Employment data for most recent graduating class shows Harris students working across public, private, and nonprofit sectors with high levels of job satisfaction.
April 03, 2020

CHICAGO – April 3, 2020 – Today, the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy released its fourth annual Career Outcomes Report, revealing post-graduation employment data for the class of 2019.

“With our focus on data and analytics, the Harris approach prepares our graduates to think clearly about complex problems and to succeed as leaders across all sectors of the economy as they progress in their careers,” said Katherine Baicker, dean and Emmett Dedmon Professor at Harris. “I consistently hear from employer partners that Harris graduates bring a skill set and commitment to social impact that sets them apart as their organizations grapple with the crucial policy challenges facing communities and the world.”

Of the 325 students seeking employment, 96 percent received job offers, 94 percent accepted offers, and 90 percent accepted offers within three months.

“The Career Development office has expanded our efforts to ensure that candidates are ready for a job search earlier in the academic year,” said Adam McGriffin, director of career development at Harris. “By the time our candidates – the policymakers of tomorrow – graduate, they have been armed with crucial data analysis skills, real-world policy experience, and career management skills to find and succeed in the next phase of their career.”

Consistent with the previous three years, the 2020 Career Outcomes Report underscores the versatility of a Harris degree with students making a strong showing across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Forty-two percent accepted positions in the private sector, 30 percent accepted public sector roles, and 28 percent chose nonprofit.

Graduates reported they had most commonly accepted positions in economic analysis, the health sector, finance, trade, or energy. Their primary responsibilities in their roles were research; policy design, analysis, or evaluation; and consulting.

In terms of career satisfaction, 82 percent report that they are satisfied with their jobs, a seven point increase from last year’s impressive 75 percent – a key indicator that a good match exists between candidate and position. Thirteen percent reported neutral attitudes about their jobs. 

In keeping with last year’s report, the report summarizes internship experience for the coming graduating class of 2020, illustrating how Harris graduates gain work experience while pursuing their degree. Ninety-seven percent of students seeking summer employment found internship employment, often in fields relating to data science, education, public management, and urban housing. Ninety-four percent of the internships were paid.  Of these paid internships, nearly one-third were funded through the generous support of Harris alumni.

For the first time, the Career Outcomes Report shows data from graduates of the Evening Master’s Program, Harris’ part-time program that launched in January of 2018 and graduated its first classes in 2019. Of the 85 students who reported outcomes, 55 percent of students seeking a career change were able to move to a different organization by graduation, and 95 percent of those who switched roles in their current organization received a promotion.

To view the full 2020 Career Outcomes Report, visit the Career Outcomes Report webpage.