Note: These data were shared with the Maroon on May 5 and may have changed since.

Last year’s graduation issue introduced a new feature that examined where students go after their time at UChicago. This year, the Maroon continues that tradition, exploring trends in post-graduation plans, industry shifts, and new challenges faced by the Class of 2025.

According to Meredith Daw, the executive director of Career Advancement, 98 percent of the class is projected to have a job, graduate school acceptance, or fellowship secured by commencement. This success is despite federal hiring freezes, which, according to Daw, affected more than 200 out of the 2,056 graduating students in the class.

“We were concerned going into the year because of changes in federal hiring and the economy,” Daw said in an interview with the Maroon. “But the students have done incredibly well. They’ve been flexible, and we’ve worked hard to open new doors.”

85 percent of students who applied to law and medical schools were accepted into at least one program. According to Daw, that number is expected to rise as more decisions come in. That rate is two and a half times the average national acceptance rate for medical programs, according to Daw. She added that most students were accepted into the top 20 law schools and the top 20 medical schools.

According to Daw, UChicago students also performed well in Ph.D. program admissions this year. “There’s been a lot in the media about Ph.D. offers being rescinded, but that really wasn’t the case here,” Daw said. Students received offers from schools across the University of California and University of Texas systems, as well as top private institutions like Columbia University, Cornell University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Of the students pursuing graduate or professional degrees, 52 percent are remaining at the University while 48 percent are going to non-UChicago institutions.

However, for students not attending graduate school, Daw added that the federal hiring freeze this year has affected some students planning to work in agencies like the National Institutes of Health, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. “Some students had offers rescinded or indefinitely delayed,” Daw said. “But we were able to secure funded opportunities for all of them.”

Geographically, Chicago continues to be the top destination for graduates, but fewer are staying than before. “We used to see 45 percent of grads stay in Chicago; now it’s closer to 35,” Daw said.

New York City is the second most popular destination, with 21 percent of students heading there post-graduation. 10 percent of the class is expected to work or study internationally. Many international students are returning to their home countries, while others have secured global research or policy roles.

According to Daw, students with two or more internships or research roles were almost guaranteed to have a post-graduation plan. “Employers want to see that you’ve done the work, even if it’s not in the exact field you’re going into,” she said.

New programming, including summer sessions and industry-themed competitions, has created more accessible roles where students can gain academic and professional experience. These programs offer short-term, skills-based training in areas like venture capital, investment banking, healthcare investment, and private markets. Many of them are funded by employers and serve as informal recruitment pipelines.

“These are great ways for students to test out a field and get resume-building experience,” Daw said. “Not everyone can do a ten-week internship, but this opens doors.”

Financial services remains the most popular post-graduation industry for UChicago students, with 35 percent of students entering the field. “That’s even higher than last year’s 29 percent,” Daw said. “Some students shifted into finance after government roles were frozen.”

Consulting is the second most common career path. Science and technology roles, especially in the private sector, are also strong. “A lot of our students are going into biotech, research labs, and scientific consulting,” Daw said.

Education and nonprofit sectors remain consistent, with about six percent of the class having been offered education-related roles ranging from K-12 teaching to research and administration.

Although uncertainty remains in the broader economy, Daw noted that employer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

“Our students’ credentials, coursework, and critical thinking skills continue to stand out,” she said. “We’ve had employers say our students outperform peers from other institutions.”