Educational Outcomes, Earnings, and Satisfaction with Undergraduate Education: Graduates of 1973, 1983, & 1993

Highlights from SARI Reports 329 & 334

• The majority of graduates earned another degree.

• One half earned a salary of at least $72,000.

• About 95% of graduates were satisfied with their undergraduate education at UC Davis.

• Most alumni viewed their relationship to the University as familial.

• Alumni felt less prepared in several important workplace skills that went beyond classroom instruction. There are interdivisional opportunities.

• Alumni strongly supported the University’s commitments to intellectual freedom and research but they wanted more emphasis on teaching undergraduates.

SARI SurveyAll Alumni of 1973, 1983, & 1993

• Postal and electronic forms

• 46% response rate including– 1973 = 1,223– 1983 = 1,265– 1993 = 1,691

Respondents = 4,179

Population = 9,128

Other Recent Studies of AlumniHart Research Associates

• Alumni one of several constituencies studied

• Sampled all alumni• 504 telephone interviews• 3 focus groups

Performance Enhancement Group, Ltd.

• Part of UC-wide research• Sampled all alumni except

1973, 1983, 1993• 228 telephone interviews• 278 e-mail/Internet

responses• 506 total responses

Educational Attainment of UC Davis Graduates

65%

57%

51%

52%

51%

43%

32%

25%

22%

25%

28%

23%

19%

9%

10%

2%

4%

9%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

1973

1983

1993

Postgraduatecredential/degree

Postgraduatedegree

Academic degree

Professional degree

Teaching credential

Pursuingdegree/credential

% # % # % #Doctoral Degrees 6% 78 7% 83 4% 65 Academic 6% 78 7% 83 4% 65

Professional Degrees 16% 179 19% 210 15% 239 Law 5% 67 5% 62 5% 81 Medicine 3% 39 6% 75 4% 68 Veterinary Medicine 4% 36 6% 48 3% 35 Other Health Fields 2% 24 2% 19 3% 46 Other Professional Doctorates 1% 13 0% 6 1% 9

Master's Degrees 40% 493 34% 436 30% 506 Academic 29% 350 22% 275 20% 338 Business 6% 70 7% 94 5% 84 Other Professional Masters 6% 73 5% 67 5% 84 Credentials 24% 288 13% 159 13% 220 Teaching Credential 19% 229 9% 114 10% 174

Othera 5% 59 4% 45 3% 46

Degrees Attained, Percent of Respondents1973 1983 1993

1973

n=358

1983

n=407

1993

n=380

1973

n=210

1983

n=263

1993

n=294

1973

n=83

1983

n=137

1993

n=132

1973

n=560

1983

n=452

1993

n=881

Doctoral Degrees Academic 3% 6% 2% 10% 11% 6% 7% 3% 4% 7% 6% 4%

Professional Degrees Law 2% 2% 1% 2% 0% 1% 1% 3% 1% 10% 11% 8% Medicine 2% 2% 1% 12% 22% 18% 4% 0% 0% 1% 2% 1% Veterinary Medicine 3% 3% 4% 6% 10% 5% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% Other Health Fields 1% 1% 0% 8% 5% 13% 0% 0% 0% 1% 0% 1% Other Professional Doctorates 1% 0% 0% 0% 1% 1% 0% 1% 0% 2% 1% 0%

Master's Degrees Academic 25% 20% 15% 29% 19% 15% 42% 31% 30% 29% 22% 22% Business 4% 10% 6% 6% 4% 4% 8% 15% 8% 6% 5% 4% Other Professional Masters 6% 5% 6% 5% 5% 5% 0% 2% 1% 7% 7% 5% Credentials Teaching Credential 20% 11% 10% 9% 6% 5% 1% 1% 0% 25% 12% 14%

Othera 5% 5% 5% 5% 3% 2% 1% 3% 1% 5% 3% 2%

Degrees Attained by College: Percent of Respondents

Agricultural &

Environmental SciencesBiological Science Engineering

Letters

and

Science

Mean and Median Incomes, Full-time Employed

$101,384$107,135

$77,191$76,000$80,000

$65,000

$0

$20,000

$40,000

$60,000

$80,000

$100,000

$120,000

1973 1983 1993

Mean

Median

Mean

MeanMedian

Median

Percentage of Respondents

Salary >

90% $41,00080% $50,00070% $59,80060% $65,00050% $72,00040% $80,00030% $100,00020% $120,00010% $150,000

Salaries of Graduatesof 1973, 1983 and 1993

How Satisfied Are You With Your Undergraduate Education?

63%

62%

64%

33%

34%

33%

4%

4%

3%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

1973

1983

1993

Very satisfied Satisfied Not satisfied

Would you encourage a current high school senior who is like you to attend UC Davis?

69%

69%

74%

68%

24%

25%

22%

27%

7%

6%

4%

5%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

1973

1983

1993

2002

Definitely would Probably would Probably/definitely would not

Which of the following best describes your current relationship to UC Davis?

20%

38%

1%

12%

27%

1%

21%

40%

1%

10%

26%

2%

23%

40%

1%

12%

23%

1%

35%

39%

1%

9%

14%

2%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Member of the

FAMILY

Former member of

the FAMILY

Disgruntled member

of the FAMILY

Loyal CUSTOMER

Former CUSTOMER

Disgruntled

CUSTOMER

1973

1983

1993

2002

Which of the following best describes your current relationship to UC Davis?

60%

62%

64%

75%

40%

38%

36%

25%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

1973

1983

1993

2002

Total FAMILY Total CUSTOMER

X=Importance

Y=Preparation

Research skills

Low Importance, High Preparation

Low Importance, Low Preparation

High Importance, Low Preparation

Interpersonal skills

Work Independently

High Importance, High Preparation

Quantitative skills

Teamwork

Computer skills

Foreign language

Global Awareness

Cross-culturalskills

Identify moral issues

Learn new skills

Problem solvingIn-depth knowledge

Find information

Writing

Leadership skills

Speaking

Congruence of Importance and Preparation

Current and Desired Emphasis

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

Teac

hing

und

ergr

ads

Inte

llect

ual f

reed

omW

orkf

orce

ski

llsFa

culty

res

earc

hNee

d-ba

sed

aid

Mor

al d

evel

opm

ent

Mer

it-ba

sed

aid

Libe

ral a

rts e

duca

tion

Eth

nic

dive

rsity

Ext

racu

rric

ular

act

iviti

es

Cam

pus

resi

dent

ial l

ife

Inte

rcol

legi

ate

athl

etic

sAlu

mni

con

cern

s

Current emphasis Desired emphasisA great deal

Very little

UC Davis Cornell University Massachusetts Institute of

Technology(1973, 1983, 1993) (1989, 1994) (1979, 1984, 1989, 1994)

Faculty research Faculty research Faculty researchIntellectual freedom Intellectual freedom Intellectual freedomTeaching undergraduates Racial/ethnic diversity Need-based financial aid

Racial/ethnic diversity Broad liberal arts education Racial/ethnic diversityExtracurricular activities Need-based financial aid Workforce skills

Teaching undergrads Teaching undergrads Teaching undergrads

Intellectual freedom Intellectual freedom Faculty research

Workforce skills Workforce skills Intellectual freedom

Faculty research Need-based financial aid Need-based financial aid

Need-based financial aid Racial/ethnic diversity Workforce skills

Workforce skills Teaching undergraduates Teaching undergraduates

Moral/ethical development Workforce skills Moral/ethical development

Teaching undergraduates Moral/ethical development Residential life

Merit-based financial aid Merit-based financial aid Workforce skills

Need-based financial aid Need-based financial aid Merit-based financial aid

Largest

deficits

Emphasis and Deficit Rankings:UC Davis, Cornell, and MIT Alumni

University

Top 5

Currently

emphasized

Top 5

Should

emphasize

In Communication With Alumni the Data Support the Following Practices

• Use relational language (membership, loyalty, support, etc.), not market language (value, product, brand)

• Continue messages about faculty research and intellectual freedom

• Emphasize undergraduate educational opportunities and programs (scholarships, honors program, freshmen seminars, etc.)

• Emphasize opportunities to develop workforce skills (in the major, leadership programs, internships, career advising and fairs, research opportunities, etc.)