Bryant first generation student
Class of '22 Pell Grant recipients, students of color earn strongest return on investment
Apr 25, 2023, by Casey Nilsson

According to new data collected by Bryant University’s Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Strategy, the Class of 2022 graduates with the strongest economic outcomes include Pell Grant recipients and alumni of color.

Class of 2022 recipients of the Federal Pell Grant, which are awarded to undergraduate students who display exceptional financial need, reported median earnings of $72,000 annually. Graduates of color from the Class of 2022 reported earnings of $70,000 annually.

Across the board, the Class of 2022 reported the highest post-graduate economic outcomes in university history, earning a median starting salary of $68,000 per year. Ninety-nine percent of graduates were either employed or pursuing advanced degrees within six months of graduation.

RELATED ARTICLE: Bryant Class of 2022 breaks university record for highest starting salary

“As an institution, it’s our responsibility to provide an educational experience that’s valuable and rewarding for all our students,” says Bryant University President Ross Gittell, Ph.D. “I’m proud of Bryant’s strong record on return on investment and economic mobility, and of the 2022 graduates for their extraordinary achievements.”

Bryant’s outcomes for low-income students are markedly stronger than the national average. In the United States, Pell Grant graduates have lower median incomes, overall, and fewer paths to economic mobility than their peers. According to the Harvard Opportunity Insights Project, Bryant ranks 7th out of 578 selective private colleges for economic mobility for low-income students.

“I'm inspired by Bryant’s deep commitment to social and economic mobility for our students,” says Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Inge-Lise Ameer, Ed.D., who serves as the cabinet representative for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at Bryant. “The university is so clearly dedicated to preparing students for success, from the classroom to clubs and sports to their careers.”

Outcomes for Bryant graduates of color also defy national disparities in salary. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, white graduates earn between 18 to 20 percent more, on average, than their Black and Hispanic peers.

The Class of 2022 is also closing the gender wage gap, with a female to male earnings ratio at 96 percent, compared to 82 percent nationwide.

RELATED ARTICLE: “Women of Bryant” video celebrates a legacy of leaders and changemakers

“Students come to Bryant to learn from — and work alongside — a robust, diverse faculty committed to high-impact research and interdisciplinary education,” says Chief Academic Officer and Provost Rupendra Paliwal, Ph.D. “Our faculty in the College of Business, College of Arts and Sciences, and School of Health and Behavioral Sciences deliver an education that has the potential to propel students forward and change lives.”   

 

About Bryant University

For 160 years, Bryant University has been at the forefront of delivering an exceptional education with top 1% outcomes that anticipates the future and prepares students to be innovative leaders of character in a changing world. The university delivers a uniquely integrated academic and student life experience with nationally recognized academic programs at the intersection of business, liberal arts, and health and behavioral sciences.

Located on a 428-acre contemporary campus in Smithfield, R.I., Bryant enrolls approximately 3,800 undergraduate and graduate students from 38 states and 49 countries. Bryant is recognized as a top 1% national leader in student education outcomes and ROI, and regularly receives high rankings from U.S. News and World Report, Money, Bloomberg Businessweek, Wall Street Journal, College Factual and Barron’s.

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