University of Bologna students graduate sooner, complete their degrees on time more often, and achieve higher marks than the Italian average. And they find jobs more quickly too. This is according to the latest AlmaLaurea Report on University Graduates’ Profiles and Employment Outcomes, presented this morning.
For the University of Bologna, the 28th Report on University Graduates’ Profiles gathered information on 20,281 graduates who completed their degrees in 2025 (10,730 first-cycle graduates, 7,805 second-cycle graduates and 1,746 single-cycle graduates).
The data confirm the University of Bologna’s strong appeal to students. A total of 44.3% of graduates come from outside the Emilia-Romagna region, compared with a national average of 23.9%. International graduates account for 9%, compared with a national average of 5.6%. This further confirms the University’s remarkable attractiveness, offering students an environment enriched by a high level of cultural diversity.
University of Bologna students also obtain their degree at a younger age, with an average graduation age of 25.2, while the national average is more than a year higher, at 26.3. This is thanks to a much higher proportion of students graduating on time: 67.8%, compared with a national average of 60.4%. Not only that: University of Bologna graduates achieve higher final marks, averaging 104.4 out of 110, compared with the national average of 102.8.
Figures relating to internships and international study experiences are also above the national average. A total of 62% of University of Bologna graduates completed an internship recognised by their degree programme (compared with 60.9% nationally). And 16.4% had an international study experience, compared with a national average of 10.2%.
All of these figures are reflected in students’ overall assessment of their university experience. Among University of Bologna graduates, 88.4% are satisfied with their degree programme, 85.1% are satisfied with teaching activities, and 86.9% are satisfied with their relationship with academic staff.
But what happens when it comes to finding work? Here too, the figures are encouraging. The new AlmaLaurea Employment Outcomes Report involved 38,478 University of Bologna graduates. The analysis focuses on bachelor's and master's graduates from 2024 (interviewed one year after graduation) and on master's graduates from 2020 (interviewed five years after graduation).
Among first-cycle graduates, 68.3% choose to continue their studies one year after graduation, while 29.2% do not enrol in another degree programme. Among the latter, the employment rate stands at 77.8%.
Looking instead at second-cycle graduates, the employment rate one year after graduation stands at 82.7%, compared with a national average of 80.8%. Overall, 20.9% of graduates continued in the job they held before graduation, 19.2% changed jobs, and 59.9% started working after graduating. Of those employed, 24.7% held permanent contracts, 23.8% fixed-term contracts, and 7.3% were self-employed.
Five years after graduation, the employment rate among University of Bologna graduates rises to 94.5%. Among those employed, 56.1% had permanent contracts, 13.3% fixed-term contracts,
Where do they work? A total of 60.5% are employed in the private sector, 34.7% in the public sector, and 4.4% in the non-profit sector. The services sector employs 79.4% of graduates, while 18.3% work in industry; 1.7% are employed in agriculture. A total of 55.7% work in Emilia-Romagna, 35.5% in another Italian region, while 8.4% work abroad.
“These figures are encouraging and motivate us to continue along the path we have taken to ensure the best possible experience for our students,” says Rector Giovanni Molari. “In particular, these results reward the high quality of our degree programmes, the progressive strengthening of our services, and our growing focus on the local area and its social and business communities. Our teaching is constantly evolving, in ongoing dialogue with these realities, to meet the challenges of both the present and the future. At the same time, our services, including academic guidance throughout students’ studies and career guidance, are designed to help students become aware, prepared and as well equipped as possible for their professional lives.”
