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CU • News & Events

Despite Global Pandemic Clarkson University’s Class of 2020 Sees High Placement Rate, Above-Average Salaries

Release Date
Monday March 15, 2021
Class of 2020 Job Placement
A student speaks to a potential employer at the January 2020 Career Fair. (File Photo)

In a year that has seen a downturn in employment opportunities during a global pandemic, Clarkson University graduates in the Class of 2020 are reporting high placement rates and salaries. 

Survey results show that 97 percent of all 2020 Clarkson University graduates had been placed in a full-time job in their chosen field of study, entered graduate school or joined the military within six months of graduation. Ninety-five percent of the undergraduate Class of 2020 responded to the survey.

The survey also showed that the average starting salary for Clarkson graduates was trending high once again. Class of 2020 undergraduates entered the workforce with an average salary of $64,384. In 2019, the national average starting salary was $53,889 for recent bachelor’s degree graduates. Recent graduate school alumni averaged a salary of $75,946.

“Many of our students pursue employment in essential roles in the STEM field, and that keeps employers coming back to recruit our students, even in a tough economy. When you pair that with our reputation for churning out top talent from strong programs, we see success, said Career Center Director Margo Jenkins.

“Clarkson’s required professional experience was instrumental in our student’s success--when the competition heats up, their professional experience gives them a competitive edge compared to students who do not graduate with experience,” Jenkins said.

Twice a year, Clarkson holds career fairs where students can meet with nearly 200 potential employers in-person. Due to the pandemic, Clarkson’s Career Center staff had to find a new way to hold the Fall Career Fair. 

“The Career Center team was able to think on their toes and flip our recruitment service model quickly, which led to 113 employers attending our Fall Fair while many schools canceled their fair altogether,” Jenkins said. 

The Career Center hosts more than 1,000 one-on-one appointments per year. It also holds group workshops, classes, and events designed to prepare students for their job search. The Center offers interview preparation, resume and cover letter critiques, job search, and exploration assistance, offer and negotiation advice and more. The targeted services model ensures that students across all majors receive the assistance and job opportunities needed to succeed.

The survey captures information regarding how new college graduates fare in their careers within six months of graduation. The annual initiative provides clear, concise and consistent data on the outcomes associated with a college education on a national scale. Outcomes include types of employment (full or part-time, contract, freelance, etc.), additional education (accepted to graduate or professional school), still seeking employment or further education and starting salary for those employed full time. The survey is designed to provide trends data over time to inform the discussion about the value of higher education and Clarkson’s approach to advising for career success.

As a private, national research university, Clarkson is a leader in technological education and sustainable economic development through teaching, scholarship, research and innovation. We ignite personal connections across academic fields and industries to create the entrepreneurial mindset, knowledge and intellectual curiosity needed to innovate world-relevant solutions and cultivate the leaders of tomorrow. With its main campus located in Potsdam, N.Y., and additional graduate program and research facilities in the New York Capital Region, Beacon, N.Y., and New York City, Clarkson educates 4,600+ students across 95 rigorous programs of study in engineering, business, the arts, education, sciences and health professions. Our alumni earn salaries that are among the top 2.5% in the nation and realize accelerated career growth. One in five already leads as a CEO, senior executive or owner of a company. To learn more about Clarkson University, go to www.clarkson.edu.


Photograph for media use is available at:
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Photograph Size:
Width: 2449px
Height: 1632px

News directors and editors: For more information, contact Melissa Lindell, Director of Media Relations, at 315-268-6716 or mlindell@clarkson.edu.

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