Career Statistics of LAS Graduates
Results from Class of 2006 LAS graduates who were surveyed in 2007 (20.4 % response rate).
1. Are you currently employed (including self-employed)?
| Response | Bachelor's | Masters | PhD | All |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Yes, working full-time | 59.9 % | 57.4 % | 94.9 % | 62.6 % |
| • Yes, working part-time | 9.7 % | 16.4 % | 1.7 % | 9.6 % |
| • No, but am seeking employment | 4.0 % | 6.6 % | 3.4 % | 4.2 % |
| • No, and am not seeking employment | 26.5 % | 19.7 % | 0.0 % | 25.8 % |
| Number of respondents | 578 | 61 | 59 | 698 |
The following results were from graduates who were working full-time.
2. How would you classify your primary employer?
| Response | Bachelor's | Masters | PhD | All |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Self-employed or private practice | 3.5 % | 0.0 % | 0.0 % | 3.5 % |
| • Business (industrial, commercial, or service) | 36.6 % | 24.4 % | 22.8 % | 33.9 % |
| • Professional firm (e.g., engineering, law) | 8.7 % | 4.4 % | 1.8 % | 7.5 % |
| • College or university | 11.2 % | 48.9 % | 61.4 % | 20.2 % |
| • Elementary/secondary school (including cooperatives) | 13.7 % | 4.4 % | 0.0 % | 12.8 % |
| • Health agency (e.g., hospital, clinic) | 11.2 % | 0.0 % | 1.8 % | 10.0 % |
| • Federal, state or local government | 3.5 % | 13.3 % | 8.8 % | 5.0 % |
| • Armed services | 1.5 % | 0.0 % | 0.0 % | 1.5 % |
| • Nonprofit (non-government) | 6.2 % | 2.2 % | 3.5 % | 5.6 % |
| • Other | 4.0 % | 2.2 % | 0.0 % | 3.8 % |
| Number of respondents | 402 | 45 | 57 | 504 |
3. Are you employed in Illinois?
| Response | Bachelor's | Masters | PhD | All |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Yes | 87.6 % | 80.4 % | 33.3 % | 80.8 % |
| • No | 0.0 % | 0.0 % | 0.0 % | 0.0 % |
| Number of respondents | 353 | 37 | 19 | 409 |
4a. How closely related is your current job to the major of your 2006 U of I degree?
| Response | Bachelor's | Masters | PhD | All |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Closely related | 34.1 % | 71.1 % | 86.0 % | 43.3 % |
| • Related | 32.1 % | 22.2 % | 12.3 % | 29.0 % |
| • Unrelated | 33.8 % | 6.7 % | 1.8 % | 27.8 % |
| Number of respondents | 402 | 45 | 57 | 504 |
4b. If your current job is unrelated to your major, was this by choice?
| Response | Bachelor's | Masters | PhD | All |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Yes | 65.7 % | 100.0 % | 100.0 % | 66.7 % |
| • No | 34.3 % | 0.0 % | 0.0 % | 34.3 % |
| Number of respondents | 134 | 3 | 1 | 138 |
5. How helpful has the major of your 2006 U of I degree been in the specific duties of your current job?
| Response | Bachelor's | Masters | PhD | All |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Extremely helpful | 18.2 % | 46.7 % | 64.9 % | 26.0 % |
| • Very helpful | 23.4 % | 26.7 % | 24.6 % | 23.8 % |
| • Somewhat helpful | 39.6 % | 20.0 % | 5.3 % | 33.9 % |
| • Not too helpful | 13.4 % | 4.4 % | 5.3 % | 11.7 % |
| • Not at all helpful | 5.5 % | 2.2 % | 0.0 % | 5.1 % |
| Number of respondents | 402 | 45 | 57 | 504 |
6. In general, how well did your 2006 U of I degree prepare you for your present job?
| Response | Bachelor's | Masters | PhD | All |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Very well | 20.6 % | 37.8 % | 63.2 % | 27.0 % |
| • Well | 33.6 % | 42.2 % | 26.3 % | 33.5 % |
| • Adequately | 35.6 % | 17.8 % | 8.8 % | 31.0 % |
| • Inadequately | 6.0 % | 0.0 % | 0.0 % | 6.0 % |
| • Poorly | 2.2 % | 0.0 % | 1.8 % | 2.2 % |
| • Very poorly | 2.0 % | 2.2 % | 0.0 % | 2.0 % |
| Number of respondents | 402 | 45 | 57 | 504 |
7. Overall, how satisfied are you with your current job?
| Response | Bachelor's | Masters | PhD | All |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Very satisfied | 30.3 % | 28.9 % | 29.8 % | 30.2 % |
| • Satisfied | 37.1 % | 42.2 % | 43.9 % | 38.3 % |
| • Somewhat satisfied | 18.2 % | 17.8 % | 19.3 % | 18.3 % |
| • Somewhat dissatisfied | 8.0 % | 8.9 % | 5.3 % | 7.7 % |
| • Dissatisfied | 4.7 % | 2.2 % | 0.0 % | 4.5 % |
| • Very dissatisfied | 1.7 % | 0.0 % | 1.8 % | 1.7 % |
| Number of respondents | 402 | 45 | 57 | 504 |
8a. Do you consider yourself to be underemployed in your current job?
| Response | Bachelor's | Masters | PhD | All |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Yes | 42.3 % | 36.4 % | 28.1 % | 40.2 % |
| • No | 57.7 % | 63.6 % | 71.9 % | 59.8 % |
| Number of respondents | 402 | 44 | 57 | 503 |
8b. Are you underemployed in terms of salary?
| Response | Bachelor's | Masters | PhD | All |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Yes | 91.2 % | 93.8 % | 93.8 % | 91.6 % |
| • No | 8.8 % | 6.3 % | 6.3 % | 8.4 % |
| Number of respondents | 170 | 16 | 16 | 202 |
8c. Are you underemployed in terms of responsibilities?
| Response | Bachelor's | Masters | PhD | All |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Yes | 67.9 % | 75.0 % | 58.3 % | 67.7 % |
| • No | 32.1 % | 25.0 % | 41.7 % | 32.3 % |
| Number of respondents | 106 | 12 | 12 | 130 |
9. What is your annual income before taxes in your current job?
| Response | Bachelor's | Masters | PhD | All |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Less than $15,000 | 12.5 % | 11.1 % | 1.8 % | 11.2 % |
| • $15,000 to $19,999 | 6.2 % | 15.6 % | 0.0 % | 7.2 % |
| • $20,000 to $24,999 | 9.5 % | 13.3 % | 1.8 % | 9.0 % |
| • $25,000 to $29,999 | 9.2 % | 6.7 % | 1.8 % | 8.2 % |
| • $30,000 to $34,999 | 15.5 % | 6.7 % | 1.8 % | 13.1 % |
| • $35,000 to $39,999 | 10.2 % | 15.6 % | 23.2 % | 12.2 % |
| • $40,000 to $44,999 | 8.7 % | 4.4 % | 8.9 % | 8.4 % |
| • $45,000 to $49,999 | 9.2 % | 4.4 % | 7.1 % | 8.6 % |
| • $50,000 to $59,999 | 12.0 % | 6.7 % | 21.4 % | 12.5 % |
| • $60,000 to $69,999 | 4.0 % | 8.9 % | 7.1 % | 4.8 % |
| • $70,000 to $79,999 | 1.0 % | 2.2 % | 12.5 % | 2.4 % |
| • $80,000 to $89,999 | 1.0 % | 2.2 % | 5.4 % | 1.6 % |
| • $90,000 to $99,999 | 0.2 % | 2.2 % | 5.4 % | 1.0 % |
| • $100,000 and over | 0.7 % | 0.0 % | 1.8 % | 0.9 % |
| Number of respondents | 401 | 45 | 56 | 502 |
10. How many months after graduation did you secure your first job?
| Response | Bachelor's | Masters | PhD | All |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Less than one month | 20.5 % | 11.8 % | 0.0 % | 19.8 % |
| • Between 1 and 3 months | 33.2 % | 47.1 % | 37.5 % | 34.3 % |
| • Between 3 and 6 months | 25.0 % | 23.5 % | 0.0 % | 24.9 % |
| • Between 6 and 9 months | 8.2 % | 5.9 % | 37.5 % | 9.0 % |
| • More than 9 months | 13.2 % | 11.8 % | 25.0 % | 13.5 % |
| Number of respondents | 220 | 17 | 8 | 245 |
11. Are you still employed in that first job?
| Response | Bachelor's | Masters | PhD | All |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Yes | 76.9 % | 91.3 % | 91.2 % | 79.8 % |
| • No | 23.1 % | 8.7 % | 8.8 % | 20.2 % |
| Number of respondents | 403 | 46 | 57 | 506 |
12. Overall, rate how competitive you feel your U of I degree made you in the workforce.
| Response | Bachelor's | Masters | PhD | All |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • 1—Very competitive | 26.7 % | 25.0 % | 40.4 % | 28.1 % |
| • 2 | 45.0 % | 38.6 % | 45.6 % | 44.6 % |
| • 3 | 20.8 % | 34.1 % | 14.0 % | 21.2 % |
| • 4 | 6.2 % | 2.3 % | 0.0 % | 5.8 % |
| • 5—Not at all competitive | 1.2 % | 0.0 % | 0.0 % | 1.2 % |
| Number of respondents | 404 | 44 | 57 | 505 |
Source: University Office for Planning and Budgeting