Survey: Nearly all Blugolds find jobs related to career goals

This newest report delivers job and continuing education data for 2,083 graduates from the last full academic cycle.

As students and families continue their college choice process, the data provided by the report is another tool showcasing the value of a UW-Eau Claire degree, says Billy Felz, vice chancellor for enrollment management.

“Each year, the First Destination Report reiterates that a Blugold degree remains an incredible investment, and the return on investment is amazing,” Felz says.

“Our graduates are in demand by employers, and they’re being hired for positions directly connected to their passions and career goals. Blugolds leave this place with knowledge, skills and practical experiences that bring success and awesome earning potential over their careers.”

UW-Eau Claire’s Career Services office conducts the survey of graduates annually seeking data on employment and continuing education plans. The most recent survey data has good news on outcomes in these key areas:

• 99% of respondents are working or are continuing their education six months after graduation.
• 97% of employed undergraduates reported that their position is related to their career goal.
• 93% of respondents agreed they were prepared for the next step in their career path.
• 70% of graduates completed an undergraduate internship, with 38% of those internships resulting in an offer for permanent employment.

Survey details

The First Destination data is collected in several ways, including a precommencement online survey to all graduating students and a follow-up message to all nonresponders. Additionally, six months after graduation, a search is conducted, primarily via LinkedIn, to find graduates who did not report any data. Faculty and staff also provide some data. International students are not included in the report.

Staci Heidtke, director of Career Services, cites the highly valued information this annual survey provides to current and prospective students and families, as well as the campus and greater community.

“These key data sets demonstrate the overall value of higher education, with student outcomes shown to impact our state and regional economy in strongly positive ways,” Heidtke says.

“We are pleased to provide this information to our campus for use in marketing to prospective students, seeking grant funding and creating new academic programs based on market demands.”

An overview of job placements shows that the top industries hiring the recent graduate cohort were accounting, healthcare, K-12 education and manufacturing.

For those students continuing their education, the top majors for graduate studies were communication sciences and disorders, psychology, rehabilitation science, exercise science and biology.

The results show a rise in the number of Blugolds working in-state after graduation, with 61% employed in Wisconsin, 27% of those here in the Chippewa Valley and 34% elsewhere in the state.

The full First Destination Report for 2023-24, along with past reports, can be found on the Career Services website.