CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The eighth annual Illini Success report released today shows that University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates from summer 2021, fall 2021 and spring 2022 experienced exceptional success in finding jobs, enrolling in graduate school or beginning volunteer programs.
The report found that 95% of graduates secured a “first destination” – defined as a job, enrollment in graduate or professional school, or a volunteer position – within six months of graduation. Approximately 57% started a job, 38% enrolled in additional education and less than 1% began a volunteer position. The report also shows that the average salary for a full-time-employed recent graduate is about $74,974, up from last year’s $68,701.
About 75% of graduating Illinois residents stayed in the state for a job or graduate school, and about 67% of all graduates found their first destination in Illinois. The remaining 33% secured first destinations across 46 other U.S. states and 21 other countries.
Eighty-eight percent of students reported participating in an experiential learning opportunity (internship, research project, study abroad, service learning, clinical programs) and 44% of those experiences resulted directly in a full-time job offer.
Top employers include Amazon, Boeing Co., Caterpillar, Deloitte, EY, Google, John Deere, JPMorgan Chase & Co., KPMG, Meta (formerly known as Facebook), Microsoft, PepsiCo Inc., PwC and others.
Top graduate and professional schools include Columbia University, Northwestern University, New York University, Stanford University, the University of Chicago, the University of Michigan and the University of Wisconsin.
“No matter where they are from or where they land, a degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is one of the best decisions and best investments a student can make for their education, career and life,” Chancellor Robert J. Jones said. “We are thrilled to see our graduates succeeding at such high rates.”
The report includes students who completed undergraduate degrees in August 2021, December 2021 and May 2022. Data was obtained from a survey of graduates and other sources such as the National Student Clearinghouse, college reports and LinkedIn data. The project is supported by the Office of the Provost, Career Services Council, Division of Management Information, Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, Office of the Registrar, Institutional Review Board Office, Council of Undergraduate Deans and other partners.
Illini Success by the numbers (2021-22):
● 95, the percentage of graduates who secured a first destination (job, graduate school, volunteer program).
● 88, the percentage of students who participated in an experiential learning opportunity (internship, research, study abroad, etc.).
● 75, the percentage of Illinois residents who stayed in the state.
● 47, the number of states, including Illinois, where students found first destinations.
● 21, the number of other countries where students found first destinations.
● $74,974, the average salary for a full-time-employed recent graduate.