May 24, 2023

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MILWAUKEE — Marquette University reports that 84% of its 2021-22 bachelor’s degree recipients are employed full time or enrolled in graduate/professional school, part of a service program, or are active military, according to the annual Undergraduate First-Destination Survey conducted by the Office of Institutional Research and Analysis.

Graduates reported 57% full-time employment by the survey date, which matches the survey’s 10-year average. Among those who are employed full time, 95% report their job is related to their career goals or an entry level position on the way to those goals. It is the fourth straight year in which at least 95% of respondents reported being on track for their career goals.

Twenty-five percent of graduates were enrolled in school full time, while 1% of reporting graduates entered post-graduate service, such as Jesuit Volunteer Corps. or Teach for America, and an additional 1% are active military.

After five years, Marquette boasts a 97% rate of graduates being engaged in full-time work and activities or not seeking employment. That figure rose to 100% after 10 years, including 92% who were employed full time, according to the 2021 Undergraduate Alumni Survey, which polls alumni one, five and 10 years after graduation.

“Marquette students work hard and receive an exceptional education, which is reflected again this year in their outstanding first destination outcomes,” said Courtney Hanson, director of Marquette’s Career Center. “It is also notable that 95% of our full-time employed 2022 graduates reported securing positions related to their career goals. Graduates starting their careers on an intentional path is one of the reasons why Marquette is among the best in the nation on 10-year employment rates.”

Among the 73% of respondents who reported salary information, the median starting salary was $60,920, a 1.5% increase from the year before and a nearly 15% jump from five years earlier. Graduates settling in Wisconsin continued a five-year upward trend, with 53% of respondents reporting from within the state, while 25% are in Illinois — matching the highest figure in 10 years.

Some other notable figures include:

• College of Education graduates reported 70% full-time employment or a service program, an 11-point increase from a year ago. In total, 84% reported full-time employment, education, service program or military, a 6-point improvement.
• Three colleges had over 90% reporting full-time employment, education, service program or military, including the College of Business Administration at over 93%, the College of Nursing at 92%, and the Opus College of Engineering at over 91%.

86% of Graduate School graduates report full-time employment

The Marquette Graduate School reported 86% of its master’s, Ph.D. and certificate graduates are employed full-time, it’s highest figure in the six years of the Graduate School survey. Another 5% of respondents reported being enrolled in school full time. Additionally, 97% of those employed full time report their job is related to their career goal.

At the college level, the College of Health Sciences saw 94% of its graduates reporting full-time employment, while the College of Business Administration reported 91%, the College of Nursing, 88% and the College of Education, 85%.

The survey showed 16% of graduates worked for their current employer while in school and 62% of respondents were in Wisconsin.

Methodology

For the Undergraduate First-Destination survey, 89% of the nearly 2,000 graduates from between December 2021 and June 2022 completed the survey, which concluded Dec. 31, 2022.

The Marquette Graduate School survey yielded a 71% response rate from just over 1,000 graduates. The Graduate School survey does not include Marquette Law School or the Marquette School of Dentistry.

Data collection procedures for this survey follow the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) standards and protocols for the collection of graduating student initial career outcomes information for undergraduates. Marquette’s Career Center submits Undergraduate First-Destination Survey outcomes data, aggregated at the major level, to NACE for inclusion in NACE’s yearly report on first destination outcomes, including national hiring and continuing education trends.

About Marquette University

Marquette University is a Catholic, Jesuit university located near the heart of downtown Milwaukee that offers a comprehensive range of majors in 11 nationally and internationally recognized colleges and schools. Through the formation of hearts and minds, Marquette prepares our 11,100 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional students to lead, excel and serve as agents of positive change. And, we deliver results. Ranked in the top 20% of national universities, Marquette is recognized for its undergraduate teaching, innovation and career preparation as the sixth-best university in the country for job placement. Our focus on student success and immersive, personalized learning experiences encourages students to think critically and engage with the world around them. When students graduate with a Marquette degree, they are truly prepared and called to Be The Difference.

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About Kevin Conway

Kevin is the associate director for university communication in the Office of University Relations. Contact Kevin at (414) 288-4745 or kevin.m.conway@marquette.edu.