USF Maintains 99% Placement for Graduates

A recent survey indicates that 99% of University of Sioux Falls graduates from the Class of 2022 were either employed or attending graduate or professional school within six months of graduation.

“The University of Sioux Falls has provided me with faculty that genuinely care about my learning experience,” said 2022 graduate Mikayla Schalow. “The professors want to see you achieve your goals and pursue your passions. They care about you not just as a student but as a person as well. The Academic Success Center on campus helped me feel confident when submitting graduate applications through resume-building sessions and graduate essay guidance. I feel confident going into graduate school, knowing that my courses at USF have prepared me to get to where I am today.”

Seventy-four percent of 2022 grads started their careers in South Dakota, and of those, 94% are employed in Sioux Falls or within a 30 mile radius. Overall, USF graduates reported working in 20 states.

“We are proud of our graduates and know they take both an enhanced skillset and the University’s motto of Culture for Service out into the communities they serve,” said USF President Brett Bradfield. “USF takes pride in its prominent role in serving educational needs and contributing to workforce development in our state and region.

Other highlights from survey respondents include that 90% of Class of 2022 undergraduates participated in one or more experiential learning activities such as internships, campus-based research, practicums, clinical experiences, field experiences and/or student teaching experiences.                                  

Twenty-three percent of respondents reported continuing their education in either a graduate or professional degree program. In addition, students reported 100% placement rates in over three-fourths of academic programs. An 85% response rate to the survey was obtained for the undergraduate Class of 2022, which exceeds the target goal outlined by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) of 65%. 

Results were equally as impressive for USF’s MBA and graduate education programs. The same study found 99% of graduates were either employed or attending further schooling within six months of graduation, and a strong 90% response rate to the survey was achieved.

Employers can recruit USF talent in a variety of ways, including attending annual career fair events on campus and through USF’s online employment database. All students and alumni have access to the no-cost platform online. Employers looking to get connected with USF students and graduates are encouraged to inquire by emailing asc@usiouxfalls.edu.

Each year, USF Career Services surveys the USF graduating class to assess their post-graduation activities. The methodology of this survey aligns with best practices that are outlined by NACE.