Employment data for the class of 2017 shows Harris graduates applying evidence-based approaches to policy challenges across public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

CHICAGO — April 25, 2018  Today, the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy released its second annual Career Outcomes Report, revealing the class of 2017’s post-graduation employment data. Of the 148 students seeking employment this year, 96 percent have secured job offers, with 82 percent having accepted offers within three months of graduating. 

Similar to last year, the report found strong employment outcomes across the public, private and nonprofit sectors, underscoring the versatility and adaptability of a public policy degree from Harris Public Policy. In fact, 41 percent of students reported taking a private sector position, 36 percent went on to work for non-profits and 23 percent accepted public sector roles. These new graduates working in policy-related careers most commonly reported working in economics and fiscal policy, education policy, and health policy.

"At Harris, we’re focused on developing policy leaders who thrive and work fluidly across the public, nonprofit, and private sectors,” said Katherine Baicker, dean and Emmett Dedmon professor at Harris.  “Our students are trained to address policy questions using cutting-edge analytical, data-driven approaches.  Employers across all sectors of the economy increasingly recognize the value of these approaches as they strive to confront today's most important policy challenges."

The report also found that 75 percent of students reported being satisfied with their jobs, with 16 percent neutral, a key indication that graduates are securing employment at the right organizations in the right roles. “Harris is the first policy school to report on post-graduate job satisfaction,” says Jeremy Edwards, senior associate dean, Academic and Student Affairs at Harris. “As a school that is committed to preparing our students for rewarding careers, our priority is to prepare graduates for the market, and support each student’s pursuit of opportunities he or she will find the most fulfilling.”

This year, the report also summarized internship opportunities for the graduating class of 2018. Ninety-seven percent of students seeking summer employment found internship employment, most commonly in energy policy, environmental policy and social policy and inequality. These outcomes underscore Harris’ commitment to supporting the entire student journey through employer partnerships, mentoring, and career counseling and development.

“We’ve hired Harris graduates for the past three year years, and have every intention of continuing to recruit from the school, both for full-time roles and internships,” said Paul O’Brien, vice president for policy and advocacy, Oxfam America.  “Harris graduates are committed to making progress on the ground, and bring a focus on analytical problem-solving that is crucial to our ability to maximize Oxfam’s impact.”

The 2018 Outcomes Report highlights the positive impact that Harris alumni have across the globe. Of the 168 students who graduated in the 2017 class, 158 (94 percent) reported employment information. Out of those 158 who reported, 148 were seeking employment, and 10 graduates were not seeking employment for reasons such as continuing education and entrepreneurship.

To view the full Harris Public Policy 2018 Outcomes Report or to learn more about the Career Development Office resources for students, alumni, and employers, please visit harris.uchicago.edu/hireharris.

About Harris Public Policy

For more than 25 years, the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy has been driven by the belief that evidence-based research, not ideology or intuition, is the best guide for public policy. Guided by this exacting perspective, our exceptional community of scholars, students, and more than 3,000 alumni take on the world’s most complex challenges using the latest tools of social science. As one of the largest graduate professional schools at the University of Chicago, Harris Public Policy offers a full range of degree and executive education programs to empower a new generation of data-driven leaders to create a positive social impact throughout our global society. This is Harris Public Policy: Social Impact, Down to a Science.

2018 Career Outcomes Report