The Undergraduate First Destination Outcomes dashboard provides a wealth of information and insights about how effectively UW–Madison prepares students for their future. In addition to learning about primary post-graduation plans, reviewing the data can help identify opportunities to better support current students.
The public visualization shares the results of our campus-wide First Destination Survey. The survey is administered to bachelor’s degree recipients at the time of graduation and asks about their immediate post-graduation plans. UW-Madison has verifiable information about post-graduation plans for 70% of 2024-2025 bachelor’s degree recipients (also known as a knowledge rate).
Survey highlights
2024-2025 survey highlights include:
- 70% of respondents reported completing at least one internship while at UW-Madison.
- 91% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that UW-Madison prepared them for the next step in their career path.
- 93% of graduates planning to work, serve in the military, or participate in a volunteer or service program reported an accepted position within six months of graduation.
- 2,354 unique employers hired our graduates in 2024-2025.
- 71% of in-state respondents and 23% of out-of-state respondents, including Minnesota Compact, who shared their location, are staying in Wisconsin for employment or continuing education.
Improve outcomes collection
To better meet the needs of UW–Madison’s decentralized structure and improve our overall survey data collection, in the fall of 2024, a new tool, 12twenty, was used to collect survey responses and other outcomes data. 12twenty enables centralized outcomes collection, improves communication capabilities, provides individual schools and colleges with a high degree of control, and offers real-time data dashboards and reports.
Promoting the survey
UW-Madison’s First Destination Survey for spring 2026 graduates has launched! You are encouraged to promote the survey and ask students to complete it. Connect with your school/college career services office to learn more about how they are promoting the survey and using results. The higher our response rate to this survey, the better data we have about our graduating class.
If you have any questions about the visualization or the First Destination Survey, please contact Sara Lazenby.
Resources
First Destination Survey webpage
Badger Data Network slide deck
First Destination Survey FAQs for staff & faculty
UW–Madison students step into the professional world with a purpose’