What ASU’s published outcome figure measures
ASU’s Provost Office reports that 87% of new graduates were employed, continuing education, volunteering or serving in the military within six months after graduation. The university identifies the source as ASU Career and Professional Development Services, 2023–24. The statistic is a combined post-graduation outcome measure: it should not be described as an 87% employment rate, a campus placement percentage or an international-student job guarantee. It is useful as broad university-level context, but the page does not attach the percentage to a particular school, major, international cohort or survey response rate. Applicants comparing programmes should request programme-level results and ask which graduating group and response population were included. If a degree’s outcome report is not public, avoid substituting a university-wide figure as though it were specific.
Source: Graduation and Employment
Median salary is not an offer or a programme promise
The same page displays median full-time salary of USD 63,000 for undergraduates and USD 74,700 for graduate students. These are overall medians and not a starting salary guarantee, a salary for every graduate, or a number necessarily limited to graduates who completed a specific major. Medians are less affected by very high values than averages, but they still hide differences by field, location, job function, experience and response coverage. Ask whether the figures count only full-time employed graduates, how salary was reported and which graduation year is represented. Compare the number with current salary data in your target occupation and region. An international applicant should also consider work authorization and the time needed to secure eligible employment after graduation. A school outcome number cannot replace an individual career plan.
Source: Graduation and Employment
Employer reputation and employability rankings
ASU’s Provost Office cites a Global Employability University Ranking and Survey result placing ASU second among U.S. public universities for 2023–2026. This is a ranking/survey measure of institutional reputation among a comparison group; it is not a job placement rate or a direct count of hires. Employers may know the university while still recruiting selectively by programme, skill, experience and legal work eligibility. Treat ranking context as one signal and look for evidence closer to your degree: internship access, employer events, alumni roles, accreditation, practical projects and a published programme outcome report. The University’s CareerLink and career advising are support systems students can use, but the student remains responsible for building experience and applying.
Source: Graduation and Employment
Find programme-specific evidence before committing
A useful placement comparison starts with the exact degree and graduating cohort. Ask the department or career office whether it publishes an outcomes survey, where graduates work, what roles they take, and how many graduates responded. Separate full-time employment from further study, military or volunteer service. Look for wage distributions, not just a median, and distinguish domestic and international graduates when possible. In fields with professional licensing, compare first-time exam or accreditation results from an appropriate regulator, but only if the data are current and programme-specific. An internship statistic should name its student population and period. If the programme cannot provide a tailored figure, use ASU-wide data only as broad context and make that limitation clear in your decision notes. Do not infer that a high university ranking predicts a high salary for one student.
Source: Career Services
Build your own evidence of employability
Students can strengthen career readiness by collecting examples of work throughout the degree. Keep project descriptions, research posters, presentations, technical tools, client or community work, teamwork contributions and measurable outcomes. Use Career Services appointments to improve a résumé, practice interviews and locate employer events through CareerLink. Seek internships or campus work that adds relevant experience, but confirm programme restrictions and immigration work authorization first. Graduate students can describe research methods, teaching and publication contributions in terms employers understand. A thoughtful portfolio is especially valuable when a degree is broad and the job title is not obvious. This work does not guarantee placement; it gives the student clearer evidence to present in a competitive market and helps connect coursework to practical responsibilities.
Source: Career Services
Questions to ask when a programme shares outcomes
Ask for the graduating cohort year, degree and campus included; whether the data cover all graduates or only survey respondents; the response rate; how “employed” is defined; and how continuing education, service or military outcomes are counted. For salaries, clarify whether the median is based on full-time salaries, what share of respondents reported pay, whether figures are annualized and whether they include bonuses. A small programme can have volatile year-to-year numbers, so ask for several cohorts if available. For international students, distinguish students eligible to work in the U.S. from those who returned home or pursued graduate study elsewhere. These questions do not imply that ASU data are unreliable; they help you understand what the statistic can and cannot say. If the department cannot provide the detail, record that limitation and rely on the overall university figure only as broad context.
Source: Graduation and Employment
Translate the data into your personal decision
Use outcomes alongside the cost, academic plan and employment rules. If your goal is graduate school, a combined measure that includes further study may be more relevant than a median salary. If you want to work in a regulated profession, placement figures do not show licensure outcomes unless the programme reports them separately. For a technical role, check whether students have access to internships, labs, portfolios or employer projects that help demonstrate skills. For a campus job or internship during study, ask how international students are advised and what authorization is required. Compare two specific degrees rather than two universities’ overall figures. Finally, consider your own language, location and experience preferences; a statistical average cannot determine whether an opportunity is accessible to you. The strongest placement analysis combines official cohort data with a realistic plan to build relevant experience while enrolled.
Source: Career Services