Each year, the Center for Career Opportunities (CCO) surveys professional and bachelor’s degree recipients to learn about their employment status six months after graduation. In 2022, more than 97% of recent grads who responded to the survey had secured professional opportunities (e.g., employment or graduate school), and those who were employed increased their average salary by more than 9.5% from 2021.
The Next Step Survey
The CCO’s Next Step Survey is a long-running tradition that helps the university understand the market value of a Purdue education.
“It’s the university showing its work,” shares Stephen Roach, the CCO’s director for operations, strategic initiatives, and data analytics and the chief administrator of the Next Step Survey. “ Students come to Purdue with talent, and they leave with the knowledge, skills and persistence they need to be successful. That’s what the data shows us.”
The survey data also provides current students with valuable insights into their future careers. “On the data dashboard, students can explore what industries are hiring for their major and what the salary ranges are year to year, college by college, major by major, and even by geographical location,” says Roach. “When negotiating with future employers, students can share this data and really shift the conversation in their favor.”
Academic units across campus also benefit from knowledge of recent grads’ success as they assess their programs’ ability to foster career readiness and provide graduates a leg-up on the competition.
“Knowledge is power,” Roach says. “We can all make better decisions when we have the type of data this survey provides.”
The 2022 Data
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, around 91% of college graduates were employed or enrolled in graduate programs in 2022. In contrast, out of the more than 6,400 Purdue graduates who responded to the Next Step Survey, 97% had secured a job, were pursuing further education or had another professional opportunity lined up.
These recent alumni not only surpassed the national average in professional and continuing education placements, but they also out-earned their peers with a 9.5% year-over-year increase in salary across all majors.
“We’re enjoying a strong job market,” shares Roach, “but we’re also producing stronger graduates. That’s the Purdue advantage.”
The Purdue Advantage
In the classroom, on campus and beyond, Purdue is building a better world by offering an affordable and accessible education that transforms students and addresses today’s toughest challenges. And as one of the top ten public universities in the country, it’s no surprise that Boilermakers enter the job market on the leading edge.
“The Next Step Survey is an exemplar of Purdue’s commitment to evidence-informed decision-making,” acknowledges Heather Servaty-Seib, associate vice provost for Teaching and Learning. “The high response rate and ongoing nature of this study place powerful information in the hands of staff, faculty, students, alumni and future employers."
For more information about the Next Step Survey, please visit www.cco.purdue.edu/data.
Emily R. Jones
Communication Specialist, Student Success Programs, jone1594@purdue.edu