First Destination Success
Appalachian tracks where its graduates go, notes high success rate
Whether graduates seek immediate employment or an advanced degree, their experience at Appalachian State University gets them where they want to go at a high rate of success.
According to Appalachian’s Career Development Center, 86 percent of 2015-16 undergraduate students and 93 percent of graduate students were either employed or enrolled in postsecondary education within a year of graduation. *
The first destination data was collected up to one year following graduation using a variety of sources, said Dr. Susan McCracken, director of career development and economic engagement. These sources included a senior survey, the National Student Clearinghouse that tracks postsecondary enrollment, LinkedIn professional networking service, the university’s Alumni Affairs office and faculty surveys.
Employers and graduate schools welcome Appalachian graduates for many of the same reasons, according to McCracken: they are driven, well prepared and possess a strong work ethic.
“I also believe that the research experiences our students have working directly with faculty in laboratories and in the field — collecting and analyzing data firsthand, and then presenting their findings to faculty, graduate students, professionals in that field and peers — prepares them to hit the ground running in a graduate program, or as a new hire,” McCracken said.
Also, more than 7,300 students in 2016-17 participated in an internship for academic credit, giving them real-world experience.