Undergraduate Employment Statistics: Trends, Outcomes, and the Value of a Degree
A college education is about more than just securing a job and a steady income; it is expected to become even more valuable. The MU Outcomes Survey provides insight into the career plans of bachelor’s degree earners and highlights student success. The survey provides information on employment, salary, continuing education, and geographic location. Data can be filtered by School/College and class year to see historic trends. Click the buttons on the top to advance the graphics. A graduating class is made up of students who graduated from July 1 through June 30 that year. The data above is reported by recent alumni who graduated in the past six to 12 months.
Employment Rates Among Undergraduates
Many undergraduate students ages 16 to 64 are employed at the same time they are enrolled in school. In 2020, the percentage of undergraduate students who were employed was higher among part-time students (74 percent) than among full-time students (40 percent). Being employed can help a student pay for classes and other living expenses; it can also be associated, either positively or negatively, with a student’s academic performance. Thus, it is important to examine employment patterns among undergraduate students and how these patterns vary over time and by student characteristics.
There was no measurable difference between 2020 and 2010 in the percentages of undergraduate students-either full-time or part-time-who were employed. However, the percentage of full-time undergraduate students who were employed was lower in 2020 (40 percent) than in 2015 (43 percent). Similarly, the percentage of part-time undergraduates who were employed was lower in 2020 (74 percent) than in 2015 (78 percent).
In 2020, the number of hours worked per week differed between full-time and part-time undergraduates. Overall, the percentages of undergraduates who worked at least 20 hours per week were higher for part-time students than for full-time students. Specifically, 40 percent of part-time students worked 35 or more hours, compared with 10 percent of full-time students. Additionally, 26 percent of part-time students worked 20 to 34 hours per week, compared with 15 percent of full-time students. In contrast, the percentages of undergraduates who worked less than 20 hours per week were higher for full-time students than for part-time students. Three percent of full-time undergraduates were employed less than 10 hours per week, and 9 percent were employed 10 to 19 hours per week.
Employment Rates by Gender, Race, and Institution Type
Among undergraduates enrolled full time in 2020, a higher percentage of females (43 percent) than of males (35 percent) were employed.
Read also: Undergraduate Programs at UNC
In 2020, the percentage of full-time undergraduates who were employed was higher for Hispanic (43 percent) and White (42 percent) students than for Black (33 percent) and Asian (28 percent) students. Additionally, the percentage of full-time undergraduates who were employed was lower for American Indian/Alaska Native students (21 percent) than for students of Two or more races (40 percent), White students (42 percent), and Hispanic students (43 percent).
The percentage of part-time undergraduates who were employed was higher for White (78 percent) and Hispanic (74 percent) students than for Asian (56 percent) students.
In 2020, the percentage of full-time undergraduates who were employed was higher at 2-year institutions (47 percent) than at 4-year institutions (38 percent).
Employment Rates by Age Group
Comparing full-time and part-time undergraduates, different patterns emerge in the percentage enrolled by age group for the working age population (i.e., ages 16 to 64). In 2020, the percentage of full-time undergraduates who were employed was lower for those ages 16 to 24 (37 percent) than for those in other age groups. There was no measurable difference in employment among full-time undergraduates in other age groups (ranging from 55 percent for those ages 30 to 39 to 61 percent for those ages 50 to 64).
Among undergraduates enrolled part time, the percentage who were employed was lowest for those ages 50 to 64 (52 percent).
Read also: Drexel University Student Statistics
Employment Rates by Household Characteristics
The percentage of undergraduates who were employed varied by the characteristics of the households in which they lived. For example, among full-time undergraduates in 2020, a higher percentage of householders than of nonhouseholders were employed (54 vs. 36 percent). The percentage of full-time undergraduates who were employed was higher for those who lived with one or more of their own children (49 percent) than for those who did not live with any of their own children (39 percent). Also, the percentage of full-time undergraduates who were employed was higher for those who lived with a spouse (60 percent) than for those who did not live with a spouse (38 percent).
Among undergraduates enrolled part time, the percentages who were employed did not measurably differ either by householder status, the presence of own children, or the presence of a spouse. However, the percentage of part-time undergraduates employed was greater than the percentage of full-time undergraduates employed for all subgroups by household characteristics.
The Value of a College Degree
The evidence that a college degree significantly improves one’s employment prospects and earnings potential is overwhelming. Two-thirds of bachelor’s degrees in the United States are awarded by public universities. College-educated workers enjoy a substantial earnings premium. On an annual basis, median earnings for bachelor’s degree holders are $40,500 or 86 percent higher than those whose highest degree is a high school diploma. The earnings gap between college graduates and those with less education continues to widen. In 2023, median income for recent graduates reached $60,000 a year for bachelor’s degree holders aged 22-27. Recent college graduates also weathered the Great Recession far better than their peers with a high school diploma. Today, the jobless rate for bachelor’s degree holders is less than 3 percent. And the incidence of poverty among bachelor’s degree holders is 3.5 times lower than it is for those who hold high school degrees.
Of course, a college education is about more than just securing a job and a steady income. Consider health and safety, prerequisites for leading a fulfilling life. Bachelor’s degree holders are 47 percent more likely to have health insurance provided through their job and their employers contribute 74 percent more to their health coverage. Life expectancy is also longer for those who attend college.
Outcomes at Specific Institutions
The Dyson salary and employment outcomes data are clear; year after year, our newly minted class of AEM graduates find rewarding, well-paying applied economics and management jobs around the country and abroad. The undergraduate program outcomes for our students don’t lie. A business major average salary after college can vary widely but when you leave Babson, you emerge as a top candidate in the eyes of employers from all areas of today’s global economy. And the Babson average starting salary is proof. But, don’t take our word for it. The success of our over 46,000 alumni speaks for itself. Babson is the leader in entrepreneurial education and we pride ourselves on having one of the highest retention and graduation rates in higher education. Our undergraduate first-to-second year retention rate is 97% and our six-year undergraduate graduation rate (92%) is higher than the reported national average (61.1%) from the National Student Clearinghouse. Based on a salary knowledge rate of 51%.*Within six months of graduation. Based on a knowledge rate of 85.2%. Our students do it all, across industries and disciplines. Our students land at a breadth of places post-grad. A Babson undergraduate education is a roadmap where you choose the destination. It doesn’t matter what industries graduates are working in or where you want to go. Whatever your next step is, your entrepreneurial leadership mindset will get you there.
Read also: Boost Your Financial IQ
Dyson has been the foundation for my growth, offering academic rigor and a collaborative environment where peers and mentors have continuously pushed me to excel. One defining experience was my Grand Challenges project with a large international hedge fund, where my team helped improve their CSR and giving programs-an opportunity that perfectly blended my interest in finance with creating a positive impact. Over two-thirds of the class of 2025 took business jobs in finance-related functions after graduation; salary data for this group is broken down further by sub-sector in the table below. We find that Dyson offers a strong, collaborative experience for students, one that aligns well with SC Johnson’s company ethos. Could Your AEM Career Start at Dyson?
Curriculum and Preparation for the Future
Our curriculum, with its unique blend of business and liberal arts and sciences courses and more than 20 concentrations to choose from, prepares our students to be the critical thinkers and thought-starters the future needs and employers want.
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