Profile of 2008 Graduates
Based on results from a survey of recent graduates
Purpose of Study
Santa Clara University surveyed the Class of 2008 in February 2009, approximately eight months after their graduation dates. The purpose of the study was to learn the respondents’ employment and/or graduate school status.
Statistics Available for the Class of 2008
- Post-Graduation Status
- Post-Graduation Employment Status
- Annual Base Salaries by School or College
- Post-Graduation Employment Status by Sector
- Graduate School Acceptance and Status
- Methodology & Statistical Significance of the Survey
81 percent of the respondents were either employed full time, attending graduate school, or participating in a service program such as the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.
- 58 percent were employed full time.
- 14 percent were attending graduate school full-time.
Of the graduates looking for full-time work, 81 percent of them obtained full-time work.
- 89 percent of engineering graduates looking for full-time work obtained full-time work
(16 of 18 respondents).
- 85 percent of business graduates looking for full-time work obtained full-time work
(110 of 130 respondents). - 64 percent of math or natural sciences graduates looking for full-time work obtained full-time work
(14 of 22 respondents). - 78 percent of social sciences graduates looking for full-time work obtained full-time work
(29 of 37 respondents). - 77 percent of humanities or fine arts graduates looking for full-time work obtained full-time work
(43 of 56 respondents).
The median starting salary for the graduate working full time is $45,000.
- The median starting salary for the engineering graduate working full time is $64,000.
- The median starting salary for the business graduate working full time is $48,000.
- The median starting salary for the math or natural sciences graduate working full time is $41,000.
- The median starting salary for the social sciences graduate working full-time is $35,000.
- The median starting salary for the humanities or fine arts graduate working full time is $32,000.
Graduates employed full time were most likely to be employed in the service sector.
- 68 percent of graduates employed full time worked in the service sector. The service sector includes employers such as accounting firms, advertising/PR firms, architectural firms, banks, high-tech firms, consulting firms, financial services firms, insurance firms, legal firms, publishers, retail firms, and utilities.
- 17 percent of graduates employed full time worked in the nonprofit sector. The nonprofit sector includes such employers as government agencies, health care organizations, museums, associations, schools and colleges, and religious and charitable organizations
- 15 percent of graduates employed full time worked in the manufacturing sector. The manufacturing sector includes such employers as makers of aerospace products, apparel, chemical products, computers and electronic equipment, paper, pharmaceuticals, plastics, rubber, textiles, and vehicles, and building contractors and food companies.
Of those who had found full-time work, 94 percent indicated that their SCU education provided good to excellent preparation for their careers.
95 percent of those who applied for graduate study were admitted to at least one graduate program.
- Of those who were admitted to full-time graduate study, 93 percent indicated that their SCU education provided them with good to excellent preparation for graduate study.
- 89 percent of the graduates indicated that their SCU education had provided them with good to excellent preparation for life after college.
