Despite their small size and focus on liberal arts, the Little Ivies produce graduates with strong earnings and career placements. Alumni typically enjoy high median salaries, which reflect both the quality of the students and the career paths they follow. Many Little Ivies report median alumni earnings in the low to mid-$70,000s to low-$80,000s ten years after graduation. The chart below compares median alumni earnings approximately six years after graduation:

‍Median alumni earnings about six years after graduation (ten years after entry). Graduates from career-oriented programs like Bucknell (engineering/business) tend to rank highest, while even the lower end, such as Sarah Lawrence, is around $54,000, which is above national averages.

‍As shown, Bucknell, Lafayette, and Trinity College lead in median alumni pay, with figures around $80,000 or more. This is likely due to their strong programs in engineering and finance. Colgate, Williams, Union, and Tufts follow closely behind with median earnings in the mid-$70,000s. Even schools with more arts and humanities focus, like Vassar, Bates, and Skidmore, show solid mid-career medians in the upper-$60,000s to low-$70,000s. Notably, Sarah Lawrence alumni, many of whom pursue creative fields, have a lower median around $45,000, but this is an exception. Overall, graduates from Little Ivies earn significantly more than the national averages for college graduates, and in some cases, their outcomes rival those of graduates from research universities.

Beyond earnings, placement in graduate and professional schools is a key feature of these institutions. Many Little Ivies rank among the top producers of PhDs per capita and have high percentages of alumni earning advanced degrees. For instance, Swarthmore reports a very high rate of alumni pursuing graduate or professional degrees, with some analyses estimating this figure at nearly 90%. Haverford and Wesleyan also indicate that around three-quarters or more of their alumni eventually earn advanced degrees. These colleges nurture a scholarly environment and provide close mentoring that prepares students for success in competitive graduate programs. Within six months to a year after graduation, more than 90% of graduates are employed, in grad school, or involved in fellowships or service. For example, 98% of Bowdoin’s Class of 2023 achieved a positive outcome, such as employment, graduate school, or a fellowship shortly after graduation.

Little Ivies also have strong career networks and notable alumni across various fields. Amherst and Williams, for example, have produced multiple Pulitzer and Nobel Prize winners, Fortune 500 CEOs, and prominent government officials. Colgate and Lafayette alumni are well represented on Wall Street, highlighting solid recruitment in finance. Amherst, Colgate, and Lafayette are recognized for their excellent career support and alumni networks among Little Ivies, using engaged alumni to mentor and hire new graduates. In technology and science, several institutions, like Harvey Mudd—sometimes associated with Little Ivies—and Swarthmore and Wesleyan, send a significant number of students to STEM PhDs or tech firms. Undergraduate research experience also enhances outcomes: many Little Ivy students co-author research or complete senior theses, which aid in grad school admissions and securing high-skill jobs.

In summary, career outcomes for Little Ivy alumni are exceptional. They gain admission to elite graduate programs, achieve high mid-career salaries, and assume leadership roles across industries, supported by the solid foundational skills acquired from their liberal arts education. The combination of rigorous academics, strong alumni networks, and personalized mentorship results in graduates who are well-prepared for both advanced study and immediate career success.

Further Reading
College Scorecard (U.S. Dept. of Education – earnings & outcomes)
https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/
(Median earnings 6–10 years after entry; national comparisons)
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/
(Completion rates, post-graduate outcomes context)
NSF Survey of Earned Doctorates (PhD production per capita)
https://ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/earned-doctorates
(Identifies top undergraduate producers of PhDs, such as Swarthmore, Williams, etc.)
College Career Outcomes Reports (examples)
‍Bowdoin Outcomes: https://www.bowdoin.edu/career/students/outcomes/
‍Amherst Outcomes: https://www.amherst.edu/campuslife/careers/outcomes
(Employment/ grad school /fellowship rates within 6–12 months)
PayScale College Salary Report
https://www.payscale.com/college-salary-report
(Mid-career earnings comparisons for liberal arts colleges)
Institute of International Education (Fulbright Statistics)
https://www.iie.org/programs/fulbright-program/statistics/
(Supports claims about fellowship production and graduate preparation)