Ninety-six percent of graduates from the Boston College Class of 2017 are employed, in graduate school, or engaged in a fellowship or meaningful volunteer experience, according to survey results released by the Office of Institutional Research, Planning, and 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 students who earned their diplomas last year.
Among those entering the workforce (73% of the Class of 2017):
- 22% are working in financial services and real estate, at firms ranging from Citi and J.P. Morgan to Cushman & Wakefield and Deloitte.
- 16% are working in healthcare and the sciences at such entities as Massachusetts General Hospital, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the American Red Cross.
- 12% are working in business, consulting and management at companies including Google, General Electric, IBM, and Walt Disney Corp.
Among those attending graduate school (19%):
- The top five programs of study are STEM (20%), education (16%), law (15%), medicine (10%), and business (10%).
- The most popular graduate schools include: Boston College, University of Chicago, Princeton, Columbia, Yale, MIT, University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown, Harvard, and Tufts, among others.
Among those engaged in volunteer service or fellowships (5%):
The Jesuit Volunteer Corps, Peace Corps, and Americorps are the most popular volunteer commitments among BC students, while Fulbright study, Venture for America, and Humanity in Action are the top fellowship choices.
“[W]e’re pleased to see further evidence that our young alumni are in great demand in the job market, and compete successfully for admission to top graduate programs and for prestigious fellowships. These findings speak to Boston College’s core strengths: a liberal arts education that embraces student formation within a global city known for its entrepreneurship and innovation.”
Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley said the survey results are a testament to the diverse talent of BC students and the successful preparation they receive from BC faculty.
“Boston College is blessed to graduate students with a range of gifts, and we’re pleased to see further evidence that our young alumni are in great demand in the job market, and compete successfully for admission to top graduate programs and for prestigious fellowships,” said Quigley. “These findings speak to Boston College’s core strengths: a liberal arts education that embraces student formation within a global city known for its entrepreneurship and innovation.”
Joseph DuPont, associate vice president of Student Affairs, said the findings demonstrate that the University has the programs and services in place to provide students who wish to enter the workforce with the assistance they need to find their ideal jobs right out of college.
“These post-graduate success outcomes are very strong and speak so highly to the value of a BC education,” said DuPont. “Career education and readiness are essential components of our Jesuit mission to engage students throughout their journey of self-discovery and personal formation. We have a unique culture here that views career success in the broader sense of empowering students to live lives of meaning and impact.
“I am also pleased that among those surveyed 71% said they had used a Boston College career resource to secure their employment, including the popular EagleLink on-campus interviews, BC Career Fairs and networking through Boston College and its alumni network. Clearly we have the tools in place to enable our students to succeed in whatever they choose.”
Jack Dunn | University Communications