Univ. of Calif. launches database showing top employers of UC graduates, positions UC alumni hold

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Raul Ramirez graduated from UC Merced last spring.

"May 17th, 2025, to be more specific," Ramirez joked.

He studied Mechanical Engineering, and now he's on the hunt for a job.

A new database released by the University of California has already helped.

The dashboard was presented in July at a UC Regents meeting.

"This is a chance for us to celebrate something really important about the University of California," Provost & Exec. VP of Academic Affairs Katherine Newman said.

Data was collected through Lightcast, a labor market analytics company, and compiled to present information on UC career pathways as well as top employers and occupations of UC Alumni.

UC officials say it was created to provide information for career centers and students to see where UC alumni are working and what positions they hold.

For example, you can click on Apple, which is a top employer of UC graduates.

Once you do, it shows you in which positions graduates were hired.

It also shows what they majored in and what types of degrees they hold.

UC Merced graduate and Student Regent-Designate Miguel Craven was at the meeting when it was presented.

"I mean, if I wasn't going off to grad school, I would probably look at this tool and try to find my next job, so I'm definitely going to send it to all of my friends," Craven said.

He says this tool is valuable for students and the general public to create a roadmap to their future careers.

"It's really important to remind people this is why we go and pursue this education," Craven said.

Although students like Ramirez had already graduated, he checked out the database and what it had to offer.

"At first, when I saw it, it was like, 'Whoa. There's so much I have to really pay attention, or work it out.'" Ramirez said.

Once he narrowed it down, he used the information to prepare for an interview.

He looked to see what skills other graduates had that made them beneficial for his potential employer.

"As a first-gen, like me, we don't have someone to overlook and say 'Hey, what do you do?' This is basically 'Hey, what did everyone do?' in other words." Ramirez said.

He says the information helped land him a second interview.

Now, he's encouraging any one job hunting or headed to college to take a look at it.

"Use it. Use it to your advantage." Ramirez said. "This will successfully help you in any kind of way you want.

You do not have to be a part of the UC system to use the database.

You can find a link to the database by clicking here.

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