Reporting of post-graduation outcomes, including earnings of graduates, is increasingly expected of colleges and universities nationwide. UW-Madison is participating in multiple efforts to evaluate newer and more comprehensive sources of earnings and other outcome information.
Related: Other kinds of student achievement and outcomes data are also available; see the October 2021 APIR webinar, Data Resources for Graduate Outcomes and Alumni.
Steppingblocks
Steppingblocks is a tool that provides alumni workforce information about graduate employment, location, salaries and earnings, and skills. Interested School/College and departmental units may fill out this Google form to request login access to Steppingblocks.
Related: December 2020 APIR webinar, Data Resources for Graduate Outcomes and Alumni; Steppingblocks blog post, The 7-Step Play Book for Putting Graduate Outcomes Data to Work
First Destination Survey
The First Destination Survey provides data on plans of graduating seniors based on a survey at the time of graduation. Information on the survey and results can be found here.
US Census Bureau PSEO Graduate Earnings
The Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) Project, within the U.S. Census Bureau’s Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) program, provides participating colleges and universities with aggregate median earnings data for graduates 1, 5 and 10 years post graduation. Data are based on annual W-2 earnings from employment that is covered by state unemployment insurance programs. UW-Madison joined the PSEO project in 2017.
Related: These links provide information about the earnings of UW-Madison graduates 1, 5, and 10 years after graduation as well as more context behind this earnings data reporting.
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- April 24, 2019 UW-Madison press release
- Post-Secondary Educational Outcomes website (U.S. Census Bureau); here’s the link to UW-Madison’s PSEO Explorer data; here’s a document that crosswalks PSEO’s Areas of Study with UW-Madison’s majors
- Improving Free Inquiry, Transparency, and Accountability at Colleges and Universities Executive Order of 3/26/2019
- WI State Statutes Section 36.65, requiring UW institutions to report related metrics
Post-Graduation Outcomes: Systematic and comprehensive data about alumni in the years after they graduate
At UW-Madison we are working on providing the University community with systematic and comprehensive data resources on the lives of graduates. Questions of interest include:
- Are graduates employed?
- How much are they earning?
- Where do they live? Do they stay in Wisconsin?
- Is college a good investment?
- Does a UW-Madison education contribute to social mobility?
See also summary of Student Achievement Data.