Life After Wesleyan
A meaningful college experience at Wesleyan leads to a purposeful future. Combine critical thinking with practical experience and you’ll be ready for what’s next, just as Wesleyan students have done before you. Our more than 43,000 alumni around the world can be found in every industry and every field, implementing policies to improve their communities, developing technology that transforms lives for the better, deploying business practices that strengthen economies, and creating art that touches lives deeply.
Whatever you dream of doing, wherever you dream of going, our alumni are out there, waiting to connect with you as you prepare for a career after Wesleyan.
Our Alumni Set the Bar
From the stage to the Senate, to startups, to the studio, Wesleyan alumni remain unmistakably Wes in their willingness to take risks, drive to create, and desire to make a meaningful impact in our world.
Wesleyan is a small university, but what our graduates go on to achieve is anything but small.
Nobel Prize recipients. MacArthur “Genius” Grant winners. Fulbright scholars. Super Bowl champions. Academy Award winners. Groundbreaking scientists. Innovative entrepreneurs. Political trailblazers. Global changemakers. The success realized by our alumni is second to none.
Where Do Wesleyan Students Go?
Wesleyan students are known for their bold and innovative paths, but statistics show that they also succeed in measurable ways.
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85% Class of 2023 Employed or Continuing Education
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+17% 20-’21 law school acceptance rate over national average
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+20-30% 16-’24 U.S. medical school acceptance rate over national average
Gordon Career Center
Offering one-on-one advising, over 200 events per year, courses, summer grants and alumni/student networking, the Gordon Career Center helps students apply their creativity and knowledge to their career ambitions.
Ready for More?
Many Wesleyan graduates pursue further education through graduate studies and continuing education programs offered at Wesleyan.
Featured Alumni
Discover the inspiring journeys of Wesleyan alumni who have made significant contributions across various fields. From innovators and leaders to artists and activists, these individuals embody the values of a Wesleyan education and demonstrate the impact of a lifelong commitment to learning and community engagement.
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Lael Brainard ’83 is the director of the National Economic Council of the United States appointed by President Biden. She was an economic adviser to former President Clinton and has served on the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
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Beanie Feldstein ’15 has acted in movies (Booksmart, Lady Bird), TV (Orange Is the New Black), and on Broadway (Hello, Dolly!).
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Lin-Manuel Miranda ’02, Hon. ’15 developed Broadway's In the Heights at Wesleyan, not long before creating Hamilton; additional credits include Moana, Star Wars, and The Little Mermaid (2023).
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John Yang ’80 is the anchor of PBS News Weekend and a PBS NewsHour correspondent who covers the Supreme Court and economic and social issues across the country.
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Glenn Ligon ’82, Hon. ’12 is an internationally renowned artist whose work explores themes such as race, sexuality, and identity.
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An advocate for environmental justice and urban revitalization, Majora Carter ’88, Hon. ’13 founded the consulting/planning firm the Majora Carter Group.
