Outcomes
Post-Graduation Success
The majority of BU graduates find their path within six months of graduation. Despite ongoing labor market concerns, 94% of the Class of 2021 were settled by the end of the year, with 60% in full-time employment and 28% in graduate or professional school.
The average starting salary for BU graduates is above the national average for new college graduates. Those who incorporate experiential learning (internships, practica, or the like) into their BU experience are both more likely to secure full-time employment and to earn a higher starting salary.
Immediately after Graduation: First Destination Survey
BU surveys each undergraduate class within the first six months of graduation to understand where graduates go, whether employment, graduate school, military service, or something else.
Graduating Class of 2021
Data collection started prior to graduation and concluded in December 2021. Methods included web-based and telephone surveys, and research through LinkedIn. With data on 3,489 degree recipients, the knowledge rate for the Class of 2021 is 79%.
First Destination Activity
Data on 3,489 degree recipients
- 60% Full-Time Employment
- 28% Graduate or Professional School
- 6% Other Activities, including part-time employment, military service, and volunteer or service activities
- 6% Still Seeking
Internship Participation
Data on 1,016 degree recipients
85% reported at least 1 internship before graduating
Average Starting Salary
Data on 843 degree recipients.
- Sargent College (n=55): $43,153
- College of Fine Arts (n=20): $46,957
- College of Communication (n=72): $49,093
- School of Hospitality (n=29): $55,186
- National Mean: $55,911
National average salaries are from NACE’s final national benchmark data for the Class of 2021. - Wheelock College (n=5): $56,024
- College of Arts and Sciences (n=247): $57,493
- Pardee School of Global Studies (n=32): $58,772
- BU Mean (n=843): $60,317
The BU mean is an unweighted average, comparable to NACE’s unweighted national average. - Questrom School of Business (n=260): $64,993
- College of Engineering (n=123): $74,307
Graduating Class of 2020
Data collection started prior to graduation and concluded in December 2020. Methods included web-based and telephone surveys, and research through LinkedIn and the National Student Clearinghouse. With data on 3,384 degree recipients, the knowledge rate for the Class of 2020 is 75%.
First Destination Activity
Data on 3,394 degree recipients
- 53% Full-Time Employment
- 29% Graduate or Professional School
- 8% Other Activities, including part-time employment, military service, travel, taking a gap year, and volunteer or service activities
- 10% Still Seeking
Internship Participation
Data on 1,241 degree recipients
84% reported at least 1 internship before graduating
Average Starting Salary
Data on 803 degree recipients.
- Wheelock College (n=12): $39,133
- Sargent College (n=46): $43,250
- College of Communication (n=84): $46,036
- College of Fine Arts (n=10): $49,395
- School of Hospitality (n=18): $50,825
- College of Arts and Sciences (n=265): $53,783
- Pardee School of Global Studies (n=32): $54,542
- National Mean: $55,260
The national mean is from NACE’s benchmark salary data for the Class of 2020. - BU Mean (n=803): $57,816
The BU mean is an unweighted average, comparable to NACE’s unweighted national average. - Questrom School of Business (n=219): $63,134
- College of Engineering (n=117): $75,784
Graduating Class of 2019
Data collection started prior to graduation and concluded in December 2019. Methods included web-based and telephone surveys, and research through LinkedIn and the National Student Clearinghouse. With data on 3,177 degree recipients, the knowledge rate for the Class of 2019 is 71%.
First Destination Activity
Data on 3,177 degree recipients
- 65% Full-Time Employment
- 23% Graduate or Professional School
- 5% Other Activities, including part-time employment, military service, travel, taking a gap year, and volunteer or service activities
- 6% Still Seeking
Internship Participation
Data on 1,053 degree recipients
90% reported at least 1 internship before graduating
Average Starting Salary
Data on 586 degree recipients.
- College of Fine Arts (n=7): $37,465
- Sargent College (n=26): $39,137
- College of Communication (n=53): $42,750
- Wheelock College (n=11): $45,871
- School of Hospitality (n=36): $46,531
- Pardee School of Global Studies (n=21): $48,356
- BU Weighted Mean (n=586): $52,003
Each school’s average salary was multiplied by the number of its degree recipients. Results were added together, with the grand total divided by the total number of degree recipients. - College of Arts and Sciences (n=149): $52,647
- National Mean: $53,889
National average salaries are from NACE’s final national benchmark data for the Class of 2019. - Questrom School of Business (n=179): $61,870
- College of Engineering (n=104): $71,097
Graduating Class of 2018
Data collection started prior to graduation and concluded in December 2018. Methods included web-based and telephone surveys, and research through LinkedIn. With data on 3,064 degree recipients, the knowledge rate for the Class of 2018 is 71%.
First Destination Activity
Data on 3,064 degree recipients
- 72% Full-Time Employment
- 19% Graduate or Professional School
- 5% Other Activities, including part-time employment, military service, travel, taking a gap year, and volunteer or service activities
- 4% Still Seeking
Internship Participation
Data on 1,350 degree recipients
89% reported at least 1 internship before graduating
Average Starting Salary
Data on 907 degree recipients.
- Sargent College (n=48): $38,072
- Wheelock College (n=20): $40,121
- College of Communication (n=151): $40,702
- College of Fine Arts (n=17): $42,885
- Pardee School of Global Studies (n=46): $43,787
- School of Hospitality (n=63): $46,945
- College of Arts and Sciences (n=251): $49,842
- National Mean: $50,944
The national mean is from NACE’s benchmark salary data for the Class of 2018. - BU Weighted Mean (n=907): $51,019
Each school’s average salary was multiplied by the number of its degree recipients. Results were added together, with the grand total divided by the total number of degree recipients. - Questrom School of Business (n=194): $62,831
- College of Engineering (n=117): $69,564
5 and 10 Years after Graduation: Alumni Career Survey
Every year, the CCD surveys undergraduate alumni at five and ten years after graduation about their career trajectory, including position, salary, and additional education.
2021 Survey: Classes of 2011 and 2016
View pdf report
Current Activity
A majority of employed respondents reported being in the same industry as their first job after BU.
- Class of 2011: 79% of the respondents were working, 4% were both working and attending grad school, 1% were full-time grad students, and 15% responded other
- Class of 2016: 72% of the respondents were working, 4% were working and attending grad school, 1% were full-time grad students, and 11% responded other
Median Salary
These figures represent the median salary for each alumni class, across all industries.
- Class of 2011: $102,000
- Class of 2016: $75,000
Degrees Earned
To date, 60% of respondents from 2011 and 42% from 2016 have earned at least one additional degree.
- Class of 2011: 14% of respondents have attained a doctorate, 5% have attained a professional degree, 38% have attained a master’s degree, 2% have attained a second bachelor’s degree, and 40% have not attained any additional degrees
- Class of 2016: 7% have attained a doctorate, 2% have attained a professional degree, 30% have attained a master’s degree, 2% have attained a second bachelor’s degree, and 58% have not attained any additional degrees
Grad Study Fields
76% of respondents from 2011 and 80% from 2016 pursued additional degrees in these fields.
- Class of 2011: 11% engineering, 33% humanities and social sciences, 24% health sciences, 16% business, and 16% math and sciences
- Class of 2016: 10% education, 10% engineering, 20% humanities and social sciences, 36% health sciences, 11% business, and 13% math and sciences
Grad School Picks
Of alumni who pursued post-grad study, BU was the most popular destination.
- Class of 2011: 70% attended BU, 9% attended Harvard, 11% attended Columbia, 6% attended Rutgers, and 15% attended the University of California
- Class of 2016: 96% attended BU, 8% attended Columbia, 7% attended Harvard, 7% attended Georgetown, and 7% attended Northeastern
Double Terriers
The total percentage of alumni returning to BU for additional degrees increased from 2011 to 2016.
- Class of 2011: 19%
- Class of 2016: 35%
Satisfaction Rate
We asked respondents to rate on a scale of 1-10 how well their current activity aligns with their career goals.
- Class of 2011: Respondents who were working rated their satisfaction 8.3 out of 10, and respondents in grad school rated their satisfaction 8.8 out of 10. /li>
- Class of 2016: Respondents who were working rated their satisfaction 8.2 out of 10, and respondents in grad school rated their satisfaction 9.1 out of 10.
Response Rate
The survey was sent via email to alumni who received bachelor’s degrees in 2011 and 2016. The response rate provides a +/- 3.05% margin of error, with a 99% confidence level.
- Class of 2011: 26%
- Class of 2016: 18%
2020 Survey: Classes of 2010 and 2015
View pdf report
Current Activity
A majority of employed respondents reported being in the same industry as their first job after BU.
- Class of 2010: 79% of the respondents were working, 4% were both working and attending grad school, 1% were full-time grad students, and 15% responded other
- Class of 2015: 67% of the respondents were working, 7% were working and attending grad school, 9% were full-time grad students, and 14% responded other.
Mean Salary
These figures represent the average salary for each alumni class, across all industries.
- Class of 2010: $99,838
- Class of 2015: $79,179
Degrees Earned
To date, 58% of the respondents from 2010 and 44% from 2015 have earned at least one additional degree.
- Class of 2010: 12% of respondents have attained a doctorate, 6% have attained a professional degree, 38% have attained a master’s degree, 2% have attained a second bachelor’s degree, and 42% have not attained any additional degrees
- Class of 2015: 7% have attained a doctorate, 3% have attained a professional degree, 30% have attained a master’s degree, 3% have attained a second bachelor’s degree, and 56% have not attained any additional degrees
Grad Study Fields
76% of respondents from 2010 and 78% of respondents in 2015 pursued additional degrees in the following fields.
- Class of 2010: 10% education, 37% humanities, 30% health, 13% business, and 10% math/science
- Class of 2015: 8% education, 25% humanities, 33% health, 13% business, and 13% math/science
Grad School Picks
Of alumni who pursued post-grad study, BU was the most popular destination.
- Class of 2010: 47% attended BU, 13% attended NYU, 9% attended Columbia, 8% attended Northeastern, and 8% attended the University of California
- Class of 2015: 76% attended BU, 8% attended Columbia, 6% attended Harvard, 5% attended George Washington University, and 5% attended NYU
Double Terriers
The total percentage of alumni returning to BU for additional degrees increased from 2010 to 2015.
- Class of 2010: 14%
- Class of 2015: 29%
Satisfaction Rate
We asked respondents to rate on a scale of 1-10 how well their current activity aligns with their career goals.
- Class of 2010: Respondents who were working rated their satisfaction 8.2 out of 10, and respondents in grad school rated their satisfaction 6.4 out of 10.
- Class of 2015: Respondents who were working rated their satisfaction 8 out of 10, and respondents in grad school rated their satisfaction 9.2 out of 10.
Response Rate
The survey was sent via email to alumni who received bachelor’s degrees in 2010 and 2015. The response rate provides a +/- 3.05% margin of error, with a 99% confidence level.
- Class of 2010: 11.5%
- Class of 2015: 19.5%