Post-Graduation Outcomes

Reporting of post-graduation outcomes, including earnings of graduates, is increasingly expected of colleges and universities nationwide. UW-Madison is participating in multiple efforts to evaluate newer and more comprehensive sources of earnings and other outcome information.

Related: Other kinds of student achievement and outcomes data are also available; see the October 2021 APIR webinar, Data Resources for Graduate Outcomes and Alumni.

Steppingblocks

Steppingblocks is a tool that provides alumni workforce information about graduate employment, location, salaries and earnings, and skills. Interested School/College and departmental units may fill out this Google form to request login access to Steppingblocks.

Related: December 2020 APIR webinar, Data Resources for Graduate Outcomes and Alumni; Steppingblocks blog post, The 7-Step Play Book for Putting Graduate Outcomes Data to Work

First Destination Survey

The First Destination Survey provides data on plans of graduating seniors based on a survey at the time of graduation. Information on the survey and results can be found here.

Continuing Education Trends

DAPIR used the National Student Clearinghouse’s StudentTracker enrollment record matching service to examine the continuing education trends of 2022 UW-Madison bachelor’s degree earners. Results include information about the next institution these graduates attend and program field of study, disaggregated by school/college. Information about these trends can be found here.

US Census Bureau PSEO Graduate Earnings

The Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) Project, within the U.S. Census Bureau’s Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) program, provides participating colleges and universities with aggregate median earnings data for graduates 1, 5 and 10 years post graduation. Data are based on annual W-2 earnings from employment that is covered by state unemployment insurance programs. UW-Madison joined the PSEO project in 2017.

Related: These links provide information about the earnings of UW-Madison graduates 1, 5, and 10 years after graduation as well as more context behind this earnings data reporting.

Post-Graduation Outcomes: Systematic and comprehensive data about alumni in the years after they graduate

At UW-Madison we are working on providing the University community with systematic and comprehensive data resources on the lives of graduates. Questions of interest include:

  • Are graduates employed?
  • How much are they earning?
  • Where do they live? Do they stay in Wisconsin?
  • Do bachelor’s graduates go to graduate or professional school?
  • Is college a good investment?
  • Does a UW-Madison education contribute to social mobility?

See also summary of Student Achievement Data.

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