The University evaluates post-graduation outcomes through the Graduating Student Exit Survey (GSES), which is administered to graduating seniors at the end of each fall and spring semester. The Graduate Exit Survey is used to collect information on the college experience and the satisfaction of services provided by the University to students. The exit survey is designed to provide information about graduating students on both undergraduate and graduate levels by soliciting feedback regarding their experiences at NSU and their plans. The survey was revised in fall 2016 to seek information on students' post-graduation status.
On average, survey response rates exceeded 80 percent. However, due to the COVID pandemic, the survey was not administered in spring 2020, and the pandemic also led to the survey’s low response rate in the following semester. The survey response rate in fall 2020 was 32 percent.
The University's target is that the majority of students will report being employed or enrolled in a graduate program. In fall 2020, over 77 percent of students reported being employed, serving in the military or enrolled in a graduate program.
Graduating Student Exit Survey Post-Graduation Status by Semester
|
Post-Graduation Status
|
Fall 2016
|
Spring 2017
|
Fall 2017
|
Spring 2018
|
Fall 2018
|
Spring 2019
|
Fall 2019
|
Spring 2020*
|
Fall 2020
|
|
Employed Full-time
|
35%
|
30%
|
42%
|
53%
|
42%
|
42%
|
75%
|
-
|
39%
|
|
Employed Part-time
|
9%
|
10%
|
15%
|
14%
|
13%
|
11%
|
- |
- |
12%
|
|
Post-graduate intern or fellow
|
2%
|
3%
|
1%
|
7%
|
1%
|
3%
|
-
|
-
|
2%
|
|
Enrolled in Graduate or Professional School
|
5%
|
7%
|
3%
|
10%
|
14%
|
16%
|
-
|
-
|
22%
|
|
Serving in the U.S. military
|
3%
|
4%
|
2%
|
6%
|
4%
|
2%
|
-
|
-
|
2%
|
|
Total
|
54%
|
54%
|
63%
|
90%
|
74%
|
74%
|
75%
|
-
|
77%
|
*The survey was not administered due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
|
Graduating Student Exit Survey Results
| |
Fall 2018
|
Spring 2019
|
Spring 2020*
|
Fall 2020
|
|
Overall quality of instruction
|
98%
|
95%
|
-
|
98%
|
|
Quality of advising about coursework in you major/progam
|
85%
|
86%
|
-
|
78%
|
|
Opportunities for experiences outside of the classroom that supported your program development
|
87%
|
86%
|
-
|
87%
|
|
Degree requirements were relevant to my professional goals
|
82%
|
79%
|
-
|
86%
|
|
Course content reflected current trends in my field
|
78%
|
80%
|
-
|
85%
|
|
Gave me a sense of competence in my major field of study
|
81%
|
75%
|
-
|
88%
|
|
Involved the application of theoretical knowledge to practical situations
|
82%
|
79%
|
-
|
88%
|
|
Overall experience at Norfolk State University
|
77%
|
77%
|
-
|
86%
|
*The survey was not administered due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2017, the University began administering the NACE First Destination Survey. The survey seeks information on students' status since graduation and is designed to be administered to alumni one-year after graduation. The University's target is that the majority of alumni will report being employed or enrolled in a graduate or professional program. The pilot survey was launched in Spring 2017, and the response rate was 10 percent. In Spring 2018, the survey response rate increased to 14 percent.
On average, the majority of alumni reported being employed or enrolled in a graduate or professional program, as shown in the 2017-2018 Alumni Outcomes Report.
Alumni Survey Primary Status after Graduation
|
Post-Graduation Status
|
Spring 2017
|
Spring 2018
|
|
Employed Full-time
|
59%
|
52%
|
|
Employed Part-time
|
6%
|
8%
|
|
Enrolled in Graduate or Professional School
|
23%
|
24%
|
|
Serving in the U.S. military
|
2%
|
5%
|
|
Total
|
90%
|
89%
|
Source: 2017-2018 Alumni Outcomes Report