95% of responders employed or in school within 6 months

A new employment/educational status survey recently released by the College has found that an overwhelming majority of graduates from the Class of 2005 have established themselves in the workplace and/or are pursuing higher degrees at some of the nation’s best academic institutions. 

The results, published in an “Assessment in Action” focused report, track the progress of the class in a survey entitled “Employment/Educational Status—Six Months Out, Class of 2005.” The survey was a collaborative effort by the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Office of Career Services. Managed by the College’s assessment program, the survey monitored the progress of members of the Class of 2005 during the six-month period following their graduation last May.

Dr. Brian J. Bartolini, associate vice president for academic affairs and director of the College’s assessment program, explained that the survey results are valuable in that they “help the College to understand what the immediate future holds for its graduates in terms of employment and/or advanced studies. This information can inform decision-making and may assist in preparing students further for their professional and educational activities after graduation.”

Of the 849 graduates sampled, 281 or 33% responded to the survey, which was distributed in October. The findings show that 95% of the graduates who responded are either employed or attending school. Of this group, 64% are employed, 24% are attending school, and 12% are both employed and attending school.

Furthermore, the study found that 84% of the respondents who are working are doing so on a full-time basis and that 81% have obtained positions in their desired fields of employment. The most popular areas of employment among those working full time are education (20%), financial services (15%), and marketing/sales (15%). Based on these percentages, one of every five recent alumni respondents is working in education and nearly two of every five are employed in financial services, marketing/sales, or accounting industries. 

Those who have entered the workplace have obtained positions at such places as Bank of America, Deloitte & Touche, Deutsche Bank Securities, Ernst & Young, Fidelity Investments, Goldman Sachs, Harvard University, Lehman Brothers, Massachusetts General Hospital, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Random House, Sikorsky Aircraft, Smith Barney, Sovereign Bank, State Street Corporation, Textron Financial, and at elementary and secondary schools throughout the United States.

More than half of the graduates who submitted surveys began working during the summer following their graduation and 84% noted that they are satisfied with their positions. Forty-one percent of those in the professional realm are earning a yearly salary of more than $30,000, while 22% are earning more than $40,000.

Additionally, the Assessment in Action report reported that of those graduates who are continuing their education, 72% are pursuing master’s degrees and nearly one of every four is studying to earn a doctorate or professional degree. The schools at which they are pursuing these degrees include Brown University Medical School, Johns Hopkins University, Providence College, and Tufts University.

Nearly three of every four recent graduates attending school—or 73%—are enrolled in full-time study pursuing advanced degrees in business, law, medicine, and social and behavioral sciences, among other fields. Education is the most popular area of study, as almost one of every four 2005 graduates is pursuing this field.