Introducing
The 2026 Campus Forward Award Winners
Campus recruitment is constantly evolving in the face of new challenges and industry innovations. The Campus Forward Awards recognizes the teams and programs that evolve with the shifting landscape and deliver impactful talent programs for early career individuals. This year, RippleMatch is proud to recognize the top teams in the country that navigate this space with continued care and intentionality to support the next generation of talent.
Through a detailed application process, early career teams could choose to highlight their university recruitment strategies, use of innovation, and candidate experience with the hopes of being recognized for excellence across these categories.
The programs recognized for excellence in these categories represent the best of the best, selected from hundreds of applications submitted by campus recruiting teams across industries and program sizes.
How We Evaluate Excellence
If you're interested in learning more about the scoring criteria for this year's awards please click here
Read on to learn about the top early career programs in the country, as well as categories of excellence that early career programs could apply to be recognized for.
2026 AWARD WINNERS
Categories of Excellence: Recognizing Standout Early Career Programs
RippleMatch’s Campus Forward Awards recognize the top early career teams and programs in the nation. Through a detailed application process, early career teams could share their approach to different pillars of university recruitment, including recruitment strategies, use of innovation, and candidate experience. Programs that passed a certain threshold of excellence within each category are awarded as a winner of a Campus Forward Award, signifying their commitment to excellence in the early career space.
Below, we share the key attributes shared by each team & program recognized in the different categories of the 2026 Campus Forward Awards. On the spotlight pages of this year's winners, you'll find highlights of these pillars and a glimpse into what makes these teams and programs so special.
Overall Excellence: The Visionary Award
From the standout group that earned awards in all three categories, only five companies were selected for The Visionary Award—honoring programs that are redefining what’s possible in early career hiring through a cohesive, future-forward approach.
Excellence in Early Career Recruitment Strategy
This Award recognizes university recruiting programs that exemplify excellence in early talent strategy—from building strong campus partnerships to creating data-driven, scalable approaches for attracting and converting top student talent.
Innovation in Action
This award honors teams leveraging technology, automation, and AI to transform how they source, match, and engage with early career talent.
Excellence in Candidate Experience
This award celebrates organizations creating standout candidate journeys—from authentic employer branding to transparent communication and meaningful interactions at every touchpoint.
