2021 Career Outcomes

Stanford GSE graduates are highly sought after for positions in a wide range of industries and education settings in the U.S. and around the world. Our graduates go on to be leaders in schools, government, industry, education non-profits and philanthropies, ed tech, and more.

Each year, Stanford EdCareers surveys graduating students and publishes a profile of the class and their career plans. Our graduates consistently report a high level of employment (greater than 90 percent) four months after graduation.

Class of 2021

The GSE class of 2021 faced unique circumstances. Applying pre-pandemic, and facing remote learning in the fall of 2020, many admitted students choose to defer, leading to a smaller than usual matriculating class. Despite navigating remote learning and internships, this intrepid group of students achieved strong employment outcomes.

The class of 2021 included a total of 127 graduates–20 doctoral and 107 master’s students. We know the employment status of 100 percent of the doctoral graduates and 95 percent of master’s graduates.

In addition, 28 Stanford undergraduates completed an education minor or honors.

Doctoral graduates

  • 100 percent were employed or had started new organizations.
  • 55 percent worked in academia (tenure track, non-tenure track, and postdoctoral positions).
  • The median full-time salary was $92,000, with a range of $63,500 to $220,000 (self-reported, global range).

  • Apple
  • Boise State University
  • Boston University Wheelock College of Education and Human Development
  • Colorado College
  • California State University, Long Beach
  • Google
  • Inter-American Development Bank
  • Meta
  • NWEA
  • Scripps College
  • Stanford University
  • Tufts University
  • Uber
  • University of California, San Diego
  • University of Michigan

Master’s graduates (non-STEP)

  • 92 percent were employed or had started new organizations.
  • 8 percent were pursuing further education.
  • The median full-time self-reported salary was $88,000, with a range of $48,000 to $175,000 (self-reported, global range).

  • Adobe
  • Appian Education Ventures
  • Bain & Company
  • Bank Street
  • Blue Engine
  • Campbell Union High School District
  • Curious Cardinals
  • Down Dog App
  • Duolingo
  • Echidna Giving
  • Education Trust - West
  • Francisco Partners
  • Hunt Institute
  • Imaginable Futures
  • Intrepid College Prep
  • Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen Foundation
  • MIND Research Institute
  • Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Foundation for Policy Research
  • Stanford University
  • The Jackson Laboratory
  • University of Chicago
  • Vanguard

Stanford Teacher Education Program (STEP) graduates

  • 100 percent were employed and were working in the field of education.
  • 84 percent of those employed worked primarily as classroom teachers.
  • The median full-time salary was $66,678, with a range of $41,780 to $86,000 (self-reported, global range).

  • Abbott Middle School
  • ACE Empower Academy
  • Balboa High School
  • Booker T. Washington Elementary
  • Branham High School
  • Burton High School
  • Carlmont High School
  • Columbia Middle School
  • Del Norte High School
  • Dixon High School
  • East Palo Alto Charter School
  • Fremont High School
  • Half Moon Bay High School
  • Hayward High School
  • Henry M. Gunn High School
  • Herbert Hoover Elementary
  • Hillview Middle School
  • Homestead High School
  • Hopkins Junior High School / Mission San Jose High School
  • Jefferson High School
  • John Muir Elementary
  • Kentwood High School
  • Lakewood Elementary
  • Leigh High School
  • Mabel Mattos Elementary School
  • Menlo-Atherton High School
  • Milpitas High School
  • Mission San José High School
  • Monta Vista High School
  • North Salinas High School
  • Notre Dame San Jose
  • Oak Knoll Elementary
  • Oceana High School
  • Oscar Loya Elementary School
  • Presidio Middle School
  • San Altos Elementary
  • San Francisco International High School
  • Sobrato High School
  • Travis High School
  • Vista Innovation and Design Academy
  • Woodside High School

Undergraduate minor and honors

  • 56 percent were employed or had started new organizations.
  • 44 percent were pursuing further education.
  • The median full-time salary was $47,000 with a range of $33,000 to $59,000 (self-reported, global range).

  • City Year
  • Ravenswood Family Health Network
  • Sicangu Community Development Corporation
  • Stanford Medicine
  • Stanford University
  • Stanley British Primary School
  • Teach For America/Leadership Prep
17
states and the District of Columbia
1
country/ territory outside the U.S.

93%

of graduates accepted positions in their desired geographic area

83

hiring organizations

Past annual reports

2015 Comprehensive Alumni Survey

This report from EdCareers covers eight decades of alumni experience in education, with insights on their teaching, entrepreneurship and leadership.

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