What Drives Alumni Satisfaction? Evidence From a Multi-Institutional Study of Alumni Attitudes

• In Event: College Pathways: From High School Preparation to Alumni Perspectives

Abstract

The study examines alumni satisfaction with their undergraduate education, from one year to more than a decade after graduation. Drawing on data containing information on nearly 16,500 alumni from 68 private undergraduate institutions, we examine individual and institutional factors that influence alumni satisfaction. Findings show that college experiences (e.g., good teaching, exposure to challenging assignments, and high faculty expectations) as well as career transitions (e.g., major-job congruence and lower job turnover) affect alumni satisfaction with their undergraduate institutions as many as 10 or more years after graduation. As institutions face increasing financial pressure to develop relationships with their alumni, our results provide new evidence on how to cultivate alumni satisfaction.

Authors

• Matt Gregory, University of Georgia

• Gregory C. Wolniak, University of Georgia

• Charles Blaich, Wabash College

• Kathleen Wise, Wabash College