According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 82% of the Class of 2015 found work (64%) or go on to continue their education (18%). This is slightly higher than class of 2014. The 2016 report is based on data from 279 colleges and universities tracking about half a million graduates, and it includes data on where graduates were employed as of 30 December 2015. Key findings:
First Destinations: Class of 2014 vs class of 2015
First Destination | Percent Class of 2015 | Percent Class of 2014 |
Employed, full time | 58.4% | 55.4% |
Employed, part time | 6.0% | 6.6% |
Graduate/professional school/ continuing education | 17.7% | 16.4% |
Still seeking employment | 11.0% | 13.9% |
Still seeking education | 3.2% | 3.6% |
Not seeking | 1.9% | 2.2% |
At $69,214, computer science graduates were making the most money. Theology graduates, at $30,584, were making the least.
More than four-fifths (82 percent) of Class of 2015 bachelor’s degree graduates were employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation. Results found that 58.4 percent were employed full time, 6 percent were working part time, and 17.7 percent had been accepted into graduate or professional school.
By region, graduates in the New England (68.5 percent) and Plains (67.8 percent) regions fared best in overall employment outcomes. Graduates in the Far West (46.8 percent) and Southwest (50.2 percent) were least likely to be employed either full- or part time.
Graduates studying the computer sciences enjoyed the highest full-time employment rate (76 percent).
Overall, the Class of 2015 outpaced the Class of 2014 in terms of full-time employment (58.4 percent vs. 55.4 percent) and acceptance into graduate/professional school (17.7 percent vs. 16.4 percent).
In comparison to their 2014 counterparts, fewer 2015 graduates were still seeking employment (11 percent vs. 13.9 percent) or still seeking acceptance into graduate/professional school (3.2 percent vs. 3.6 percent).