By UW-Stout News Bureau
Recent graduates of three engineering programs at the University of Wisconsin-Stout all had jobs within six months of leaving campus, and their average salaries were at or above $55,000, according to a new report from the UW-Stout Career Services office
Those completing the undergraduate manufacturing engineering, computer engineering and plastics engineering programs were among the 97.1 percent of UW-Stout graduates from 2013-14 who were employed or continuing their education within six months of leaving campus, the Career Services Annual Employment Report said.
Furthermore, the three engineering programs were among 18 programs in which 100 percent of graduates were employed or continuing their education.
For example, 100 percent of the graduates of the engineering technology program were employed or continuing their education, with an average starting salary of $52,000.
“This report shows that employers truly value our graduates, both in engineering and in all our disciplines,” Chancellor Bob Meyer said. “If students come to UW-Stout, study hard, get some work experience and then graduate, they are almost guaranteed a good job when they leave.”
UW-Stout students are sought-after in the job market because they “bring a diverse set of skills, combined with demonstrated, real-world experiences that many employers seek out and value,” said Bryan Barts, interim Career Services director. “In addition, faculty and staff utilize applied learning experiences, like the co-op program, and are committed to UW-Stout’s career-focused mission. This in turn creates a win-win-win for the university, the students and the employers.”
The 13 computer engineering graduates were working in their field of study, earning an average of $63,000 a year. In manufacturing engineering, 42 of the 44 graduates were working in their field of study, with one continuing in school and one working in an unrelated field. Their average starting salary was $55,000. All 14 of the plastics engineering graduates were working in their field of study with an average starting salary of $56,000.
These UW-Stout programs also had 100-percent employment rates:
- Interior design
- Entertainment design
- Art education
- Career, technical education and training
- Family and consumer sciences education
- Marketing and business education
- Science education
- Technology education
- Real estate property management
- Supply chain management
- Apparel design and development
- Construction
- Cross-media graphics management
- Packaging
The employment survey had a so-called “knowledge rate” of 87 percent; that number indicates the percentage of students Career Services either contacted directly or obtained employment information about from a variety of sources.
Of the 97.1 percent of graduates who were employed or continuing their education, 82 percent were employed in their field of study. The median starting salary for all graduates was $41,000.
Barts noted that during 2013-14 nearly 600 employers came to campus to attend UW-Stout’s two career conferences; those conferences were attended by 4,000 students and alumni. Almost 1,000 students participated in the university’s Cooperative Education program, which provides students with paid work experience at a business or industry while they receive academic credit. Often this program leads to job offers for participating students.
“The competition for new talent is increasing rapidly among employers, and they are identifying high-potential students quicker and earlier to fill their needs,” Barts said. “We have seen increased recruiting activity on campus and attendance at both of our career conferences.”
Faculty and instructional academic staff contribute greatly to the workplace success of UW-Stout students, Barts added, pointing to the large number of laboratories and other hands-on experiences for students.
“Our faculty understand the importance of applied learning and actively look to support the needs of employers in the region and across the U.S.,” he said.
Meyer said he is confident that prospective students, their families and the public are honing in on the ability of UW-Stout graduates to secure a meaningful career shortly after graduating.
“We had a record enrollment last fall,” he said, “and it appears we will have another record this fall. It is clear that people are getting the message that a UW-Stout degree equals workforce success.”
To read the stories about UW-Stout students who obtained positions before graduating, go to www.uwstout.edu/success/.
The complete Career Services Annual Employment Report is available at www.uwstout.edu/careers/upload/anrpt.pdf.