First Destinations: 2019 Bachelor’s Degree Graduates Post Gains

February 22, 2021 | By Mimi Collins

GRADUATE OUTCOMES
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For the college Class of 2019, 2019 was a very good year. At the bachelor’s degree level, 59% were employed in full-time positions with a traditional employer—up just a hair from 58.7% in 2018—and nearly 19% were going on for an advanced degree by the end of the year. (See Figure 1.)

Overall, the outcome rate for 2019 bachelor’s degree graduates was 86%—meaning nearly nine out of 10 who were seeking a position/advanced education had one within six months of graduation.

While 2019 graduates saw just a small increase in their employment rate compared to their 2018 counterparts, their gains in salary were substantial: The median salary for 2019 bachelor’s degree graduates employed full time was $52,714 compared with a median of $49,725 in 2018—a 6% increase.

Figure 1: Class of 2019 bachelor’s degree results

Total Graduates
Knowledge Rate
549,97265.6%
Career Outcomes Percentage
549,97286.0%
Percent Employed Overall
549,97264.6%
 Percent Employed Full-time
549,97259.7%
 Percent Employed Part-time
549,9724.9%
 Percent Standard Employment
549,97259.0%
  Percent Standard Employment Full-time
549,97255.3%
  Percent Standard Employment Part-time
549,9723.7%
 Percent Entrepreneur
549,9720.9%
  Percent Entrepreneur Full-time
549,9720.8%
  Percent Entrepreneur Part-time
549,9720.1%
 Percent Temp/Contract Employee
549,9722.0%
  Percent Temp/Contract Employee Full-time
549,9721.5%
  Percent Temp/Contract Employee Part-time
549,9720.5%
 Percent Freelance
549,9720.8%
  Percent Freelance Full-time
549,9720.5%
  Percent Freelance Part-time
549,9720.3%
 Percent Post-Grad Fellowship/Internship
549,9721.9%
  Percent Post-Grad Fellowship/Internship Full-time
549,9721.6%
  Percent Post-Grad Fellowship/Internship Part-time
549,9720.3%
Percent Service
549,9720.8%
Percent Military
549,9720.9%
Percent Continuing Education
549,97218.6%
Percent Seeking Outcome
549,97213.8%
  Percent Seeking Employment
549,97211.1%
  Percent Seeking Continuing Education
549,9722.7%
Not Seeking
549,9721.3%
Mean Starting Salary
549,972$54,488
Median Starting Salary
549,972$52,714
Mean Bonus
549,972$8,240
Median Bonus
549,972$5,584
Total Graduates 549,972
Knowledge Rate 65.6%
Career Outcomes Percentage 86.0%
Percent Employed Overall 64.6%
 Percent Employed Full-time 59.7%
 Percent Employed Part-time 4.9%
 Percent Standard Employment 59.0%
  Percent Standard Employment Full-time 55.3%
  Percent Standard Employment Part-time 3.7%
 Percent Entrepreneur 0.9%
  Percent Entrepreneur Full-time 0.8%
  Percent Entrepreneur Part-time 0.1%
 Percent Temp/Contract Employee 2.0%
  Percent Temp/Contract Employee Full-time 1.5%
  Percent Temp/Contract Employee Part-time 0.5%
 Percent Freelance 0.8%
  Percent Freelance Full-time 0.5%
  Percent Freelance Part-time 0.3%
 Percent Post-Grad Fellowship/Internship 1.9%
  Percent Post-Grad Fellowship/Internship Full-time 1.6%
  Percent Post-Grad Fellowship/Internship Part-time 0.3%
Percent Service 0.8%
Percent Military 0.9%
Percent Continuing Education 18.6%
Percent Seeking Outcome 13.8%
  Percent Seeking Employment 11.1%
  Percent Seeking Continuing Education 2.7%
Not Seeking 1.3%
Mean Starting Salary $54,488
Median Starting Salary $52,714
Mean Bonus $8,240
Median Bonus $5,584

Detailed results of first destinations for 2019 bachelor’s and master’s degree graduates are available through the Class of 2019 Dashboard.

NACE JOBWIRE