The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has been named to Forbes magazine’s latest list of America’s Dream Employers, announced Nov. 18. This marks UT’s second consecutive year on the list, which Forbes introduced last year.
“Being recognized by Forbes as a dream employer for the second consecutive year is an incredible honor and a reflection of UT’s unwavering commitment to fostering a supportive and innovative workplace,” said Tarah Keeler, associate vice chancellor and chief human resources officer. “UT prioritizes career development and work-life balance, and this recognition underscores the university’s dedication to creating opportunities that empower our team members to grow and succeed. We are proud to be an employer of choice to those seeking roles in higher education.”
America’s Dream Employers 2026 covers a variety of employment sectors including health care, technology, media, higher education, finance and service industries.
Forbes worked with market research firm Statista to create the list of the nation’s most inspiring workplaces. Derived from an independent survey of college students and professionals from U.S. organizations with more than 1,000 employees and backed by 266,000 data points gathered over three years, the recognition celebrates companies that respondents consistently identify as their dream employers.
Student participants were asked which employers they considered dream employers and how excited they would be to receive an offer from each of those companies. They rated employers’ appeal based on criteria including growth opportunities, quality of work, salary and company reputation. Employee respondents were asked about their dream employers and whether they would recommend their current or previous (within the past two years) employer. Current workers evaluated their companies based on such criteria as wages, health benefits, professional development, working conditions and the ability of employees to express ideas.
Data from the past three years of Forbes-Statista employee surveys was included, with data from current employees weighted more heavily than responses from past employees and older data. Each employer was given a score, and the 500 companies with the highest scores made the list.
A top university known for outstanding employee benefits
UT currently has 2,314 faculty and 6,119 staff employees. Its benefits package includes generous health and retirement plans, employee tuition waivers, and discounted tuition for qualifying employees and family members at state colleges and universities. Campus resources include a university-affiliated medical center, a veterinary medical center and a botanical garden.
Earlier this year Forbes recognized UT as one of America’s top colleges and the top public university in Tennessee, one of the best employers for new graduates and one of Tennessee’s top three employers.
The full list of dream employers is available on the Forbes website. For information on employment opportunities at UT, visit the university’s Human Resources page.
—
MEDIA CONTACT:
Stacy Estep (865-974-8304, sestep3@utk.edu)