Ivy League Is Under Attack: Right, Wrong Or Liberal, Graduates Flock To Capitalism At Highest Rate In Years

Zinger Key Points
  • Ackman and others in the business community have criticized universities for prioritizing left-leaning agendas.
  • The results challenge the stereotype that elite university graduates can't be pro-capitalism and also progressive.

A recent report from the University of Pennsylvania reveals that more than 50% of graduates, spanning all majors and schools, get full-time positions in finance or consulting.

Harvard wasn’t far behind. In 2022, 40% of its graduates entered the finance sector. The percentage of Penn grads who secure jobs in consulting or finance has grown in the last few years, up from 45% of all grads to more than 50% of all grads in 2022.

This includes roles in investment banking and consulting, challenging the stereotype that elite university graduates can't be pro-capitalism and progressive at the same time.

The data comes at a time of campus unrest. A recent Congressional hearing addressed the surge in anti-Semitic incidents that have put elite American universities — particularly the Ivy League — in the national spotlight.

The attention intensified with the resignation of University of Pennsylvania president Liz Magill, sparking discussions about free speech, campus activism, and the priorities of these prestigious institutions.

Magill was criticized over her testimony at a House hearing last week when she, along with the presidents of Harvard and MIT, did not explicitly say that calling for the genocide of Jewish people violates their code of conduct.

Claudine Gay, president of Harvard University, also appeared at a House hearing to discuss campus antisemitism.

Ackman Chimes In

Billionaire investor and Harvard alum Bill Ackman accused his alma mater of having a double standard in handling free speech.

In a lengthy letter, Ackman raised concerns about the suppression of certain viewpoints while simultaneously allowing hate speech to persist.

"During her tenure as Dean and now as president, Gay has squelched speech she disfavors while defending and thereby amplifying vile and threatening hate speech, exhibiting a remarkable double standard,” Ackman’s letter to Harvard reads.
Ackman and others in the business community have criticized universities for prioritizing left-leaning agendas, arguing that it's antithetical to growth formation and the free market. Though the connection is unproven, the sentiment is often repeated in political spheres.

However, as the data shows, graduates from Ivy League institutions have increased their preference for business-oriented careers post-graduation.

Read Also: Billionaire Calls Student Protests 'Antisemitic Burning Man,' Vows To Halt Donations To University Over Pro-Palestine Protests

Image: Pixabay

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