GVSU Career Center
First Destination Annual Report

2021-2022

Where did they land?

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What are Grand Valley State University graduates doing?

Survey of Graduates from July 1, 2021—June 30, 2022

Pie chart showing destinations of GVSU graduates. See table below for data.
Destination location of GVSU graduates, 2021-2022
Destination Graduates
Employed Full Time 65%
Continuing Education 10%
Employed Part-time 8%
Still Seeking 16%
Volunteer Service, Miliary Service, Not Seeking Less than 1% each

Destination Rate*

84%
Respondents reporting a primary status of employed full-time, employed part-time, continuing education, volunteer service, military service, or not seeking

*The class of 2021-2022 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 62.2 percent (3,014 graduates).

Major Specific Destination Rates

Student Satisfaction

68%
Respondents who agree/strongly agree their current status matches goals and expectations.
87%
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) 78%
  • College of Education and Community Innovation (CECI) 79%
  • College of Health Professions (CHP) 83%
  • College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) 79%
  • Kirkhof College of Nursing (KCON) 87%
  • Seymour and Esther Padnos College of Engineering and Computing (PCEC) 89%
  • Seidman College of Business (SCOB) 89%
Graduate Destination Rates
  • Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies (BCOIS)* 100%
  • College of Education and Community Innovation (CECI) 89%
  • College of Health Professions (CHP) 75%
  • College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) 93%
  • Kirkhof College of Nursing (KCON) 92%
  • Seymour and Esther Padnos College of Engineering and Computing (PCEC) 95%
  • Seidman College of Business (SCOB) 98%

* 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, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, and Texas.

85%
of graduates live and work in Michigan
71%
Concentrated in West Michigan (Kent/Ottawa/ Newaygo counties)
14%
Concentrated in Metro Detroit

Representative Next Destination Employers

  • Ally Logistics
  • Amazon
  • Amway
  • Arbor Circle
  • BDO USA LLP
  • City of Grand Rapids
  • Deloitte
  • Dematic
  • Farmers Insurance
  • General Motors
  • Gentex
  • Gordon Food Service
  • Grand Rapids Public Schools
  • Haworth
  • Hope Network
  • IKUS Life Enrichment Services
  • Lake Michigan Credit Union
  • Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital
  • Meijer
  • Mercantile Bank
  • Mercy Health - West Michigan
  • National Heritage Academies
  • Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services
  • Plante Moran
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
  • Priority Health
  • Rocket Companies
  • SpartanNash
  • Spectrum Health
  • State of Michigan
  • Steelcase
  • Stryker
  • United Wholesale Mortgage
  • University of Michigan Health - West

Representative Next Destination Graduate Schools

  • Arizona State University
  • Calvin University
  • Central Michigan University
  • Davenport University
  • Eastern Michigan University
  • Ferris State University and KCAD
  • Grand Valley State University
  • Indiana University - Bloomington
  • Michigan State University
  • Midwestern University
  • Oakland University
  • Purdue University
  • University of Detroit Mercy
  • University of Michigan
  • University of Minnesota Twin Cities
  • University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
  • University of Toledo
  • Wayne State University
  • Western Michigan University
  • Xavier University

First Job

Employers are recruiting Grand Valley students early ‐ 88% of graduates employed full-time reported receiving offers before graduation.

27%
6+ months
before
11%
3-6 months
before
50%
0-3 months
before
Graduation
10%
0-3 months
after
2%
3-6 months
after
<1%
6-9 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 30%
Other Online Job Posting System 27%
GVSU sources* 19%
Other 24%

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

97%
of respondents who are employed full-time 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 58%
Student teaching, assisting 22%
Clinical Rotation 14%
Co-op 5%
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 12%
Study Abroad 14%
Service learning 13%
46%
Completed at least one experiential education activity
86%
Received credit for their experiential learning

Students and the Career Center

4,039
Career Advising
Appointments
3,270
Scheduled
769
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 5%
Sophomores 17%
Juniors 21%
Seniors 44%
Alumni 5%
Graduate Students 8%
5,179
Student participation in career events
7,318
Total number of students who participated in some form of experiential learning for credit
48,770
Total job and internship postings in Handshake
572
Total employer engagement in Career Center activities