The First Destination Survey tracks what KSU graduates are doing within six months of degree completion, including employment, continuing education, military service, and more, using NACE standards that make our data comparable to institutions nationwide. 

 

Graduating Semester Survey Opens Survey Close Date
Fall September Prior to Commencement June Following Commencement
Spring February Prior to Commencement December Following Commencement
*Summer graduates can elect to participate in either the fall or spring commencements.

AY 24-25 Outcomes at a Glance, All Degree Levels

2024–25 KSU Graduate Outcomes Report, Department of Career Planning and Development.
A graduate smiles proudly at commencement

Data Applications

 

Key Metrics

Knowledge Rate

The share of graduates for whom KSU has verifiable outcome data. Every other metric is built on this foundation. 

 

KSU: 90% university-wide 

Placement Rate

The share of graduates actively seeking full-time work, the share who accepted a full-time professional position. 

 

Updated each cycle 

Success Rate

Graduates reporting their status as employed, continuing education, in the military, or volunteering. 

 

KSU: 75% university-wide 

Frequently Asked Questions

 About the Survey

  • The First Destination Survey (FDS) is the national standard for tracking what graduates are doing within six months of degree completion. It is administered following NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) guidelines, which ensures our data is comparable across every college and institution in the country. At KSU, outcomes are collected through graduate self-reporting, institutional records, and validation against verifiable public platforms. 
  • The survey captures a graduate's post-graduation plans related to employment status, work type (full-time, part-time, military, freelance), starting salary, employer name, job location, and how they learned about the opportunity.  
  • Data comes from three primary sources: graduate self-report surveys (administered through Tassel and Handshake), institutional records, and validation against verifiable public platforms such as LinkedIn. All data is reviewed in line with NACE standards before reporting. Because the survey window closes approximately six months after graduation, results reflect the outcomes known at that point in time, not a graduate's full career trajectory. 
  • The core questions remain consistent to ensure data is comparable year over year. DCPD assesses the survey annually and may adjust administration practices or implementation strategies as needed, but the fundamental data points, including employment status, salary, organization, and experiential learning, remain stable each cycle. 

 About the Data

  • FDS data is requested by academic accrediting bodies (such as AACSB and ABET), ranking organizations (US News, Princeton Review), grant funders at the state and federal level, and prospective students and their families. Academic programs also use this data as a baseline for developing, assessing, and reporting their programs of study. NACE research identifies graduate outcomes as the single most influential factor families cite when choosing a college. 
  • FDS is directional, not a complete picture. Results reflect only graduates who respond or whose outcomes are otherwise verifiable, not the full graduating class. Graduates choose from a defined set of response options, and outcomes are captured at a single point in time, roughly six months post-graduation. Data should be understood as a strong indicator of trends, not a census. 
  • No. While DCPD tracks responses at the individual level to manage survey administration, no identifying information is published. All reported data is aggregated by degree level, college, and major. Individual outcomes are never disclosed publicly. 

 

For Faculty and Staff 

  • Data is published at the university, college, and major program of study levels. Salary and employer data are included where response counts allow for reporting without identifying individuals. Data is available at kennesaw.edu/careers/data and updated each reporting cycle. 
  • You can use FDS data to answer the "what happens after graduation?" question with verified, program-specific numbers. For example: "Our graduates report a [X]% knowledge rate and land roles at [Y]% within six months, in line with KSU's official outcomes data." College-level and major-level breakdowns exist for every program, including top employers and average salaries where data permits.
  • The single most effective action is talking with students about the survey before they graduate. A brief mention in class, explaining why the data matters for their program's reputation and accreditation, measurably improves response. When the Handshake survey opens each November, sharing the link directly with recent graduates makes a real difference. DCPD can provide talking points or classroom materials on request. 
  • Two surveys run each cycle. The Tassel Survey opens with commencement registration for each graduating class. The Handshake survey (our follow-up survey) opens 5 weeks prior to commencement and remains available for approximately six months after commencement.