Fifth alumni survey shows ‘97 graduates found jobs faster than the class of 1993
The School of Journalism and Mass Communication’s fifth annual alumni survey found 69 percent of the graduates of the class of 1997 who responded to the survey working in journalism-related jobs eight months after graduation.
The average salary was $22,690, which is $5,565 a year more than the $17,125 average salary reported by the class of 1993 in the School’s first comprehensive survey. SJMC graduates working full time reported an average salary of $23,727, or nearly $1,000 higher than 1997 journalism graduates nationwide.
The 1997 SJMC graduates found jobs much faster and rated the level of career preparation by the School slightly higher than did the class of 1993. An average job search took 6.28 weeks compared to 9.34 weeks for the 1993 graduates. The 1997 graduates rated their preparation by the School at 4.98 on a 7-point scale.
The 1997 graduates completed 1.85 internships, roughly the same number as the 1993 graduates.
They rated their happiness in their current positions at 5. 39 on the 7-point scale.
As was the case five years ago, the highest level of satisfaction was reported by the news-editorial graduates, who rated their professional preparation by the School at 5.82. They also had completed more internships than graduates from any other sequence, 2.5, and they reported the highest level of job satisfaction at 5.80 on the 7-point scale.
At the same time, the News-Editorial graduates reported the next to the lowest average salaries at $21,250.
The salaries of the broadcast production management graduates were the highest in the 1997 survey at $25,000. They rated their preparation by the School at 5.29 and happiness in current position at 5.57.
Advertising graduates reported the next highest salaries at $23,562. They rated their preparation by the School at 4.24 and happiness in their current positions at 4.63. Broadcast news graduates reported a salary average of $21,000. They also rated SJMC preparation at 5.5 and happiness with current positions at 5.5. The salaries of master’s graduates — surveyed since 1994 — have also steadily risen. The average salary for 1997 graduates was $27,917, compared to $22,200 in annual salary for 1994 masters’ graduates. SJMC master’s graduates salaries match the national average.
They rated the School preparation at 4.5, and happiness in current positions at 6.2 on the 7-point scale.