Survey shows Blugolds are ready for workforce, earning higher wages

“Once again, the First Destination Survey tells the remarkable story of how UW-Eau Claire sets up students for amazing futures,” says Billy Felz, vice chancellor for enrollment management. “It’s clear our students bring the right skills and experiences that make them desirable hires, as 82% of the respondents had their job offers before graduation or within a month of earning their degrees.”

The average full-time salary for UW-Eau Claire undergraduates climbed to $58,842, a rise of nearly 10% from last year. There was also an increase in Blugolds working in the Chippewa Valley, with 31% of employed graduates working near or on campus compared to 27% a year ago.

“With the city of Eau Claire recently being named the No. 1 place to live in Wisconsin, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that we see an increase of students deciding to stay and work in the region,” Felz says. “Eau Claire is a great place to earn a degree and then continue as a successful professional.”

The Eau Claire Area School District is consistently a top destination for Blugolds, with 35 graduates reporting they joined the popular employer this past cycle. Communications manager Teri Piper Thompson says the district is grateful for its partnership with the university.

“We know that students who graduate from UW-Eau Claire will be highly qualified, not only as teachers through the teacher education program, but through other degree programs as well,” she says. “Their enthusiasm for remaining in the Chippewa Valley and serving our students and families is so appreciated.”

Cintas Corp. is a Fortune 500 workplace products company that has increased its presence on campus over the years. Brad Newton, a 2003 UW-Eau Claire alumnus, is a service training director who has helped create connections with the College of Business and Blugold athletics. He says Cintas hires UW-Eau Claire graduates for their unique abilities.

“It’s a nice mix of students that understand what a blue-collar mentality looks like,” Newton says. “Yet at the same time, they can walk into a room of professionals and be comfortable. Not every college graduate has that ability.”

Newton says several Blugolds now hold higher level leadership roles within the company in the Twin Cities area.

In Wisconsin, Aspirus Health has consistently hired UW-Eau Claire graduates for several roles. Natasha Wetterau, director, system talent delivery, says it’s due to graduates being well prepared for the realities of today’s healthcare environment.

"UW-Eau Claire’s emphasis on hands‑on learning, community engagement and leadership development produces graduates who are adaptable, collaborative and confident stepping into complex care settings,” Wetterau says. “The students are engaged, curious and eager to connect their classroom experience with real-world practice."

Mayo Clinic Health System was the top employer of recent graduates (65), while Marshfield Clinic ranked third (19) and UW Health ranked fourth (9).

Staci Heidtke, director of Career Services, says the high number of timely job offers means Blugolds are taking the right steps to secure career opportunities.

“That means they're applying for jobs, they're thinking about the best fit for them as far as a career and they're taking action,” she says. “It also tells me that a number of students are completing internships because they're getting job offers from that internship.”

First Destination information is gathered in multiple ways, starting with an online survey prior to commencement. Follow-up messages are sent to students who have not completed the survey or who reported they were seeking employment.

The full First Destination Report for 2024-25 can be found on the Career Services website.