A study of the early career paths of recent University of Illinois graduates reveals that new alumni from the College of LAS are successful in finding jobs and other first destinations.
About 90 percent of new LAS alumni are securing jobs (including military service), continuing education, or volunteer/service positions, according to the Illini Success initiative, a university-wide effort to better understand the early career paths of new alumni.
Among the statistics detailed within the report, the average starting salary of new alumni grew significantly during the past year for several LAS categories, including mathematics and statistics, which grew from $77,523 in 2018-19 to $79,590 in 2019-20, the highest in the college.
The numbers released in the most recent report reflect LAS undergraduates who graduated during the August 2019, December 2019, and May 2020 graduations. Through the use of direct surveys and other inquiries, the U of I was able to gather data on some 1,619 LAS alumni who graduated in 2019-20—about 47 percent of the total.
Gene Robinson, interim dean of the College of LAS and Swanlund Chair in Entomology, said that the Illini Success survey reveals the strength of a liberal arts and sciences education.
“As apparent through these survey results, our graduates leave the College of LAS with a fantastic array of new skills, abilities, and perspectives that prepare them for many opportunities,” Robinson said. “We are proud to be the starting point for what is undoubtedly a bright and promising future for our alumni.”
By Dave Evensen | LAS News