More than 80 percent of graduates from 13 Indiana public and private colleges say their education was worth the cost, according to the results of the first Gallup-Indiana Graduate Satisfaction Survey released today by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.
With funding support from USA Funds, Gallup and the Commission, the survey reached out to more than 22,000 college graduates from the Indiana colleges that volunteered to participate in the pilot year of this first-in-the-nation, statewide look at alumni satisfaction.
“I want to commend the 13 trailblazing colleges that stepped up to be the first Gallup-Indiana Survey participants,” Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Teresa Lubbers said. “For these campuses and the Commission, the results provide insights we can use to improve the postsecondary experience for Hoosier students.”
The following 13 colleges participated for this pilot survey: Ball State University, Butler University, Calumet College of St. Joseph, Grace College, Indiana University East, Indiana University Kokomo, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Ivy Tech Community College, Manchester University, Marian University, Taylor University, Vincennes University and WGU Indiana.
The Gallup-Indiana Survey was inspired by the Gallup-Purdue Index. This partnership between Gallup and Purdue University surveyed more than 30,000 college graduates to measure the relationship between a college degree and long-term graduate well-being and workplace engagement.
Purdue University West Lafayette will share data from its Gallup-Purdue Index to include in the Commission’s new comprehensive measure of college value to be unveiled this fall, called the Indiana College Value Index.
See results for all participating colleges online here.
Statewide Results: Positive Findings
Worth the Investment/Debt: Overall, 81 percent of alumni surveyed agree that their higher education was worth the cost. For those with student loans, 76 percent agree college was worth it.
Greater Well-Being: Indiana’s college graduates report higher levels of well-being than those graduates surveyed nationally on all five elements measured: sense of purpose, social well-being, financial well-being, community well-being and physical well-being.
More Fulfilling Work: Indiana’s college graduates report work fulfillment at the national average for college graduates. Nearly half (48 percent) of Indiana alumni surveyed indicated they are deeply interested in the work they do.
Read all of the Commission’s reports as well as its Reaching Higher, Delivering Value strategic plan at www.che.in.gov.
