/ Alumni and Family Engagement

Graduate Report

Hope graduates are educated to think about important issues with clarity, wisdom and a deep understanding of the Christian faith. They make an impact at organizations, companies and graduate schools around the country and abroad. This summary of the annual Graduate Report gives a six-month snapshot of the Class of 2021.

Class of 2021 Snapshot

  • Employed
  • Graduate school
  • Continuing Education
  • Not employed or in graduate school (seeking)
  • Voluntary service or military
  • Not employed (not seeking)

Percentages exceed 100% because survey
responders could select multiple responses

Class of 2021 Top Majors

  • Business
  • Psychology
  • Engineering
  • Nursing
  • Exercise Science
  • Communication
  • Biology
  • Education
  • Social Work
  • Political Science

79%of the class of 2021 graduates who are employed full time, are employed in their field of study

Class of 2021 Employment & Graduate School by Region

An image of the nation showing percentages by region of graduates who are employed or in grad school

Class of 2021 Overview

89%participated in experiential learning opportunities, such as internships, off-campus study and collaborative student-faculty research

97%of those who were in graduate school were accepted to their first-or-second school choice

88%are likely or very likely to refer someone else to Hope College for their education

87%were involved and active in extracurricular activities and organizations

88%connected with a staff or faculty member about their vocational future

95%shared they felt that their professors cared about them as a person

Class of 2021 Employment Satisfaction

  • Very Satisfied
  • Satisfied
  • Neither
  • Dissatisfied
  • Very Dissatisfied


83%are satisfied or very satisfied with their employment

Recent Employers
  • Atomic Object
  • BDO USA
  • Chicago Public Schools
  • Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute
  • Deloitte
  • Duke University Health System
  • General Motors Company
  • Gentex Corporation
  • Grand Rapids Griffins
  • Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital
  • Holland Public Schools
  • JP Morgan Chase
  • L.L. Bean
  • Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Meijer Inc.
  • Missouri Department of Economic Development
  • Our Daily Bread Ministries
  • Plante Moran
  • Red Wing Shoe Company
  • Reformed Church in America
  • Shutterfly LLC
  • Spectrum Health Beaumont
  • Steelcase
  • Stryker Corporation
  • United States Air Force
  • Yanfeng

Class of 2021 Graduate Schools

  • First Choice
  • Second Choice
  • Other


97%of those who were in graduate school were accepted to their first-or-second school choice

Recent Graduate Schools
  • Baylor University
  • Carnegie Mellon University
  • Case Western Reserve University
  • Columbia University
  • Cornell University
  • Duke University
  • Emory University
  • Fordham University
  • Grand Valley State University
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • Michigan State University
  • Northwestern University
  • Pennsylvania State University
  • Trinity College Dublin
  • University of Chicago
  • University of Michigan
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • University of Virginia
  • Washington University
  • Western Michigan University

Class of 2021 Experiential Learning

Percent of graduates who engage in each type of experiential learning.

An infographic showing the percent of 2020 graduates who engage in each type of experiential learning.

About the Graduate Report

This study is administered annually by the Frost Center for Data and Research, Alumni and Family Engagement, the Boerigter Center for Calling and Career, and Admissions. Alumni are contacted 5-6 months after graduation by email, mail and telephone. This year we had a knowledge rate of 65.8%, with 299 survey responses, 96 from LinkedIn and 44 from the National Student Clearing House. For additional requests or data from previous years, please contact the Frost Center for Data and Research at616.395.7556orfrostcenter@www.icarseries.com.

Hope College Campus Resources

Boerigter Center For Calling and Career

The principal goal of the Boerigter Center is to teach students how to engage in lifelong practices of career development.

  • Discern: Identify strengths and interests, absorb the liberal arts and deepen sense of vocation and core character.
  • Prepare: Explore paths, expand intellect, develop skills and extend perspectives through experiences on campus and around the world.
  • Pursue: Strategize for life after college, activate networks and achieve next steps.

Alumni Association

In partnership with the Boerigter Center for Calling and Career, the Alumni Association hosts an online career center where you can work on your résumé, join and use The Hope College Connection, volunteer, find job postings, connect with social media and sign up for events. Connect atwww.icarseries.com/alumni.

Handshake

Students and alumni can browse thousands of job and internship postings on Hope’s online job board, Handshake. Start searching atwww.icarseries.com/handshake.

Previous Graduate Reports