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May 2015 Graduate Britty Troline is currently completing her master's degree in accountancy from WIU and is employed as an accounting associate for Western's Business Services Office.
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WIU Degrees Put Grads on Solid Path

September 14, 2016

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MACOMB/MOLINE, IL — A recent survey of Western Illinois University alumni revealed that over 90 percent of the WIU Class of 2015 respondents indicated they were employed or enrolled in graduate studies since earning their baccalaureate degrees. According to 2015 data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 89 percent of individuals holding a bachelor's (or higher) degree are employed (compared to 76 percent with some college, but no degree, and 67 percent of high school graduates).

The survey, which was administered by Western's Institutional Research and Planning, queried 1,750 graduates from the Class of 2015. Twenty-three percent responded, noted IRP Director Angela Bonifas. Eighty-eight percent of the respondents reported they were currently employed, and 24 percent are pursuing advanced degrees.*

Additional results reveal that 84 percent of the respondents who are employed, held or secured a job within nine months of receiving their degree, and 90 percent of the alumni who responded reported satisfaction with their current job. Ninety percent also expressed a "positive" attitude toward Western Illinois University and 88 percent believe that Western represented a "good value for the investment that was made."

"Our niche is to provide a high impact, applied learning experience that leads to employment or graduate school following graduation," said WIU President Jack Thomas. "A degree from Western Illinois University sets the stage for our students' success in the workforce. We are preparing students with a solid foundation."

In 2015, The Economist, a weekly international newspaper owned by the Economist Group, ranked WIU third out of 11 ranked public universities in Illinois and in the top 25 percent nationwide in terms of increasing the earning potential of graduates. In addition, in Summer 2016, Western was ranked by Niche.com fourth out of 10 Illinois public schools as a top Illinois public university, and in the top 25 of best value colleges in Illinois. The Best Value Colleges ranking assesses the long-term impact a college has on its students in terms of costs, debt, career advancement, earnings and student reviews on how prepared they feel for life after college. This ranking was developed as part of a Department of Education College Scorecard initiative.

Additional WIU survey results show that more than 87 percent of the respondents are satisfied with the amount of time it took to complete their degree.

Through Western's GradTrac program, new freshmen are guaranteed that if they meet the program's requirements, they will graduate in four years or their remaining tuition will be free. Regularly admitted freshmen in most academic programs are eligible to apply for GradTrac.

* Editor's note: Some graduates reported being employed, while also pursing an advanced degree.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing