Skip to main content
Appalachian Today
News and events at Appalachian State University
  • For the media
  • COVID updates
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Webcams
  • Podcasts
  • In the Media
  • Grants
  • Speakers
  • All Posts
  • Topics
  • Accolades
  • Alumni
  • Arts and Humanities
  • Athletics
  • Awards and Honors
  • Community Engagement
  • Diversity
  • Events
  • Faculty and Staff
  • Gifts and Grants
  • Global
  • Health and Wellness
  • Publications
  • Research
  • Safety
  • Scholarships
  • Students
  • Sustainability
☰ Menu
  • Events
  • Webcams
  • Podcasts
  • In the Media
  • Grants
  • Speakers
  • All Posts
  • Topics
  • For the media
  • COVID updates
  • Contact

Alumni survey highlights the value of a UNC System education

View larger image

The Appalachian State University sign featured in the university’s Founders Plaza off Hardin Street. A total of 8,153 Appalachian alumni participated in a UNC System Alumni Outcomes Survey on how graduates fare after graduation. Photo by Marie Freeman

“We were hoping to confirm through data what we have believed for some time — that our alumni have expanded opportunities and a better quality of life as a result of their UNC System education. The (survey) results show that our alumni are more engaged, better prepared and lead more purposeful lives compared to the average college graduate.”

UNC System Interim President Bill Roper

Key findings from the survey
  • 64% of UNC System alumni strongly agreed that their undergraduate education was worth the cost.
  • 71% of UNC System alumni surveyed strongly agreed that they had a professor in college who made them excited about learning.
  • 49% of UNC System graduates who responded to the survey completed postgraduate degrees.
Appalachian State University Alumni Outcomes
  • 8,153 completed surveys from Appalachian alumni, an 11% participation rate.
  • 42% Appalachian alumni reported being engaged in the workplace — seven percentage points higher than the average for alumni nationally.
  • 74% of Appalachian alumni strongly agreed that they had a professor in college who made them excited about learning.
  • 66% of Appalachian alumni strongly agreed their undergraduate education was worth the cost.
  • Appalachian alumni also outpaced the national average when reporting on five elements of well-being (i.e., purpose, social, financial, community and physical)
By Jan Todd
Posted July 11, 2019 at 10:48 a.m.

BOONE, N.C. — The University of North Carolina System has released the results of a far-reaching alumni survey that provides a first-of-its-kind look at how graduates from North Carolina’s 16 public universities — including Appalachian State University — fare after graduation.

Results from the study offer evidence that UNC System alumni outpace their peers in employment, engagement at work, well-being, educational value and attachment to their alma mater.

The Alumni Outcomes Survey was developed in response to the UNC System’s Strategic Plan, which called on the System to collect data on graduate success in post-college life and the link between those outcomes and the alumni’s undergraduate experience.

The questionnaire assessed graduates’ perceptions of their individual university experiences and how those perceptions relate to their well-being, engagement in the workplace and quality of life years after completing their degrees.

In all, 77,695 undergraduate alumni responded to the survey, including 8,153 Appalachian alumni. The overall response rate of UNC System alumni was 10%.

Gallup presented the results to the UNC Board of Governors in May. Key findings from the survey:

  • A majority of UNC System alumni (64%) strongly agreed that their undergraduate education was worth the cost; this is more than 10 percentage points above all national comparison groups.
  • 71% of UNC System alumni surveyed strongly agreed that they had a professor in college who made them excited about learning compared to 61% of respondents from public institutions nationally.
  • UNC System alumni are more likely to have pursued advanced degrees. About half of UNC System graduates (49%) who responded to the survey completed postgraduate degrees, far outpacing national comparison groups.
  • UNC System alumni are more likely to recommend and feel a strong sense of attachment to their alma mater than the national sample of graduates from public universities.
  • Overall, the UNC System alumni surveyed showed higher levels of engagement in the workplace than undergraduate alumni nationally.
  • UNC System alumni reported higher well-being compared to national groups. This holds true across all five areas used for measuring well-being: purpose, social, financial, community and physical.

“We were hoping to confirm through data what we have believed for some time — that our alumni have expanded opportunities and a better quality of life as a result of their UNC System education. The (survey) results show that our alumni are more engaged, better prepared and lead more purposeful lives compared to the average college graduate.”

UNC System Interim President Bill Roper

Among the 8,153 Appalachian alumni who participated in the survey, 42% reported being engaged in the workplace — seven percentage points higher than the average for alumni nationally.

Additionally, 66% of Appalachian alumni said they strongly agreed that their undergraduate education was worth the cost, and 74% strongly agreed that they had a professor in college who made them excited about learning.

“We were hoping to confirm through data what we have believed for some time — that our alumni have expanded opportunities and a better quality of life as a result of their UNC System education,” said UNC System Interim President Bill Roper. “The (survey) results show that our alumni are more engaged, better prepared and lead more purposeful lives compared to the average college graduate.”

“The survey results help to confirm the extraordinary value a UNC System education can provide, as well as how much the college experience means to those who complete it.”

UNC Board of Governors Chairman Harry Smith

The Gallup Alumni Outcomes Survey, conducted by email from November 2018 to Feb. 1, targeted alumni of the 16 UNC System universities who graduated with bachelor’s degrees between 1940 and 2018 and had active email addresses.

Results from the survey were compared with three groups from Gallup’s national alumni surveys: U.S. college graduates nationally, graduates of public institutions and graduates of private institutions. The participants in these national surveys obtained their degrees between 1940 and 2016.

“We are very pleased with the overall participation and the findings of this survey,” said Harry Smith, chairman of the UNC Board of Governors. “The ultimate test of the education our universities provide is how well it prepares graduates for a successful career and fulfilling life. The survey results help to confirm the extraordinary value a UNC System education can provide, as well as how much the college experience means to those who complete it.”

The complete report is available at https://www.northcarolina.edu/Alumni-Survey-Report.

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

Key findings from the survey
  • 64% of UNC System alumni strongly agreed that their undergraduate education was worth the cost.
  • 71% of UNC System alumni surveyed strongly agreed that they had a professor in college who made them excited about learning.
  • 49% of UNC System graduates who responded to the survey completed postgraduate degrees.
Appalachian State University Alumni Outcomes
  • 8,153 completed surveys from Appalachian alumni, an 11% participation rate.
  • 42% Appalachian alumni reported being engaged in the workplace — seven percentage points higher than the average for alumni nationally.
  • 74% of Appalachian alumni strongly agreed that they had a professor in college who made them excited about learning.
  • 66% of Appalachian alumni strongly agreed their undergraduate education was worth the cost.
  • Appalachian alumni also outpaced the national average when reporting on five elements of well-being (i.e., purpose, social, financial, community and physical)

About Appalachian State University

As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls nearly 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.

“We were hoping to confirm through data what we have believed for some time — that our alumni have expanded opportunities and a better quality of life as a result of their UNC System education. The (survey) results show that our alumni are more engaged, better prepared and lead more purposeful lives compared to the average college graduate.”

UNC System Interim President Bill Roper

Key findings from the survey
  • 64% of UNC System alumni strongly agreed that their undergraduate education was worth the cost.
  • 71% of UNC System alumni surveyed strongly agreed that they had a professor in college who made them excited about learning.
  • 49% of UNC System graduates who responded to the survey completed postgraduate degrees.

“The survey results help to confirm the extraordinary value a UNC System education can provide, as well as how much the college experience means to those who complete it.”

UNC Board of Governors Chairman Harry Smith

Appalachian State University Alumni Outcomes
  • 8,153 completed surveys from Appalachian alumni, an 11% participation rate.
  • 42% Appalachian alumni reported being engaged in the workplace — seven percentage points higher than the average for alumni nationally.
  • 74% of Appalachian alumni strongly agreed that they had a professor in college who made them excited about learning.
  • 66% of Appalachian alumni strongly agreed their undergraduate education was worth the cost.
  • Appalachian alumni also outpaced the national average when reporting on five elements of well-being (i.e., purpose, social, financial, community and physical)

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

Share

Topics

  • Alumni

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

The migration of materials from other sites is still incomplete, so if you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Additional feature stories may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Photo galleries and videos published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian

Share

Topics

  • Alumni

Other Recent Posts

  • Campus emergency siren test to be conducted <span style="white-space: nowrap;">April 5</span>
    Campus emergency siren test to be conducted April 5
  • Troy Johnson named vice chancellor of enrollment management at App State
    Troy Johnson named vice chancellor of enrollment management at App State
  • From waste to wear: App State alumna develops sustainable pigments for fashion, printing industries
    From waste to wear: App State alumna develops sustainable pigments for fashion, printing industries
  • <span style="color: #bc8801;">Appalachian Outdoorosity:</span> Dressing for the Cold (Part 2)
    Appalachian Outdoorosity: Dressing for the Cold (Part 2)
  • Appalachian Journal marks 50 years of spotlighting Appalachia
    Appalachian Journal marks 50 years of spotlighting Appalachia
  • Honoring women’s leadership and history at App State
    Honoring women’s leadership and history at App State
  • Lumbee tribal flag now hangs in App State’s student union, honoring the Lumbee people and their history
    Lumbee tribal flag now hangs in App State’s student union, honoring the Lumbee people and their history
  • Fact check: Mushrooms share more DNA with humans than plants [faculty featured]
    Fact check: Mushrooms share more DNA with humans than plants [faculty featured]
    USA Today
  • Since 1958, App State's Southern Appalachian plant collection has aided research, teaching and conservation
    Since 1958, App State's Southern Appalachian plant collection has aided research, teaching and conservation
  • <span style="color: #bc8801;">SoundAffect:</span> Daniel E. Dawes, JD on how to overcome deep-rooted challenges in the American health care system
    SoundAffect: Daniel E. Dawes, JD on how to overcome deep-rooted challenges in the American health care system
  • App State Office of Diversity brings monthly read-alouds to lab schools
    App State Office of Diversity brings monthly read-alouds to lab schools
  • 6 award-winning authors to visit App State for spring 2023 Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series
    6 award-winning authors to visit App State for spring 2023 Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series

Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

The migration of materials from other sites is still incomplete, so if you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Additional feature stories may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Photo galleries and videos published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Galleries
  • In the Media
  • Grants
  • Speakers
  • All Posts
  • Topics
  • For the media
  • COVID updates
  • Contact

App State

Copyright 2023 Appalachian State University. All rights reserved.

University Communications
ASU Box 32153
Boone, NC 28608
828-262-6156
ucomm@appstate.edu

Abouts

Disclaimer | EO Policy | Accessibility | Website manager: montaldipa (beltmr) .. | Website Feedback

Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram LinkedIn Snapchat