Strong Employer Demand for Stevens Business Students Demonstrates Value of Tech-Flavored Programs
Six Months after Commencement, Nearly 100% of Graduates are Employed or Enrolled in Graduate School
Employer appetite for Stevens Institute of Technology business students remains insatiable.
Nearly 100 percent of graduating seniors from the School of Business' Class of 2017 have secured career outcomes in the six months after commencement; about 90 percent are employed in the industries of their choice while almost all the rest are attending graduate school.
Companies such as Goldman Sachs, Protiviti, PwC and Prudential were among the most active employers in hiring business students, who were placed in a variety of positions in consulting, finance, information technology and marketing.
“Employers continue to value the unique blend of technology and business skills that forms the cornerstone of the Stevens experience,” said Dr. Gregory Prastacos, dean of the School of Business. “Recruiters know that when they hire Stevens business students, they’re getting capable professionals able to think critically and analytically about the complex problems facing tomorrow’s businesses.”
Analytics at the core
That analytical thinking is a core focus of undergraduate business programs, said Dr. Ann Murphy, associate dean for the undergraduate division at the school. Each business student takes courses in areas like computer science, information systems, data analytics and applied models, giving them valuable depth in disciplines where employers continue to struggle to find ideal job candidates.
“Being so close to New York City gives us incredible access to leaders at Fortune 500 companies in every industry, from finance and life science to media and IT,” Dr. Murphy said. “Managers in those industries regularly provide input on our programs, ensuring students graduate with the skills in greatest demand in the real world.”
The School of Business offers bachelor’s degrees in Business and Quantitative Finance. For students graduating from the Business & Technology, Information Systems and Marketing majors, 89 percent were hired, at an average salary of $62,600; 7 percent were accepted to graduate school and 4 percent returned to their home country. Among Finance and Quantitative Finance majors, 86 percent were employed, at an average salary of $73,800, and 12 percent are in graduate school.
Preparing for success through internships
Part of Stevens’ placement success is its emphasis on internships. A career center and a dedicated student support center within the School of Business help students prepare for and secure internship opportunities as early as freshman year. More than 90 percent of business students complete at least one internship while at Stevens, including Joyce Pegler, a current senior who has done multiple internships with PwC.
“The technology core of Stevens, and how we’re taught to think of things with a technology mindset, opens the doors to a lot of new opportunities,” she said. “Being able to communicate with both the technical and operations sides of the business is such a crucial skill, and it’s one I’ve learned at Stevens.”
The high-tech skills Stevens graduates bring to the workplace are nurtured in state-of-the-art lab facilities, including the Hanlon Financial Systems Center, unique in higher education for tools that allow students to visualize and analyze data in real time, as they learn to make evidence-supported decisions that grow the enterprise. The center’s director is Dr. George Calhoun, who also runs the Quantitative Finance program.
“Managers recognize that entry-level employees must be able to think critically about business, communicate effectively and leverage technology in solving problems,” Dr. Calhoun said. “At Stevens, our curriculum is designed to give students the skills they need not only in the jobs they receive after graduation, but to lay the foundation for long-term career success.”