Center for Career & Professional Development: Career Outcomes

graduating students in full cap and gown

The Center for Career & Professional Development is charged by the Provost to collect and report the official career outcomes information of undergraduates and graduates* for use in internal and external reporting. Starting with the Class of 2013-14, University of Detroit Mercy follows the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Standards and Protocols for the Collection and Dissemination of Graduating Student Initial Career Outcomes Information for Undergraduates.

First Destination Career Outcomes

female student at commencement

98%
Success rate
Class of 2022

A pie chart labeled Career Outcomes Rate, 82 percent are employed full time, 12 percent are continuing education, and 1 percent are employed part-time

First Destination Career Outcomes Rate - the percentage of graduates who are employed full- or part-time, in service or military service, or enrolled in continuing education.

Request Career Outcomes Data

Contact the Center for Career & Professional Development at careerlink@udmercy.edu or 313-993-1017 to request a copy of previous or current year First Destination Reports.


The National Association of Colleges and Employers offers the most accurate compensation data available.

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    NACE Standards

    NACE Standards include the following criteria:

    • Include students who completed degrees between the periods of July 1 to June 30 each year
    • Report “Knowledge rates." The percent of graduates for which the institution has reasonable and verifiable information concerning the graduates’ post-graduation career activities

    Utilize Career Outcomes Reporting Categories (versus “placement” rate)

    • Employed Full-time
    • Employed Part-time
    • Participating in a program of voluntary service
    • Serving in the U.S. Armed Forces
    • Enrolled in a program of continuing education

    The Detroit Mercy First Destination outcomes include:

    • Self-reported responses to Career Outcomes survey
    • Knowledge reported from schools/colleges)
    • National Student Clearinghouse data
    • Data retrieved from internet searches (e.g., LinkedIn).

    The data collection period is continuous and every effort is made to reach all new alumni. The target date for gathering all summary career outcomes data is December 31 of each year. This common deadline provides a consistent metric to be used in reporting and comparing summary outcomes.

    Salaries are self-reported by graduates. Reported salaries outside of the normal high/low salary range were excluded to avoid skewing overall salary averages. Higher than average salaries most often reflect graduates with significant experience in the field prior to conferring of degree.

    The number of graduates in specific programs may differ from Institutional Research based on the following:

    • Graduates who earned multiple undergraduate degrees are reflected based on Banner Degree 1.
    • For 2013-15 BSN completion graduates were excluded from the first destination survey assuming the employment was not First Destination.

    Per NACE Standards, International students who did not self-report employment and/or were not enrolled in a post-degree program (based on National Student Clearinghouse) are reflected in the Career Outcomes as Not Seeking.

    *Beginning with the class of July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016, the Center for Career & Professional Development (CCPD) will focus its efforts on increasing the knowledge rate at the undergraduate level with a goal of reaching the NACE suggested minimum institutional knowledge rate of 65 percent. Once achieved the CCPD will gather career outcomes for degrees conferred at the graduate level utilizing the NACE Standards and Protocols for the Collection and Dissemination of Graduating Student Initial Career Outcomes, Information for Graduating Student Initial Career Outcomes and Information for Advanced Degree Candidates.