Survey shows successful career rates for MSU graduates
Contact: Mary Pollitz
STARKVILLE, Miss.—The annual First Destination Survey report shows exceptionally strong career success rates for Mississippi State graduates gaining employment soon after earning their degrees.
The successful career outcomes rate for 2023-2024 MSU graduates within six months is 95%—a 2% increase from last year—representing respondents who reported being employed full or part time, enrolled in a continuing education program such as graduate school, participating in a service program, or serving in the U.S. military.
“At the MSU Career Center, we want to bridge the gap for students to find their career opportunity,” said Bethany Mills, executive director. “Through exposing students to hundreds of organizations each semester through career fairs and events to helping connect them to alumni and their career field through the Bulldog Mentor Program, we want to show students their options and possibilities after graduation.
“Our goal is to get our students career-ready and to educate them on how to best prepare and show up for their professional endeavors,” Mills continued. “This includes major exploration, resume and cover letter development, interviewing skills, job search strategies, professional dress, salary negotiation and more. We continue to find ways to better help students identify their career path, and we are thankful to have a committed campus community to help our students achieve career success.”
Of the 5,709 MSU graduates, reliable information for the survey was collected from 4,467. Of these, 69% were employed full time and 27% were enrolled in continuing their education in advanced programs. Of those employed graduates, more than half remained in Mississippi, and more than 70% continuing their education chose institutions in the Magnolia State.
Top employers for graduates include International Paper, Paccar, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Department of Agriculture, MSU, Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District, Meridian Public Schools, MSU Extension Service and Rankin County School District.
The First Destination Survey is administered by the MSU Career Center and follows the National Association of Colleges and Employers guidelines. According to NACE FDS reports, MSU’s successful career outcomes rate exceeds the national average.
Throughout the 2023-2024 academic year, students engaged with 861 employers throughout 94 career fairs, interviewing events and employer information sessions.
Two new Career Center initiatives that directly impact students’ career success are the Mississippi State Career Closet and the Summer Internship Support Fund. For more information about these new services, go to https://www.career.msstate.edu/support-students/. For more information about MSU’s Career Center, visit www.career.msstate.edu.
Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.