Our Approach to Career Data and Outcomes

Cornell Career Services (CCS) conducts annual surveys of bachelor’s degree recipients for six months following graduation (CCS does not administer survey to SC Johnson College of Business students but their post-graduation data is included on the Student Career Outcomes Dashboard), and produces outcomes data summarizing post-graduation activities for the university as a whole.

In addition, graduate degree recipients in professional masters programs are surveyed; excluding MBA and Master of Engineering programs.

The primary method for collecting outcomes data is an online survey administered and managed by Cornell Career Services using the 12twenty platform in accordance with the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) standards.

Several strategies are used to distribute the survey including: centralized emails, college-specific emails, requests during capstone classes, and various college events. Requests to complete the survey are sent approximately one month before graduation, at graduation, three months post-graduation, and six months post-graduation. We collect data for six months past the May graduation date, closing data collection in late December.

Direct surveys of graduates are our primary and preferred source of data. However, when survey data are not available, other sources of information are considered (e.g., LinkedIn). Response rates vary across colleges and majors. Our survey data includes a large majority of student entered responses with added outcomes from sources such as LinkedIn.

Cornell Career Services uses your data to help prospective students, current students, families and alumni when making career-related decisions. Personally identifying information is removed from outcomes data and is only reported in aggregate (data that has been collected from multiple sources and summarized into a report). We do not report data if there are less than 10 responses in any given program or major.

Access to data is restricted and maintained with strict confidentiality protocols to protect your privacy. We greatly appreciate the willingness of Cornell graduates to share their outcome information. In college and major salary analysis, in cases where we have fewer than 10 employed graduates, we do not provide salary information. More granular data is not available through this public tool.

It is helpful to understand key terminology that is used to define outcomes and categorize variables. When completing the online survey, graduates are asked about their plans for after graduation which are represented in the following categories on the student outcomes page:

Survey/Graduation Year – each year’s graduating class including all students who completed a degree each year. For purposes of outcomes reporting on our student outcome dashboard, the class of 2025 includes all graduates who completed their degree in fall 2024, spring 2025, and summer 2025.

Post-Graduation Activity – the primary status upon graduation from Cornell (within six months after graduation)

• Employed Full Time – includes self-employed, paid internship, and service organization with compensation/stipend, such as PeaceCorps, AmeriCorps, or Teach for America.
• Continuing Education (Graduate or Professional School)
• Seeking Employment
• Military Service
• Employed Part Time
• Other Endeavor – includes: unemployed and not seeking, volunteering, family or other caregiving, travel, or time off
• Seeking Continuing Education

Response Rate – number of survey responses divided by eligible number of graduates. At Cornell, the post-graduation survey is not mandatory

Knowledge Rate – number of survey responses Cornell has reasonable and verifiable information about a graduates’ post-graduation activities

Field of Occupation – area or field a particular job belongs to (e.g., research, accounting, human resources)

Employment Industry – area or industry of an employer/organization (e.g., manufacturing, technology, education)

Salary – Dashboard only shows full-time U.S. salaries. Part-time salaries, military salaries, non-U.S. salaries, bonuses, and other compensation are not included. To protect salary privacy, data is hidden when fewer than 10 respondents reported salary

Data Source – 12twenty First Destination Survey (administered by University Career Development)

Dashboard Developer – Stephanie M. Resue, Assistant Director of Data and Systems

Data Steward – Stephanie M. Resue, Assistant Director of Data and Systems