Schools that conduct an annual FDS to capture information on how their new college graduates fare following graduation can benefit their own institutions and demonstrate the value of higher education.

The unusual and uncertain times experienced by the college Class of 2021 in its final year was reflected in its outcomes, which improved from last year, but remained down from pre-pandemic levels.

Davidson has found several steps—such as getting an early start, using texts, and providing tailored information—to be helpful in attaining and maintaining a high FDS knowledge rate.

Auburn University’s high knowledge rates on its recent first-destination surveys is driven by the survey being part of a course all students are required to take.

As was the case with bachelor’s level outcomes, the employment outcomes for graduates earning master’s degrees declined in 2020 in comparison with 2019.

Results from NACE’s First Destinations Survey for the Class of 2020 reveal that the gap in pay between men and women begins right out of college—at the start of the career.

Class of 2020 graduates got fewer jobs than any other class since NACE first began reporting on employment trends with the Class of 2014.

Nearly 60% of Class of 2019 bachelor’s grads were employed in full-time positions with a traditional employer and nearly 19% were going on for an advanced degree by the end of 2019.

Collecting first-destination data for the Class of 2020 will be challenging, as traditional methods, such as surveying students during graduation, are not an option during the pandemic. Experts offer some recommendations.

While the percentage of Class of 2017 master’s grads who were employed dipped from last year, a greater percentage decided to continue their education.

First-destination outcomes for the Class of 2017 bachelor’s degree graduates are nearly identical to those for the Class of 2016, according to results of NACE’s annual First-Destination Survey.

Supported by a strong employment market, members of the Class of 2016 earning master’s degrees notched a strong set of outcomes.

What are the long-term career effects for college students who graduate in a recession? This article reviews the relevant literature.

Class of 2016 bachelor’s degree graduates reported slightly low levels of employment compared to their Class of 2015 counterparts.

Are graduates of career-oriented degree programs leaving the occupations for which they are being prepared? NACE research examines the issue.

The NACE First-Destination Survey initiative provides for collecting, analyzing, and reporting outcomes for college graduates on a national scale. Based on standards and protocols developed by a team of career services practitioners, this survey features outcomes for associate- and bachelor’s-degree graduates nationally and regionally; outcomes are also available by Carnegie Classification and size of school as well as academic program. The survey also captures starting salary information.

The NACE First-Destination Survey initiative provides for collecting, analyzing, and reporting outcomes for college graduates on a national scale. Based on standards and protocols developed by a team of career services practitioners, this survey features outcomes for associate- and bachelor’s-degree graduates nationally and regionally; outcomes are also available by Carnegie Classification and size of school as well as academic program. The survey also captures starting salary information.

The NACE First-Destination Survey initiative provides for collecting, analyzing, and reporting outcomes for college graduates on a national scale. Based on standards and protocols developed by a team of career services practitioners, this survey features outcomes for associate- and bachelor’s-degree graduates nationally and regionally; outcomes are also available by Carnegie Classification and size of school as well as academic program. The survey also captures starting salary information.

The NACE First-Destination Surveys Task Force developed standards and protocols for colleges and universities to use in collecting and reporting graduating student career outcomes data. Developed by practitioners for practitioners, the standards and protocols also reflect feedback provided during the public comment period by more than 100 career services professionals. Resources, including the standards and protocols, articles about how some schools are implementing the standards, and PPTs and handouts from webinars about the first-destination survey effort are available here.

The NACE First-Destination Survey initiative provides for collecting, analyzing, and reporting outcomes for college graduates on a national scale. Based on standards and protocols developed by a team of career services practitioners, this survey features outcomes for associate- and bachelor’s-degree graduates nationally and regionally; outcomes are also available by Carnegie Classification and size of school as well as academic program. The survey also captures starting salary information.

After taking a big hit in the wake of the recession, job-seeking students have since been making the gradual climb back up to their pre-recession levels of success. The Class of 2016 has stalled somewhat on this climb, according to results of NACE’s Class of 2016 Student Survey report.

Eighty-eight percent of master’s degree graduates and 92 percent of doctoral graduates from the Class of 2015 had positive outcomes at the six-month mark after the close of the school year, according to NACE’s Class of 2015 First-Destination Survey report.

A majority of the college Class of 2015 landed a job or was accepted into a continuing education program within six months of graduation, according to NACE’s Class of 2015 First-Destination Survey report.

The College Scorecard limits post-graduate information to salary for the school as a whole. In this article, NACE's research director looks at how three factors—type of school, demographics, and academic program—affect salary results.

What difference does an advanced degree make when it comes to attitudes about employers and the job search? NACE’s research team takes a look at how attitudes of master’s and doctorate degree students compare to their counterparts earning the bachelor’s degree.

Does pursuing a degree in the liberal arts and sciences (LAS) has any practical value in terms of employment and earnings? If anything, the debate over the value of a liberal arts and sciences degree has gotten more intense since the recession has ended

NACE’s First-Destination Survey Standards and Protocols were developed by a task force of practitioners, and reflect feedback provided during a public comment period by more than 100 career services professionals. The standards/protocols are designed to address the needs of individual institutions to track graduate outcomes, and can be used to address growing demand by accrediting bodies and governmental agencies.

Catherine Neiner appreciates the simplicity and the standardized nature of NACE’s First-Destination Survey Standards and Protocols. The NACE First-Destination Survey levels the playing field for liberal arts. We’re getting the same general data across the board. We can now make the case that our students are going out into the world and being productive. I am hoping that this will be an important component of advancing the liberal arts.”

Renee Starek has followed several key steps to achieve a 94 percent knowledge rate thus far for the Class of 2014, just months after the First-Destination Survey Standards and Protocols were implemented at Seton Hill.

Students who go to graduate school have a considerable advantage in the job market over students with bachelor’s degrees. Employers now place a greater emphasis on a more developed and deeper skill set for their new college hires. The Education Testing Service states that, “Graduate education is the engine of a highly skilled work force.”