Newswise — A remarkably high number of 2009 Creighton University graduates – 93 percent – are employed or are furthering their education as of April 1, 2010, according to an annual study conducted by the University’s Career Center. The national average, as reported in the “National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) 2009-10 Career Services Benchmark Survey for Four-Year Colleges and Universities” is 68 percent.
“Despite a challenging economy and the softening of the entry-level job market for college graduates, employers are seeking Creighton graduates. The caliber of students and the experience they have garnered through internships are significant factors. With 41 percent of our student population coming from more than 400 miles away, potential employers also see our graduates as mobile and amenable to relocation,” said Jim Bretl, director of Creighton’s John P. Fahey Career Center. Creighton also had a much greater graduate response rate, 80 percent, to its outcomes survey than other higher education institutions. Nationally the response rates range from 72 percent for colleges with fewer than 1,000 students to 46 percent at colleges with more than 20,000 students.
“A higher response rate on our outcomes survey translates to better data,” Bretl added.
According to Creighton’s survey, the top fields for which employers sought 2009 graduates were business and financial services, information technology, marketing, nursing and education.
While average salaries for business school graduates declined nationally, starting salaries were up for Creighton College of Business graduates by 2 percent to an average of $43,661, between 2008 and 2009.
The academic quality of 2009 Creighton University graduates is also reflected in the high rate of acceptance into graduate and professional programs. In the College of Arts and Sciences it was nearly 54 percent, an increase of 5 percent over 2008. For all Creighton schools and colleges, the acceptance rate was 31 percent, compared to 20 percent nationally. To assist soon-to-be graduates looking for job opportunities, Creighton’s Career Center offers many networking and professional development activities. They include:
..Jobs4Jays--an interactive web site where students can post resumes, search for jobs and internships, sign up for campus interviews, and learn about career workshops and events •Career fairs where students meet with potential employers and representatives from dozens of graduate and professional schools •On -campus interviews with area companies and organizations• Preparation skills exercises such as resume writing and practice interviews for both employment and professional school applications
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