About the MEDS Career Data

Data includes Full-Time Career positions only.
Data includes Full-Time Career positions only.

Because of missing placement location data for some survey respondents, total percentages may not add to 100%

To protect alumni confidentiality, we have separated job titles from employer details.

About the MESM Career Data

Data includes Full-Time Career positions only.
Data includes Full-Time Career positions only.
Data includes Full-Time Career positions only.

To protect alumni confidentiality, we have separated job titles from employer details.

About Bren's Programs & Demographics Data

Where are students coming from?

URM (Underrepresented Minority) is defined as a U.S. citizen who identifies as Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, or American Indian, which is consistent with the UC definition of URM.

Race and Background Reporting Defintions

Two classification systems are commonly used to report race and ethnicity data: URM and IPEDS.

  • URM (Underrepresented Minority) refers to U.S. citizens who identify as Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, or American Indian. Individuals who identify with multiple races are still considered URM if at least one of those identities falls within a URM category.

  • IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) uses a two-step process: first, individuals indicate whether they are “Hispanic or Latino” or “Not Hispanic or Latino”. Second, they may select one or more of the following racial categories: American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and White. Full definitions of these categories are available on the IPEDS website.

For all race/ethnicity plots below: Students are counted in every race / ethnicity group with which they self-identify. As a result, total percentages may exceed 100%.

Race / Category

IPEDS Backgrounds and Distribution of Selected Race / Category

Our motivation

This interactive data explorer visualizes career outcome and admissions data of current students and recent graduates of the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management. It includes career outcomes for master’s students (MEDS & MESM) and demographic information for all students (MEDS, MESM & PhD).

We developed this explorer with the intention of supporting:

  • Prospective students in their decision-making as they explore different Bren School degree programs ( MEDS hex in blue-green MESM hex in dark-blue PhD hex in light-green )
  • Bren staff across all units to offer relevant information for strategic planning and reporting requirements
  • All Bren communities and stakeholders from past, present, and future by creating data transparency and data integrity through an accessible application

Data sources & code

The visualizations and statistics on the Career Outcomes and Demographics tabs are based on data from the following sources:

  • Bren Career Team (three most recent years of initial job placement data)
  • UCSB Graduate Division (five most recent years of application data)

This dashboard was originally developed by MEDS 2022 alum, Halina Do-Linh. It is now maintained and updated annually by Bren School staff.

Source code is available on GitHub. If you see mistakes or want to suggest changes, please submit an issue. Questions? Email admissions@bren.ucsb.edu.