Post-Graduation Outcomes
Reporting post-graduation outcomes, including graduate earnings, has become an increasingly common expectation for colleges and universities nationwide. Middle Georgia State University (MGA) participates in several initiatives to access and report data on graduate earnings and other career outcomes through the coordinated efforts of the Office of Institutional Research and Data Strategy (OIRDS), the Center for Career & Leadership Development, and the Office of Financial Aid. Additionally, information and resources related to student debt are provided to ensure that students are well-informed about the financial implications of their educational choices, including the management of debt. This comprehensive approach aims to equip students with the knowledge necessary for making informed financial decisions and understanding the long-term effects of borrowing.
Steppingblocks
Steppingblocks is a data platform that provides insights into alumni workforce outcomes, including employment status, geographic location, salary ranges, and key skills. MGA faculty, staff, or departmental units interested in using this tool can access the portal ( linked here) via your MGA SSO (single-sign-on).
Georgia Degrees Pay
MGA also utilizes the Georgia Degrees Pay resource, which provides comprehensive information about degree attainment, student success, costs, and affordability across the University System of Georgia's 26 public colleges and universities. This resource includes various tools for analyzing post-graduation outcomes:
- Earnings After Graduation
View earnings ranges for different academic programs at a selected institution 1, 5, or 10 years after graduation.
- Compare Between Majors
Compare earnings ranges across several academic programs at a selected institution and degree level.
- Compare Between Schools
Compare earnings ranges across USG colleges and universities for selected degree levels and academic programs.
- Range of Earnings by Academic Area
Access earnings ranges associated with broad academic areas 1, 5, or 10 years after graduation at a selected institution and degree level.
- Loan Debt at Graduation
View the distribution of debt at graduation for USG colleges and universities based on selected degree levels and academic areas.
- Compare Earnings & Loan Payments
Compare monthly earnings and likely loan payments for graduates of selected degree levels and academic areas.
First Destination Survey
The First Destination Survey collects information on graduating seniors' immediate post-graduation plans through a survey conducted near the time of graduation. Survey results and related insights from the most recent administration can be found here.
U.S. Census Beureau PSEO Graduate Earnings
The Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) is an experimental data product from the U.S. Census Bureau that provides earnings outcomes and employment flows for recent graduates of partner colleges and universities. These statistics are generated by matching university transcript data with a national jobs database. Only graduates who earn at least the annual equivalent of full-time work at the prevailing federal minimum wage and work three or more quarters in a calendar year are included. Earnings outcomes for graduates from a particular institution are available by degree field, degree level, and graduation cohort. Data are reported at the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles for one, five, and ten years after graduation.
For more information, visit the Post-Secondary Educational Outcomes (PSEO) website.
Additional Resources
USG Strategic Plan 2029 Dashboards: These dashboards provide an overview of key metrics related to the university system's goals and objectives. Specific to post-graduate outcomes are the following two goals:
- Responsible Stewardship Goal: The University System of Georgia will ensure affordability for students through the wise stewardship of resources and optimizing efficiency across the system. Details on average loan amounts and cost of attendance can be found here.
- Community Impact Goal: University System of Georgia institutions will connect and collaborate with the communities and regions in which they serve to drive innovation and create opportunities for continued economic and quality of life impact. Details on average lifetime earnings premium for USG Graduates can be found here
MGA’s Office of Financial Aid - https://www.mga.edu/financial-aid/index.php
Cost of Attendance - https://www.mga.edu/financial-aid/cost-of-attendance.php
Loans - https://www.mga.edu/financial-aid/opportunities/loans.php
