GVSU Career Center
First Destination Annual Report

2019-2020

Where did they land?

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What are Grand Valley State University graduates doing?

Survey of Graduates from July 1, 2019—June 30, 2020

Pie chart showing destinations of GVSU graduates. See table below for data.
Destination location of GVSU graduates, 2019-2020
Destination Graduates
Employed Full Time 67%
Continuing Education 15%
Employed Part-time 7%
Still Seeking 8%
Planning on continuing education 2%
Volunteer Service, Miliary Service, Not Seeking Less than 1% each

Destination Rate*

90%
Respondents reporting a primary status of employed full-time, employed part-time, continuing education, volunteer service, military service, or not seeking.

*The class of 2019-2020 was surveyed about their postgraduation destinations up to seven months after degree completion. Data are also gathered from public record via LinkedIn. The knowledge rate, or percentage of the graduating population for which we have data, is 46 percent (2,648 graduates).

Major Specific Destination Rates

Student Satisfaction

83%
Respondents who agree/strongly agree their current status matches goals and expectations.
83%
Total percentage of those who indicate satisfaction with overall career services offered.

Destination Rate By College

Undergraduate Destination Rates
  • Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies (BCOIS) 89%
  • College of Community and Public Service (CCPS) 85%
  • College of Education (COE) 86%
  • College of Health Professions (CHP) 88%
  • College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) 85%
  • Kirkhof College of Nursing (KCON) 98%
  • Seymour and Esther Padnos College of Engineering and Computing (PCEC) 97%
  • Seidman College of Business (SCOB) 93%
Graduate Destination Rates
  • College of Community and Public Service (CCPS) 88%
  • College of Education (COE) 92%
  • College of Health Professions (CHP) 94%
  • College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) 94%
  • Kirkhof College of Nursing (KCON) * 78%
  • Padnos College of Engineering and Computing (PCEC) 95%
  • Seidman College of Business (SCOB) 100%

* Based on a sample size of less than 10

THE LAKER EFFECT

The top regional employers recruit Grand Valley graduates. GVSU values strong relationships with employers who provide valuable career opportunities, experiences, and advice to students.

The states with the most alumni outside of Michigan are Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, and North Carolina.

81%
of graduates live and work in Michigan
64%
Concentrated in West Michigan (Kent/Ottawa/ Newaygo counties)
16%
Concentrated in Metro Detroit

Representative Next Destination Employers

  • Amazon
  • Amway
  • Auto-Owners Insurance
  • Deloitte LLC
  • Dematic
  • Dynatrace
  • Farmers Insurance
  • General Motors
  • Gentex
  • Gordon Food Service
  • Grand Rapids Public Schools
  • Haworth
  • Hope Network
  • Lake Michigan Credit Union
  • Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital
  • Meijer
  • Mercy Health
  • National Heritage Academies
  • Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services
  • Plante Moran
  • Priority Health
  • Quicken Loans
  • Spectrum Health
  • State of Michigan
  • Steelcase Inc.
  • Stryker
  • United Wholesale Mortgage

Representative Next Destination Graduate Schools

  • Arizona State University
  • Ball State University
  • Central Michigan University
  • Duke University
  • Eastern Michigan University
  • Grand Valley State University
  • Indiana University
  • Loyola University Chicago
  • Miami University
  • Michigan State University
  • Midwestern University
  • Notre Dame
  • Oakland University
  • Saint Mary's College
  • University of Michigan
  • Wayne State University
  • Western Michigan University

First Job

Employers are recruiting Grand Valley students early ‐ 58% of graduates reported receiving offers before graduation.

21%
6+ months
before
14%
3-6 months
before
23%
0-3 months
before
Graduation
28%
0-3 months
after
10%
3-6 months
after
3%
6-9 months
after
1%
9+ months
after

How graduates are connecting to offers

Pie chart showing how graduates a connecting to offers. See table below for data.
Method graduates are connected to offers.
Method Graduates
Personal Network 33%
Other Online Job Posting System 31%
GVSU sources* 19%
Other 17%

*Including career fairs and events, Handshake online system, GVSU alumni network, and faculty/staff recommendations.

86%
of respondents accepted an offer within three months of graduating
Starting Salaries
Please contact the Career Center for median starting salary information by college.

The Value of Experiential Education

Experiential education includes internships, practicums, clinicals, student teaching, co-ops, and field experiences

Chart showing experiential education type. See table below for data.
Type of experiential education in which students participate.
Education Type Graduates
Internship, practicum, field work 67%
Student teaching, assisting 16%
Clinical Rotation 11%
Co-op 5%
$15,000
Total scholarship funds awarded to students completing unpaid internships. Average per pupil award is $500.
$31,350
Awarded in grants to 16 GVSU departments
7,392
Total number of students who participated in some form of experiential learning for credit
Chart showing other high impact practices, See table below for data.
Types of other high impact practices in which graduates participates.
High Impact Practice Graduates
Faculty-led research 21%
Study Abroad 18%
Service learning 16%
85%
Completed at least one experiential education activity
67%
Received credit for their experiential learning

Students and the Career Center

4,716
Career Advising
Appointments
3,042
Scheduled
1,674
Drop-in
Bar chart showing class stading of career advising appointments. See table below for data.
Career advising appointment by class standings.
Class standing Percentage of appointments
Freshman 8%
Sophomores 19%
Juniors 24%
Seniors 38%
Alumni 5%
Graduate Students 6%
11,300
Student participation in career events
164
Career advisor classroom presentations
24,444
Job postings
8,808
Internship postings
1,203
Employers participated in events and on-campus interviews
Students who participate
in career activities
have a
93%
year-over-year retention rate