Baylor Grads Finding Success After Graduation
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,” — Colossians 3:23 [NIV]
Baylor’s mission to prepare students for worldwide leadership and service drives the work of faculty and staff across the University, and the Baylor Career Center focuses on tracking the success of that mission. Each year, the Career Center follows recent graduates to see where they begin their path beyond Baylor.
With data collected from 99.6 percent of the May 2021 class, Baylor graduates have an impressive 86 percent placement rate within six months of graduation. That means graduates found full-time employment at a record pace and well above the national average of 50 percent, according to a November 2021 study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Add to this number graduates who chose to enroll in graduate school or begin full-time service — such as military or volunteer work — and the number climbs to 88 percent.
These numbers reinforce the value of a Baylor degree. Some of this success also can be attributed to the Career Center’s efforts and opportunities they create for undergraduates. Career Center staff members are passionate about listening to, collaborating with and supporting students in every way possible. This includes helping freshmen chart a plan for their future, assisting students with internships and guiding seniors who are applying for graduate school or looking for jobs, and the many steps of a student’s journey at Baylor.
Baylor Assistant Provost Ken Buckley, B.B.A. ’81, M.B.A. ’10, oversees the Career Center. He said Colossians 3:23 is at the heart of the center’s mission.
“Our classroom and coaching efforts push our students to look at their professional careers as part of their testimony to the world,” Buckley said.
Baylor’s numbers continue to trend up: 2020 graduates had an 83 percent success rate, and December 2021 graduates have seen another significant jump. The Career Center saw a 15 percent increase in overall placement rate over the past two years despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The data allows administrators to identify which student groups are finding success quickly and which groups need additional support.
Buckley said the attitude of embracing work as more than a job makes Baylor students more employable and provides them with purpose rather than frustration when life’s challenges arise.
“The Career Center is here to enhance students’ education and experience at Baylor and prepare them to go into the world,” Buckley said. “Follow your calling, and find success in all you do.”