Prince George, BC – University of Northern British Columbia graduates are achieving career success and are earning competitive salaries in their chosen fields, according to a comprehensive study of students by B.C.’s six research universities.

The second annual report, called Putting Degrees to Work, underlines the importance of a university degree in today’s economy. The evidence shows graduates get the jobs they want, in the regions where they want to work and are paid competitive salaries that escalate over the course of their careers.

“These findings are further evidence proving the value of a university education,” says UNBC President Dr. Daniel Weeks. “UNBC is the top-ranked university of its size in Canada and our recent graduates are already succeeding in leadership positions in Northern B.C. and around the world.”

Surveyed two years after graduation, nearly half of UNBC grads – 48 per cent – were earning $50,000 or more, well above the salaries earned by other young people entering the workforce.

Other key findings:

• Sixty-nine per cent of UNBC graduates were still living and working in the North two years after graduation.
• Seventy-eight per cent of UNBC grads said their program of study was relevant to their career.
• Ninety-five per cent of UNBC graduates were satisfied, or very satisfied, with their education.

The Research Universities’ Council of British Columbia (RUCBC) produced the report. It represents five years of data collected by BC Stats. Students are surveyed two years after graduation and are asked about their employment, salary, where they choose to live and whether their education is relevant to their careers.

The findings from the RUCBC survey echo the results of the UNBC Alumni Survey released earlier this year. The Alumni Survey canvassed more than 1,490 UNBC graduates and found half of employed graduates found work within a month of graduating and among employed alumni, 69 per cent are working in management or executive level jobs.

The UNBC Alumni Survey results, released earlier this year, are available here.

Putting Degrees to Work, Vol. 2, is available by visiting the RUCBC website.