Tell us where you’re headed — and strengthen the value of your degree.
Graduation is a big moment. Whether you’re stepping into a new job, heading to grad school, taking time to explore, or still figuring things out, your next step matters — and we want to celebrate it.
The First Destination Survey (FDS) is a short, national survey organized by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) that asks graduating students what they’re doing after graduation. Colleges and universities across the country participate, and the results help students, families, employers, and campus partners understand the real outcomes of a Michigan Tech degree. And because Michigan Tech follows national NACE standards, your outcome is measured the same way as graduates at colleges and universities across the country — making the data truly comparable and trustworthy.
What data does the FDS collect and why?
The FDS analyzes the following post graduation outcomes:
- Type of employment
- Continuing education
- Still seeking
- Starting salary for those employed full time
Analysis of the data involves two key factors: knowledge rate and career outcomes rate.
The knowledge rate is the percentage of graduates for which an institution has reasonable and verifiable information concerning the graduates’ postgraduation career activities. This information comes directly from the graduates via the FDS and career advisor outreach. Relevant data, however, may also be provided by employers or obtained through other sources, such as LinkedIn profiles and other online sources. Each college and university seeks to have the highest knowledge rate possible; NACE directs all institutions to strive for a minimum knowledge rate of 65%.
NACE and Career Services use the term career outcomes rate in lieu “placement rate.” The career outcomes rate is the number of graduates who have landed in any of the employment categories, plus service and military, plus continuing education, divided by the number of graduates for whom the outcome is known. It excludes those graduates identified as not seeking an outcome.
Whenever an institution shares its career outcomes rate, NACE suggests that the data’s correlating knowledge rate also be shown to provide a complete view of the dataset.
The data collected allows the institution to assess performance in relation to institutional goals and academic program standards. It also offers insight into the return on investment of time, effort, and resources by students and their families.
More detailed information can be found on the NACE website.
Why should you care about the FDS?
- It strengthens the value of your degree. Employers, policymakers, and prospective students look at FDS data to understand career outcomes and salary trends.
- It helps future Huskies. Your experience shapes advising, academic programs, and the support we offer to the next generation of Michigan Tech students.
- It helps you tell your story. Aggregated results become part of the career outcomes report you can reference when negotiating offers or talking about the value of your degree.
Who should complete it
All graduating students, whether you have a job lined up, are continuing your education, are still searching, or are taking time to explore your options. The survey is quick and confidential – it takes just a few minutes to complete, and your individual information is never shared. Only combined data is reported.
Career Services is responsible for administering the FDS to students. This includes promotion of the survey, data collection, initial data analysis, and reporting the national data collection effort. Any data a student shares will be aggregated and unidentifiable.
When to complete it
You’ll receive a link during your final semester and again after graduation. You can update your response anytime within six months.
What you’ll need
Just a few details about your plans:
- Job title and employer (if applicable)
- Graduate school program (if applicable)
- Your general post‑graduation status
No offer letter uploads. No long forms. Just a quick snapshot of where you’re headed. After you submit your survey in Handshake, you’ll immediately see how your next step compares to your peers through live charts and salary data.
Ready to share your next step?
If you’re a recent graduate or are about to graduate, please check your Michigan Tech email to complete the survey or click here to share your post graduation plans. Please contact career@mtu.edu or 906-487-2313 if you have any questions or need help accessing the survey.