Graphic Design Graduates Survey

Each spring I have our graduating students complete this survey in order to better understand their 'stories' and to better serve their needs. Their responses help us improve.

 

  2005   2008   2009   2010   2011
Participants 52   28   43        
                             
Female 32 62%   16 57%   19 44%            
Male 20 38%   12 43%   24 56%            
                             
2. Age                            
0–17                            
18–24 40 77%   21 75%   31 72%            
25–29 5 10%   4 14%   9 21%            
30–39 4 8%   2 7%   2 5%            
40–49 3 5%         1 2%            
50–59       1 4%                  
60+                            
                             
3. Marital Status                            
Single 42 81%   23 82%   36 84%            
Single with Children 2 4%         4 9%            
Married 5 10%   2 7%   2 5%            
Marries with Children 3 5%   3 11%   1 2%            
                             
4. Highest Education Level                            
High School / GED 22 42%   16 57%   22 51%            
Some College 25 48%   11 39%   16 37%            
Associate 3 5%   1 4%   2 5%            
Bachelor's 2 4%         3 7%            
Master's                            
Doctorate                            
                             
5. Received Financial Aid                            
Yes       20 71%   28 65%            
No       8 28%   15 35%            
                             
6. Years to complete your Graphic Design degree                            
1 3 5%   1 4%                  
2 21 40%   7 25%   21 49%            
3 23 44%   20 71%   16 37%            
4 3 6%         5 12%            
5 1 2%         1 2%            
                             
7. Years you hoped it would take                            
1       1 4%   1 2%            
2       20 71%   27 63%            
3       7 25%   12 28%            
4             3 7%            
5                            
                             
8. Credits taken each semester                            
3       1 4%   1 2%            
6             2 5%            
9       2 7%   7 16%            
12       16 57%   21 49%            
15       5 18%   11 26%            
18       4 14%   1 2%            
                             
9. Which areas helped you succeed in college?                            
Friends in program       19 68%   24 56%            
Connected with Faculty       23 82%   34 79%            
Creative Center       20 71%   28 65%            
Degree was a good fit       20 71%   28 65%            
                             
10. Hours worked per week                            
0–10 5 10%   6 21%   4 10%            
11–20 14 30%   8 29%   15 37%            
21–30 22 42%   12 43%   13 32%            
31–40 11 21%   2 7%   6 15%            
40+ 1 2%         3 7%            
                             
11. Miles driven (one-way)                            
0–10 30 58%   19 68%   29 67%            
11–20 7 13%   5 18%   5 12%            
21–30 11 21%         5 12%            
31–40 1 2%   1 4%   1 2%            
41–50 1 2%   2 7%   1 2%            
50+ 3 6%   1 4%   2 5%            
                             
12. Before Attending Western for Graphic Design you were:                            
High School 20 38%   13 46%   6 14%            
Another Western Program 4 8%   3 11%   10 23%            
2-Year College 4 8%   1 4%   8 19%            
4-Year College 6 12%   5 18%   7 16%            
Working PT in Graphics 1 2%         1 2%            
Working Part-Time 3 6%   18 64%   10 23%            
Working FT in Graphics             1 2%            
Working Full-Time 12 23%   5 18%   7 16%            
Unemployed       1 4%   3 7%            
Homemaker 1 2%         2 5%            
                             
13. After Graduation you will:                            
Look for FT in Graphics 31 61%   19 68%   28 65%            
Look for PT in Graphics       12 43%   6 14%            
Attend a 2-Year College 2 4%   1 4%                  
Attend a 4-Year College 4 8%   3 11%   4 9%            
Attend 4-Year - other field 3 6%   1 4%   6 14%            
Stay at current graphics job 8 15%   3 11%   5 12%            
Stay at current job       9 32%   4 9%            
Undecided 3 6%   2 7%   9 21%            
Not look for job in graphics 2 4%   1 4%                  
                             
14. After graduation I will look for a job in:                            
Bindery 1 2%         2 5%            
Prepress 4 8%   3 11%   1 2%            
Printing 3 6%   3 11%   2 5%            
Graphic Design 34 65%   22 79%   32 76%            
Web Design 9 17%   8 29%   11 26%            
Any graphics job I can get 19 37%   17 61%   17 40%            
                             
15. How satisfied were you with the G.D. dept. computers, printers, networks, software                            
Dissatisfied/Frustrated                            
Somewhat Dissatisfied             1 2%            
Somewhat Satisfied       7 25%   17 40%            
Very Satisfied       19 68%   24 56%            
                             
16. When you needed a Mac was one available?                            
Never                            
Sometimes       5 18%   4 9%            
Quite Often       8 29%   18 42%            
Always       11 39%   20 47%            

 

2008 Placement Map