Student Life
Graduate Alumni Survey
In 2005 Graduate Division conducted a survey of all UCSB alumni who were awarded a Ph.D. or Master's degree between 1997 and 2004. Of over 750 alumni surveys, 20% were completed and returned.
Background Characteristics
Of those responding:
- 46% earned a Ph.D., 27% an M.A. or M.S., 21% M.Ed., 4% M.E.S.M., and 1% other Master's. Ph.D. students were somewhat more likely to respond to the survey.
- 47% were male, 53% female. Females responded to the survey at a higher rate than males.
- At the time of the survey, six out of ten were married and 41% had children.
- Although underrepresented among survey respondents, 7% were international students.
- Alumni from graduate programs in Education were overrepresented among respondents.
Satisfaction Ratings
Ninety-two percent (92%) of those responding were satisfied to very satisfied with their UCSB graduate experience overall. Among Ph.D. recipients, 95% were satisfied to very satisfied.1 Men and women were equally satisfied.
Grad alumni also indicated satisfaction with various specific aspects of their UCSB experience:
- The graduate academic experience received top ratings (87% satisfied to very satisfied).
- Climate for graduate study in the department received very strong ratings (84% satisfied to very satisfied).
- Teaching opportunities, research opportunities and the level of financial support all rated strongly (63-69% satisfied to very satisfied, depending on field of study).
Current Employment
Of alumni responding, 84% were employed full-time, 10% were working part-time, 1% was seeking employment, with the remaining 5% chose not to work. Nine out of ten respondents indicated satisfaction with their current employment, with two-thirds reporting that their work was "highly related" to their graduate studies.
- Excluding M.Ed. alumni (who were largely working at educational institutions), 31% were employed in business or industry, 53% in academia/education, 8% in government or military, 4% in non-profit organizations, and 3% were self-employed.
- Of Ph.D. recipients 68% indicated that a doctorate degree was required to obtain their current position; 82% felt very well or more than adequately prepared by their graduate education.
If they had to do it over again...
- Nearly all (95%) alumni responding would still pursue a graduate education and 78% would still choose the same field of graduate study.
- 80% would still choose UCSB for graduate school. Moreover, 88% would recommend UCSB to a friend who is choosing a graduate school and 81% would recommend their program to a friend who is choosing a graduate program.