This month, Northwestern Career Advancement released their annual First Destination Study, highlighting the approximately 2,000 members of the undergraduate class of 2015 and their status six months after graduation. Of these 2,000 Northwestern graduates, over 100 represented the university as varsity student-athletes.

Where is the #B1GCats class of 2015? Their paths highlighted by @NUforLife: https://t.co/4rt2B0hCWK pic.twitter.com/0lHYvv6iRH
— #B1GCats (@NU_Sports) May 3, 2016

The Class of 2015 student-athlete alumni pursued opportunities to join the workforce, graduate school, and professional sports and are primed for further success across the United States and beyond, in a variety of fields.

Highlights of NU for Life's data on the student-athlete class of 2015 include:

62% of these recent graduates were employed full-time within six months of graduation, the majority working in Illinois (54%), with other top states including California (8%) and New York (7%)
21% matriculated to a graduate program, at schools including Northwestern University, New York University, University of Chicago, and University of Pennsylvania
11% pursued their sport professionally, including athletes from our baseball, men's and women's basketball, football, and men's soccer programs
Northwestern student-athletes pursued work in a wide variety of fields, including finance, education, consulting, communications, engineering, and technology

These former student-athletes begin their careers with an impressive array of employers, including the likes of Accenture, A.T. Kearney, CF Industries, DaVita Kidney Care, Deloitte, Goldman Sachs, LinkedIn, McMaster-Carr, PwC, Target and Teach for America.

The student-athlete class of 2015 reflects all 2,000+ graduates in the class with striking similarity:

62% full-time employment (varsity athletes) vs. 64% (all students)
21% graduate school matriculation (varsity athletes) vs. 20% (all students)
22% of employed alumni work in finance (varsity athletes) vs. 21% (all students)
16% of employed alumni work in tech, engineering, or healthcare (varsity athletes) vs. 20% (all students)

This student-athlete class of 2015 benefitted immensely from engagement with the NU for Life program, participating in program events including Wildcat Professional Excellence Program. Through education, 1-on-1 meetings with NU for Life staff, and engagement with the powerful Northwestern network, student-athletes propelled themselves to incredible career beginnings.

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Northwestern University Athletics

NU for Life: Highlighting the Northwestern Student-Athlete Class of 2015

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