Survey Data

UCS conducts a variety of surveys to gather data that is helpful to gain perspectives on student and alumni career experiences.  The results are used to obtain current information on students’ internship and post-graduation experiences, to identify job market and hiring patterns, and assess career outcomes and services.

Selected results of two of our major surveys are summarized below. The UCS Graduation Survey and the Internship Search Survey. 

UCS Graduation Survey

Annually distributed at time of graduation to undergraduate and graduate students, there are three primary sections:   1) “First Destination” results which track the post-graduation career plans of graduating students; 2) data on the nature of the students’ job search process, and 3) descriptions of academic and career preparation while at NU.

Summary Highlights

First destination data describes the specific career plans of graduates immediately following graduation.  Key findings for Class of 2011

  • The proportion of all graduates indicating full-time employment at the time of graduation has rebounded to 39%, the highest percentage since 2007.
  • The mean starting salary for 2011 undergraduates was $47,547, lower than the 2008 and 2010 salaries of $48,094 and $49,368, respectively. However it was higher than the 2009 mean salary of $42,853.  Doctoral students had a sharp decrease in mean salary since last year, $61,749 from $78,370 in 2010, and Master’s degree graduates experienced roughly the same mean salary since 2010 at $69,837.
  • The rate of unemployment rose slightly from 17.4% in 2010 to 17.9% in 2011. Undergraduate unemployment rates are at 18.7%, whereas Graduate students are currently at 16.6%.
  • The full-time employment rate for Bachelor’s degree recipients has risen considerably since 2009 (32.5%) and has also increased slightly since 2010 (38.8%), to 40.3%.  Master’s and Doctoral students also experienced an increase from 44.3% in 2010 to 47% in 2011.
  • Overall, undergraduates in 2011 are indicating plans to continue their education immediately after graduation at slightly higher rates than 2010, 19.5% from 19%. The Bienen School of Music had the greatest number of students planning to continue their education (29.5%), followed by WCAS (23%).

Career Status at the Time of Graduation for Undergraduates

Undergraduate Career Status After Graduation

First Destination 2008 2009 2010 2011
Career Status at Graduation N % N % N % N %
Full-Time Employment or Offer Pending 594 42.0 611 32.5 674 38.8 546 40.3
Continued Education 259 18.3 317 19.7 330 19.0 265 19.5
Unemployed/Seeking Work 206 14.6 424 22.6 302 17.4 254 18.7
Internship/Fellowship 100 7.1 131 7.0 107 6.2 98 7.2
Temporary or Contract Job 133 5.9 87 4.6 113 4.4 128 5.4
Employed Part-Time 49 3.5 66 3.5 68 3.9 47 3.5
Self-Employed/Freelance 37 2.6 49 2.6 48 2.8 18 1.3
Other 49 3.5 70 3.7 55 3.2 30 2.2
Voluntarily Unemployed 12 0.8 24 1.3 23 1.3 15 1.1
Community Service 25 1.8 37 2.0 27 1.6 18 1.3
Military Service 9 0.6 6 0.3 5 0.3 4 0.3
Total 1413 1879 1735 1356

The Job Search Process

Those graduates who were actively job-searching were surveyed on the nature of their job search.  The graduates engaged in both on and off-campus search methods and many were successful.

  • The survey suggests that the employment search process is becoming shorter than seen in 2010.  The proportion of students indicating that their search was 2 months or less has increased from 2010, which means that more students are finding employment at faster rates than seen in 2010.
  • 22.2% of job-searching respondents received interviews with six or more employers, a 1.3% increase from last year.
  • The search methods used most frequently by respondents to gain employment were applying directly to the employer, NU job listings, and Internet sites.
  • Of the Northwestern-specific search methods, NU job listings are most utilized, followed by career fairs, on-campus recruiting, and career services.
  • University Career Services was used by 51.8% of undergraduate respondents, placing it the top half of the pack for search methods listed.
  • Students who utilized the different career resources offered by Northwestern were significantly more likely to have employment upon graduation than students who used the career services less frequently.  Likewise, these students earned significantly higher salaries on average.

Undergraduates’ Employment by Job Category

Undergraduates Employment by Job Category

Career Preparation and Planning

The results of graduates’ co-curricular experiences show not only a high level of involvement but also a positive effect on the long-term goals and career preparedness.

  • The activities in which respondents sustained the highest rate of participation continue to be student activities and organizations, part-time employment, community service and volunteering, and summer jobs.  Over 60% of undergraduates completed at least one internship, and approximately 40% participated in two or more quarters of internship experience.

Starting Salaries by Degree Type and Year

Degree 2008 2009 2010 2011
Bachelor's $48,094 $42,853 $49,368 $47,547
Master's $61,175 $60,954 $70,666 $69,837
Doctorate $68,826 $60,919 $78,370 $61,749

All Respondents' Long-Term Career Interest

2008 2009 2010 2011
# % # % # % # %
Business, Finance, Mgmt, Sales, etc. 280 15.6 318 12.9 340 14.2 271 13.4
Art, Performance, Music 195 10.9 237 9.6 227 9.5 170 8.4
Communication, Journalism, Media 202 11.3 244 9.9 245 10.3 216 10.7
Medicine 186 10.4 259 10.5 220 9.2 229 11.3
Research/Academia 144 8.0 232 9.4 205 8.6 210 10.4
Law 95 5.3 159 6.5 145 6.1 91 4.5
Education/Teaching 116 6.5 168 6.8 178 7.5 140 6.9
Undecided 111 6.2 174 7.1 167 7.0 129 6.4
Technology or Engineering 132 7.4 200 8.1 186 7.8 193 9.5
Government/Politics/Public Policy 82 4.6 117 4.8 119 5.0 85 4.2
Community/Public Service 88 4.9 101 4.1 107 4.5 73 3.6
Other 87 4.9 138 5.6 174 7.3 130 6.4
Entrepreneur 72 4.0 111 4.5 75 3.1 84 4.2
Total 1,790 2,458 2,388 2,021

Geographic Distribution

In addition to salary, the survey also asked Northwestern graduates where they would be residing next fall. While most graduates indicated that they would stay in the United States, eight percent reported an international location. Figure 2 presents graduates’ geographic distribution (within the U.S. and internationally) for those students who clearly indicated a location for next fall’s residency.

Geographic Distribution of Graduates Reporting Next Year’s Location

Geographic distribution of graduates

Graduate and Professional School Plans

Undergraduates' Career Direction Decision Time, 2011

When Career Direction Decided
N Percentage
Prior to Freshman year 342 26.2
During Freshman year 146 11.2
During Sophomore year 245 18.8
During Junior year 292 22.4
During Senior year 278 21.3
Total 1,303

Undergraduates Highest Degree Aspiration by Gender, 2011

2011 Males Females
N % N %
Bachelor's 36 6.4 50 6.7
MA or MS 97 17.3 141 18.9
MBA or equivalent 156 27.8 123 16.5
Doctorate 76 13.5 125 16.8
Law 36 6.4 78 10.5
Medical/Dental 70 12.5 102 13.7
Uncertain 91 16.2 126 16.9
Total 562 745

Internship Search Survey

Each Spring the Internship Team at UCS introduces its annual Internship Search Survey across campus to gather information from students participating in internships. Questions about how students find internships and what internships are secured help to inform UCS staff and all others in the NU community interested in learning more about this topic.

Result Summaries: