Employment Reports

HDS students sitting together on the campus green

Graduate employment and further study - FALL 2025

Harvard Divinity School surveys its students in the weeks prior to their graduation. The following table offers a sense of the diverse paths anticipated by our students as they complete their degrees. Note that many students will not have confirmation of their plans prior to graduation.
 

What are your plans for the coming year? (2025 graduates, 130 respondents)

  • Employment, (already secured a job, starting my own business, or returning to or continuing previous job)     32%
  • Employment, do not yet have a job        22%
  • Enter a graduate degree program 18%
  • Clinical Pastoral Education       5%
  • Obtain part-time or short-term employment/apply to graduate programs         8%
  • Other    5%
  • Fellowship         3%
  • Take time off     4%
  • Uncertain           3%

Harvard Divinity School also regularly surveys its graduates one year after graduation. The most recent class surveyed was the class of 2024. This data represents 107 of the 128 MDiv, MTS, and MRPL graduates (84%). One year out, 65% were employed full-time, 24% were enrolled in graduate school, and less than 5% were currently seeking employment. The remainder were employed part time or engaged in personal pursuits. For those employed full time, the primary career fields are summarized below.

  • Arts       8%
  • Business             5%
  • Community development, advocacy, or social services             11%
  • Education: University/College teaching or research     8%
  • Education: University administration   7%
  • Education: Secondary school or other educational field            9%
  • Health/Medicine         7%
  • Law       5%
  • Ministry: Ordained         4%
  • Ministry: Chaplaincy    13%
  • Non-profit management and consulting             4%
  • Public policy, government, or mediation            5%

  • Writing 7%

     

MDiv and MTS Careers 10 Years Out

Additionally, HDS surveys graduates 10 years after their date of graduation to learn about their vocational direction. Often, given requirements for additional credentialing and/or doctoral degree completion, our graduates may not be settled in their intended careers for some time. The 10-year survey allows us to report the outcomes of our graduates relative to their intended paths and the time it takes to achieve them. The data, represented in the narrative below, lends insight into the broad categories and differing paths of graduates and represents 92% of the class of 2015 (117/127).
 

Education

Further education figured prominently for many members of the classes studied.

  • 28% (13/46) of MDiv graduates completed additional graduate degrees, including 11 PhDs (primarily in Religious or Theological Studies) and others pursuing advanced study in law, social work, and Rabbinical School.
  • 50% (40/79) of MTS graduates reported advanced degrees, including 27 PhDs (primarily in Religious or Theological Studies) and others pursuing advanced study in business, law, social work, and Rabbinical School.
     

Employment

MDiv Graduates: Employment by Sector

  • 24% of MDiv graduates are ordained ministers with an additional 12% pursuing lay ministry and chaplaincy.
  • 29% of MDiv graduates entered the education sector as represented by secondary school teaching, university teaching and university administration.
  • 20% of MDiv alumni are in careers related to business and non-profit management/consulting.
  • Other areas of focus include counseling, medicine, and public policy.

MTS Graduates: Employment by Sector

  • 40% of MTS graduates work in the education sector, primarily university teaching and administration, but also secondary school teaching and administration.
  • 17% of MTS alumni are in careers related to business and non-profit management/consulting.
  • Other areas of focus include public policy, community development, law, the arts, and writing/communications.

Other activities

Both MDiv and MTS alumni reported a high percentage of secondary activities aligned with their missional interests. These commitments included serving on nonprofit boards, artistic endeavors, research, public service and volunteering, adjunct teaching, and writing.