Data: New Report Shows Holy Cross Students’ Post-Graduate Success

With their newly minted undergraduate degrees, the Class of 2014 continued to succeed in the post-graduate world according to research recently conducted by the Career Planning Center. The report was based on 598 respondents, 88 percent of the 676 students that make up the class.

“Our graduates' experience is far different than that of the average liberal arts graduate and what is portrayed in the media,” says Amy Murphy, director of the Career Planning Center at Holy Cross.

The report shows — just nine months after graduation — that 68 percent of the students surveyed were employed full-time, 14 percent were enrolled in graduate school, 10 percent were volunteering, four percent were taking part in a post-graduate fellowships, two percent were traveling, and three percent were participating in post-graduate internships.

“We can chalk our graduates' success up to several things: their own talents, the quality of education they receive at the College, the recognition by employers of the type of professional Holy Cross produces, and the generosity of our alumni to assist each new generation of Holy Cross graduates enter the workforce.”

According to the report, the average starting salary of the respondents was $45,034, which is higher than the starting salary for liberal arts graduates nationally, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employer’s Annual Salary Survey. The Class of 2014’s average starting pay is also above NACE’s findings for Math & Sciences ($44,956) and Humanities & Social Sciences ($38,049) graduates nationally.

The Class of 2014 reported employment in a range of industries, many of which defy common stereotypes and show that these graduates are just as able to enter emerging and cutting-end fields as they are traditional ones, according to Murphy. The top industries include financial services, health care, technology, education, government, and not-for-profits. The 22 other industries reported ranged from marketing and advertising to real estate to consulting. Teach for America, Mass General Hospital, EMC, Hanover Insurance Group, UMass Medical School, and General Electric were among the top employers for Holy Cross.

The report also reflects Holy Cross graduates’ commitment to social justice, with 10 percent of the class entering a full-time volunteer program—exceeding both Holy Cross and national standards. “The high number year to year is connected to the culture, values and mission of Holy Cross, and the College's charge to our students to be contemplatives in action,” explains Murphy. “Our graduates leave the College with a desire to serve the poor, powerless and marginalized and to be agents for change.” The high percentage of graduates reported working with well-known national and international organizations, such as the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest, City Year, and Americorps.

“The beauty of a Holy Cross education is that our students are well-positioned to pursue jobs, organizations, industries and professions that are congruent with their interests, strengths and goal,” says Murphy. “The skills our students develop during their time at the College — an ability to work in teams and problem solve, strong writing and verbal communication skill, and the ability to  prioritize competing demands — are the same skills that employers indicate they are seeking in not only entry-level hires but also experienced professionals. No student is locked in to a specific profession or industry but, rather, is poised to shift and adapt to his or her own changing interests and desires in addition to the constant evolution of our economy and societal needs.”

Read the entire report (PDF).

Related Information: