Highlights

The Wellesley Career Education model was dramatically transformed in Fall 2016, replacing the Center for Work and Service. The 2024-2025 academic year marks its ninth year. We are pleased to share highlighted data points that demonstrate our commitment to helping students to engage in career exploration, develop their personal advisory boards, participate in experiential learning, and implement a career action plan.

Total Appointments

for students and alums

2023-2024

7,056

2024-2025

7,568

6%

Inclusive Excellence

Inclusive excellence is a top priority at Wellesley College. The career education model takes into account the diversity in background, perspective, and career goals of all Wellesley students. We’ve been pleased to see engagement increase across class levels, disciplines, and distinct populations. The chart below demonstrates the appointments and event attendance across distinct populations of students in Fall 2024 and Spring 2025.

Overall 4.1 Out of 5

of all students had appointments, attended events, or participated in programs offered by Career Education in 2024-2025.

84%

Humanities

84%

Science

86%

Social Sciences

82%

Davis Scholars

82%

First Generation

78%

First Years

81%

Sophomores

84%

Juniors

85%

Seniors

91%

International Students

87%

Asian/Asian-American

78%

Black/African-American

82%

Latinx

78%

Two or More Races

77%

White/Caucasian

Student-Focused Events

195

79

Career Education Workshops & Info Sessions

66

Employers on Campus

25

Peer Career Mentor Hosted Events

17

Outreach (Partnerships with Clubs & Departments)

5

Classroom Presentations

3

Signature Programs (Embark, Upskill, & Make It Make Cents)

Connecting to the Wellesley Network

The cornerstone platform for alum and student connection is The Wellesley Hive, a digital space for mentorship and networking. In 2024-25, Career Education also continued two popular programs that each cultivate connections between alums and students. SHort Internship Projects (SHIPs) continued to generate opportunities for students to work with alums, employers, and campus partners.

Wellesley Hive Mentorship

8,605

Alum mentors in The Wellesley Hive

Connections in the Hive

12,642

unique connections between students and alumnae in the Wellesley Hive since the platform launch.

Alumnae Appointments by Class Year

(2024-2025)

2,132

210

2024

127

2023

78

2022

65

2021

47

2020

95

2015-2019

42

2010-2014

26

2005-2009

26

2000-2004

45

Before 2000

Alumnae Events

Alumnae-Specific Events

27

Attendees

394

SHort Internship Projects (SHIPs)

SHort Internship Projects (SHIPs) are short-term, virtual experiences designed by alums, parents, employers and campus partners. All SHIPs are paid, virtual, and designed exclusively for first-year students.

95

students were hired for summer SHIPs, across 84 projects

The SHIPs program far exceeded my expectations. Initially, I was not sure how much first-year students could contribute to our project. The amount and quality of work they produced were quite remarkable. They also had a wonderfully positive attitude. Working with Wellesley SHIPs interns has been an absolute delight; I wish I had more students like them.

SHIPs program sponsor

Summer 2025

More about SHIPs

Wellesley-Funded Internships

Internships help students connect theory to practice, confirm a professional interest, point them in a new direction, or open a surprising new door. Over 25% of all students participate in a Wellesley-funded internship during their four years. Thank you to our generous donors who have made these experiences possible.

Funded Opportunities

305

students were awarded internship stipends (300 Wellesley-funded; 5 employer-funded)

Countries of Employment

39

90 Wellesley-funded students worked internationally in 39 different countries.

States of Employment

23

215 students worked in 23 different states (plus Washington D.C.)

Fellowships

Fellowships and scholarships can fund graduate or professional study, purposeful travel, professional placements, self-designed projects, and so much more. They can help students and alums build experience and qualifications, explore a passion, and clarify a path forward.

Funding

$892,898

Total awarded through Wellesley-funded & graduate fellowships in 2024-25. $750,298 of the total amount was funded by Wellesley. (Distribution amount as of October 2025)

Appointments

1,294

Total fellowships advising appointments, including pop-up advising

Wellesley really pushed me to take risks, and I developed such a love for learning and for being curious.

Eshika Kaul ’23

2025 Winner of the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans Fellowship

Embark: First-Year Career Retreat

Embark is a free weekend-long immersive program that equips students with a toolkit to begin their career exploration. First-years discover how to identify and utilize their values and strengths through assessments and activities, hear career stories from Wellesley sibs, and learn about the variety of opportunities that are available to Wellesley students, like funded internships, study abroad, and research.

Embark Participants

116

first-year students (Class of 2028)

I appreciated the opportunity to connect with Career Education staff more personally, as well as learn from my peers. I really enjoyed seeing my peers before the start of the second semester - whether meeting them for the first time or reuniting — and it was so valuable to hear their aspirations and experiences when it comes to career exploration.

Embark Participant

2025

Learn more about Embark

Upskill: Skill-Building Series

Upskill is a one-week, immersive experiential learning opportunity during wintersession where students gain hands-on experience and begin building skills in specific industries. Students work with experts, practitioners, and trainers to apply what they’re learning. In January 2025, there were three tracks offered: Coding Careers, Entrepreneurship, Investment Banking, Medical Professions, and Journalism.

Upskill Program Participation

82

students

20

Investment Banking

16

Entrepreneurship

17

Coding Careers

19

Medical Professions

10

Journalism

Pre-Med Scholars

The Pre-Med Scholars program supports Wellesley's inclusive excellence initiative, preparing students for careers in medicine by offering connections, information and opportunities during the crucial first year of college. The goal of the cohort program is to support students from low-income and first generation backgrounds in successfully preparing for and entering medical careers. 2024-2025 was the second year of the program.

What I really enjoyed about the Pre-Med Scholars Program was being able to connect with a strong network of other Wellesley premed students. My key takeaway from this program is the community that I have built.

Pre-Med Scholars Program Participant

2024-2025

Learn More about the Pre-Med Scholars

Participation

12

students participated in the full Pre-Med Scholars pilot program

Financial Need

100%

of participants were considered high financial need by the college

Annual Report 2024–2025