of Rose-Hulman’s conference championship varsity golf team.)

“One of the reasons I came to Rose was that during my (campus visit) meeting with the Office of Career Services, I was told they had contacts with PING recruiters and would help me get an internship with PING. Hopefully, my interview with PING went well and it leads to a summer internship and ideally a full-time job with them,” said Nolan. (Editor's Note: Nolan shared after the career fair that she had accepted an offer from Ping).

Fellow junior mechanical engineering student Jonathon Stadler has completed two summer internships at Steel Dynamics Inc.’s plant in Pittsboro, Indiana, and is receptive to returning there again in 2025.

“Internships help you apply the theoretical aspects of engineering that you learn in school with practical projects in a real-world setting. My summers with Steel Dynamics have been incredible learning experiences and have motivated me to return each fall to learn more and get ready for my career as an engineer,” he said.  

Meanwhile, senior civil engineering major Jorge Almarez has accepted a full-time job with AECOM Hunt after having an internship with the firm’s architectural team, working on aspects of the Terminal 6 expansion project at New York City’s John F. Kennedy Airport. He gained insight on LEED, SITES, and Envision certifications that align with sustainability lessons in his campus coursework and career interests.

“Working on that (Terminal 6) project was truly a dream come true,” he said. “I'm grateful to have contributed to such an iconic and significant development (a $6 billion construction project). This was my first hands-on experience with a design-build project, something we covered in Construction Engineering class. I’m planning to join (AECOM Hunt’s) team in Jacksonville, Florida, for the Jacksonville Jaguar football stadium renovation. I'm excited to contribute to a team that is trusted with such high-profile work.”

These hands-on work experiences join with the problem-solving skills and leadership abilities gained at Rose prepare students to be successful in their chosen engineering, science, and mathematics careers, according to several recruiters interviewed during the Fall Career Fair.

“Rose teaches people how to learn and put the pieces of a puzzle together. That’s an invaluable trait when you’re working in industries that are constantly changing and needing to adapt to new technologies,” said Jared Brown, an engineer with the National Space Intelligence Agency.

Amanda Plance, a senior engineering advisor with Eli Lilly and Company, added, “Rose-Hulman graduates are well-rounded, adaptable, and always ready to pitch in and help wherever needed. They also love processes and have an attention to quality, which should be key elements for any employee in our industry.”

Rose-Hulman’s career placement is nearly 100 percent annually. Several members of the college’s upcoming 2025 graduates have already received or accepted employment offers from summer internships and co-ops.

The Wall Street Journal has recognized Rose-Hulman in the top 10 nationally for career preparation and The Princeton Review’s Best 390 Colleges for 2025 had the college in the top 20 nationally for career services, career placement, and internship opportunities.

In assessing aspects of her Rose-Hulman education, Nolan stated, “Rose-Hulman pushes us to think hard and know how to be problem solvers. I also think that the way that Rose influences us to get internships each summer is very important. I have had internships both of my years and I find the experience and learning so valuable.”

Almarez remarked, “Rose-Hulman has equipped me with the skills and mindset necessary for my career. It has taught me how to approach problems methodically and communicate effectively. Each internship has allowed me to bring real-work experiences back to the classroom, making my advanced coursework even more meaningful as I understand the practical applications of what I learned over the summer.”