There are endless possibilities after Princeton — in fact, 49.8 percent of respondents are currently working in a career field different from what they expected upon graduation. Despite Princeton not having law, medical, and business majors or graduate programs, those careers compose the top three career fields that the Class of 1999 are working in, with 15.5 percent of respondents working in law, 12.3 percent in medicine, and 10.3 percent in finance. Alumni have been exploring their careers, with 80.9 percent of respondents having made at least one career change, and 20.1 percent planning to make a career change in the next five years.

Back when the Class of 1999 attended Princeton, the informal motto was simply “in the nation’s service.” The Class of 1999 says it is following not just “in the nation’s service,” but as of 2016, “in the service of humanity.” Nearly three-quarters believe their career abides by the University’s informal motto, about 40 percent of whom are in medicine, law, or education. Of those who said “no,” 23.6 percent are in finance, 20.9 percent are in law, and 18.2 percent are in business. The only household income group to have half say “no” ranged between $3 million – $5 million.

Princeton loves to boast its alumni network, and the Class of 1999 has taken advantage of it. Over one-third of respondents say they were hired for a job because of a Princeton connection. However, they are not as likely to return the favor – 23 percent say they have hired someone because of a Princeton connection.

Princeton graduates 25 years out are laughing all the way to the bank. Respondents of the Class of 1999 find themselves well above the median household income in the United States, with 46.9 percent earning more than $500,000 annually. The 2022 median household income in the U.S. was $74,580. The overwhelming majority, 85.2 percent of respondents, identify as upper middle class or upper class.