Survey: 98% of Class of 2017 are employed, in graduate school or volunteering

Within six months of graduation, 98 percent of Rider University’s undergraduate Class of 2017 was employed, pursuing graduate study or volunteering, according to an alumni survey conducted by Rider’s Career Development and Success. In total, the number represents a five percent increase over the impressive results of the previous class, which found that 93 percent of alumni from the Class of 2016 had gained employment, graduate study or volunteer work.

“The success of the Class of 2017 reflects the University’s commitment to preparing students for successful professional careers that reward the time and energy they have dedicated to their education,” says Kim Barberich, executive director of Career Development and Success. “We’re so proud of their achievements and the role we are able to play in helping them pursue their dreams.”

The majority of respondents (80 percent) were employed, with 17 percent in graduate school and one percent volunteering. Close to 150 employers have hired alumni of the Class of 2017, including Ernst & Young and Pricewaterhouse Coopers; ESPN and Yelp; the New York Attorney General’s Office and the U.S. Department of Defense; the Walt Disney Company and Sesame Place, and many more.

Musical theatre major Milika Griffiths '17 joined the Disney Cruise Line as a MainStage performer in 2018. As an undergraduate, she performed in five main-stage theatre productions and, in 2015, landed an ensemble role in the national tour of the Tony-winning musical Ragtime.

"I would never have toured with Ragtime if I hadn’t gone to Rider," Griffith says. "When I walked into that audition I was fearless and I was confident. I knew I had the education and the preparation."

Alumni who are pursuing graduate studies are enrolled at Columbia, Dartmouth, Johns Hopkins, Yale and several other prestigious universities and professional schools across the U.S.

Of those who earned a graduate degree from Rider in 2017, 95 percent were employed and five percent were pursuing further graduate studies.

To conduct the survey, Career Development contacted 956 undergraduates and 369 graduate students. Nearly 79 percent of undergraduates and 72 percent of graduates responded. The goal of the survey was to learn more about the career choices and outcomes of Rider graduates.

Nearly three out of four alumni, or 73 percent, who responded to the survey and are now employed benefitted from hands-on experience through internships, co-ops or student teaching placements while at Rider. Providing hands-on experience, where students can begin to apply the knowledge they gain in the classroom to real-world situations, is a cornerstone of the University’s Engaged Learning Program.

Experts in Career Development help students make the discoveries and decisions that guide their professional lives. In 2017, career advisors assisted 815 students and presented 65 career-focused workshops. During multiple career fairs, 245 employers visited Rider, giving students the opportunity to network and meet potential employers face to face.

In addition to supporting current students, Career Development also provides Rider alumni with support in their job search, including help with opportunities and one-on-one career counseling.