Outcomes
Amazing Outcomes for Goshen College Graduates
Goshen College transforms local and global communities through courageous, creative and compassionate leaders. Shaped by Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition, we integrate academic excellence and real-world experience with active love for God and neighbor.
Our integrative, international, intercultural and interdisciplinary approach to education not only prepares students for rewarding, successful careers, but also produces servant-leaders for the church and the world.
Undergraduate Programs: Persistence and Completion
Goshen College finds consistent and noteworthy success in helping students persist and successfully graduate. National data confirm our above-average performance in both the percentage of first-year students who return to continue their studies, and in the percentage who graduate within six years.
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For more detailed breakdowns of graduation rates by gender & race/ethnicity see the Goshen College Fact Book.
Graduate and Certificate Programs: Completion
Goshen College offers several graduate-level degree programs and undergraduate certificate programs, designed to be completed in one to three years. Graduate students at GC complete their degrees at consistently high rates.
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Education: Satisfaction
GC seniors consistently offer positive evaluations of their GC educational experiences, exceeding national averages.
Careers
GC’s tradition of experiential learning, internships and research programs prepares students for rewarding careers. In recent years, despite the challenges of a global economic downturn, our graduates have found success in the job market. Ninety-five % of our nursing graduates pass the NCLEX exam, while we are also ranked #3 for Becker CPA pass rates, and we hold a 92% medical school acceptance rate.
- Intercultural and international experience that fosters a global perspective
- Critical thinking skills
- Sensitivity to issues of values, peace and justice
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to relate with people different from themselves
- Excellent leadership potential
These skills, knowledge and responsibilities come together in a liberal arts education that uniquely prepares students for a wide variety of careers. See currently offered Majors & Minors.
Graduate School and Licensure
Goshen College excels at preparing students for doctoral degrees. When it comes to earning a doctoral degree, Goshen College students have an advantage. At GC, students have more opportunities for undergraduate research, have smaller classes and build relationships with top-notch professors both in and out of the classroom.
Nationally, Goshen College ranks 18th out of 157 institutions in its Carnegie class (Baccalaureate-Diverse Fields) for the total number of graduates who went on to receive doctorate degrees. When school size is taken into account, Goshen ranks 16th in its Carnegie class. Goshen College ranks 1st in the number of graduates going on to earn doctorates among Mennonite institutions and 9th among Indiana private institutions.
Ranking excludes institutions with fewer than 25 graduates per year.
Over five years (2018-2022):
- 86% of Goshen students who applied to medical school were accepted.
- 100% of social work graduates passed their licensing exam.
- 90% of nursing students passed the NCLEX exam.
Alumni
Goshen graduates are leaders in many areas of culture, service, advocacy, environment, business and science, and live out the college motto of “Culture for Service” in their volunteer and community service work.
- Dale Kempf ’78, helped develop one of the most potent antiviral drugs for HIV and AIDS.
- Ellah Wakatama Allfrey ’88 is a literary editor in England and was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire by Prince Charles.
- Raj Biyani ’92 is head of the India operations for Microsoft IT, Microsoft’s largest IT operation outside of corporate headquarters in Redmond, Wash.
- Steve Kreider Yoder ’81 is Senior Editor, Page One for the Wall Street Journal.
- Doug Schwartzentruber ’78 is a physician named to Time magazine’s 2010 list of the most influential people in the world for his cancer research.
- Jo Becker ’85 is the Children’s Advocacy Director for Human Rights Watch.
- Kelly Lerner ’85 was awarded the 2005 World Habitat Award at the U.N. World Habitat Day Celebration and named one of the top 10 “eco architects” in the U.S.
- Ruby Payne ’72 is a former educator and administrator who is internationally recognized for her consulting on education and class issues.
- J.D. Martin ’70 has written 15 top-ten country music singles (including five #1 hits).
- James C. Strouse ’99 is a Sundance Film Festival award-winning writer-director of films such as Grace is Gone and The Winning Season.
Athletics
Scholar-Athletes: In 2021-22, Goshen College produced 40 NAIA scholar-athletes, with a total of 160 NAIA scholar-athletes over the past five years.
- Graduation and retention data are from the National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS Data Center; peer groups are defined as institutions classified as Carnegie Baccalaureate Diverse Programs, members of the Independent Colleges of Indiana (Indiana privates), public 4-year institutions of Indiana, and colleges and universities affiliated with the Mennonite Education Agency.
- Evaluation of the overall GC educational experience is via that National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), which GC participates in on a regular basis with response rates above 70%.
- Alumni data were gathered via administration of the HEDS alumni survey. Overall survey response rates are 30-40%.
- Data on doctoral degrees is from the National Science Foundation’s annual Survey of Earned Doctorates. Data presented are doctoral degrees conferred between 1996 and 2015 as a percent of the total bachelor’s degrees awarded from 1991-2010 as reported to IPEDS.