Insights from the National Alumni Career Mobility Survey
Understanding the Long-Term Value of a Kalamazoo College Education
Every year, Kalamazoo College tracks the first destinations of its graduates: where they work, attend graduate school, or pursue other opportunities immediately after commencement. While these data are valuable, they tell only part of the story.
To better understand the long-term impact of a K education, Kalamazoo College partnered with Lightcast to administer the National Alumni Career Mobility (NACM) Survey in Fall 2024. More than 2,170 alumni representing graduating classes from 1955–2024 participated, providing one of the most comprehensive pictures we’ve ever had of the lives and careers of Kalamazoo graduates.
A Closer Look at Recent Alumni
While the NACM Survey includes responses from alumni who graduated between 1955 and 2024, this page highlights graduates from 2014–2019. These graduates are far enough beyond graduation to have established careers, completed graduate education, and reflected on the long-term value of their Kalamazoo experience, while still being close enough to today’s students that their experiences reflect the current K-Plan and today’s workforce.
Alumni Build Meaningful Careers
Five to ten years after graduation, Kalamazoo alumni report strong career outcomes.
- 86% say their work is meaningful.
- 84% report using skills developed through their Kalamazoo education in their current positions.
- 89% say their work continues to provide opportunities to learn and grow.
- 85% report being satisfied with their careers.
These findings suggest that a K education prepares graduates for careers that continue to evolve over time.
Liberal Arts Skills Continue to Matter
The survey also asked alumni to reflect on the skills they developed while at Kalamazoo College. Among graduates from 2014–2019:
- 97% say their education strengthened their critical thinking.
- 94% report stronger communication skills.
- 86% developed adaptability.
- 83% strengthened teamwork skills.
These findings closely mirror the skills employers consistently identify as essential for today’s workforce and reinforce the enduring value of a liberal arts education in preparing graduates with durable human skills for a rapidly changing world of work.
Experiences Shape Careers
The experiences students have while at Kalamazoo continue to shape their careers years after graduation. Among 2014–2019 graduates:
- 90% participated in at least one high-impact educational experience, including internships, study abroad, undergraduate research, or service learning.
- 70% studied abroad.
- 68% completed an internship or related experience.
- 43% earned an additional degree after graduating from Kalamazoo College.
Faculty Matter
One of the strongest themes emerging from the survey is the important role faculty play in students’ career development. Among alumni who graduated between 2014 and 2019:
- 80% reported receiving career advice from a faculty member.
- 87% said that advice was helpful.
- 51% identified a faculty member as the institutional person who helped them most with their career.
Learning from Our Alumni
One of the goals of participating in the NACM Survey was to learn from our alumni. Their experiences help us better understand what prepares graduates for meaningful work, continued growth, and lifelong career development. Those insights continue to shape the CCPD’s work as we collaborate with faculty, staff, alumni, and employers to strengthen career-connected learning across the Kalamazoo experience.