Placement Rate for Recent St. Lawrence University Graduates Tops 96%

CANTON, N.Y. - Nov. 18, 2014 - PRLog -- According to a recent survey of St. Lawrence University graduates from the Class of 2013, more than 96 percent were either employed or attending graduate school less than one year after graduation.

The Career Services Follow-Up survey asked recent St. Lawrence alumni what they are doing seven to 10 months after graduation. The survey is an important component of Career Services’ efforts to understanding the kinds of work and graduate programs new graduates are interested in pursuing.

“Of the 76 percent of the Class of 2013 who responded to the survey, 96.5 percent are employed full-time or enrolled in graduate school,” said Carleen Pallante, associate director of alumni and employer development in Career Services. “In addition, 94 percent of 2013 graduates were satisfied or very satisfied with their current employment.

Because the average response rate for members of the National Association of Colleges and Employers, of which St. Lawrence is one, is only 48 percent, St. Lawrence’s high response rate of 76 percent further validates the point that its graduates – with their strong foundation in the liberal arts – are proving to be successful even just months following graduation.

“When students arrive at St. Lawrence, we share that our goal is to help them discover their passion, explore their career options, develop their career plans, and attain their goals, for the first months after college and throughout their lifetimes,” said President William L. Fox ’75. “With the best alumni network in the nation to support them, our recent graduates combine the skills employers seek with the ability to learn the particulars of any profession. Every year our post-graduation survey proves that Laurentians have momentum for success.”

One reason St. Lawrence graduates are successful at finding employment upon graduation, including employment in their desired field, is due to the University’s strong alumni network. Employment resulting from contacts with alumni for the Class of 2013 was nearly 22 percent, which was more than a 9 percent jump over last year. The class also noted increases in gaining employment through internships.

“Approximately 21 percent of respondents indicated that they found their job through their internship, a 6.3 percent increase over last year,” Pallante said. “These figures highlight that opportunities at St. Lawrence such as engaging with faculty, alumni and employers and participating in internships are leading to success.”

A large portion of the Class of 2013 also took part in some kind of experiential learning experience while attending St. Lawrence. Of them, 92 percent had some sort of research experience, 61 percent studied off campus, 63 percent took part in an internship, and 68 percent participated in some sort of community service activity.

Despite popular claims that recent liberal arts graduates are either under- or unemployed, this survey of St. Lawrence’s Class of 2013 graduates stands in stark contrast. According to Association of American Colleges and Universities, 80 percent of employers believe that every student should acquire a broad knowledge in the liberal arts.

“A liberal arts education emphasizes forming independent judgments, articulating cogent arguments, and developing the tools and taste for continued lifelong learning,” said Georgia Nugent, senior fellow with the Council of Independent Colleges and a member of St. Lawrence’s Board of Trustees. “We live in a world where graduates will be employed in roles that don’t event exist today. This kind of learning is more practical than training in a specific skill that may well be obsolete almost upon graduation.”

About St. Lawrence University:

Founded in 1856, St. Lawrence University is a private, independent liberal arts institution of about 2,500 students located in Canton, New York. The educational opportunities at St. Lawrence inspire students and prepare them to be critical and creative thinkers, to find a compass for their lives and careers, and to pursue knowledge and understanding for the benefit of themselves, humanity and the planet. Through its focus on active engagement with ideas in and beyond the classroom, a St. Lawrence education leads students to make connections that transform lives and communities, from the local to the global. Visit www.stlawu.edu.