Do employers give preference first with education?

“Employers” are different people with different priorities and philosophies.  They don’t all think alike. 

As someone who is involved in the hiring process both for interns and full time entry level positions, I’m far more interested in their work performance than their academic performance.  The main reason being that their work performance during their internship is the thing that I would have seen firsthand. I wasn’t there at school with them.  

The positions I hire for do have a minimum level of academic achievement that is required, but to me that’s mainly a pass/fail situation. If you cleared the bar, you cleared the bar. It doesn’t matter by how much, as at that point I’m more interested in your work history, your personality, and how I think you’ll get along with your coworkers and clients.  

But, that’s just my philosophy. Other people approach it differently.

they put more weight on your performance as an intern. were you punctual, attentive, and did you show initiative. that's a biggie.