A scene from Boston College's 2018 Commencement. (Lee Pellegrini)
Ninety-six percent of graduates from the Boston College Class of 2018 are employed, studying in graduate school, or engaged in a fellowship or meaningful volunteer experience, according to survey results released by the Office of Institutional Research, Planning & Assessment and the Career Center.
The findings, which place BC among the top universities nationwide, underscore the value of a Boston College education and showcase the impressive accomplishments of BC graduates who earned their diplomas last year, according to administrators.
“Recent graduates of Boston College are in high demand in the labor market and continue to enjoy great success in advancing their education in graduate and professional schools,” said Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley. “The University’s distinctive approach to undergraduate education prepares this generation well for a wide range of opportunities beyond Chestnut Hill.”
Equaling last year’s total, 73.3 percent of the 2018 class entered the workforce, with 23 percent employed by financial services and real estate firms, ranging from Citi and Goldman Sachs to JLL and PricewaterhouseCoopers, while 15 percent work in health care and the sciences at such institutions as Massachusetts General Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and the Mayo Clinic. Fourteen percent are employed at technology, consulting, and management companies, including Google, Amazon, Wayfair, and Accenture.
“Recent graduates of Boston College are in high demand in the labor market and continue to enjoy great success in advancing their education in graduate and professional schools. The University’s distinctive approach to undergraduate education prepares this generation well for a wide range of opportunities beyond Chestnut Hill.”
Among the 19 percent who are attending graduate schools—duplicating last year’s figure—the top five programs of study are law (17 percent), STEM (17), education (14), business (13), and medicine (six). The most popular graduate schools include Boston College, Columbia, University of Chicago, Duke, NYU, USC, and the University of Virginia, among others.
The Jesuit Volunteer Corps, City Year, the Peace Corps, and AmeriCorps are the most popular volunteer commitments among the 3.4 percent of the class engaged in volunteer service or fellowships—down from last year’s five percent—while Fulbright study is the top fellowship choice.
“Students and their families want to know more than ever that their Boston College education will empower them to lead lives of meaning and purpose and position them well for post-graduate success,” said Joseph Du Pont, associate vice president for Student Affairs/Career Services. “As an institution, we are committed to accomplishing both of those goals.”
According to the Office of Institutional Research, Planning & Assessment, the data represent a 75 percent knowledge rate for the Class of 2018. Sources include the Post-Graduation Plans Survey, National Student Clearinghouse, Boston College data, and public data.
Phil Gloudemans | University Communications | April 2019