More than 40 percent of UW-Madison engineering students stay in Wisconsin after graduation

According to 2013-2014 data from the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Engineering Career Services, 93 percent of students who graduate from the College of Engineering accept jobs or go on to graduate school. Of those who accept jobs, 75 percent stay in the Midwest — and 41 percent take positions with Wisconsin employers.

The close connection between UW–Madison and state employers was on display at the most recent Career Connection, hosted Feb. 2-3. Career Connection is a two-day career fair held each semester on campus, and around 200 employers come to recruit engineering students for internships, cooperative experiences and full-time employment.

“We keep coming back to UW because the students have consistent skills and background knowledge,” says Jessica Frommgen, an associate recruiter for Spectrum Brands, based in Middleton, Wisconsin. “We love having a proximity to students with real-world experience.”

Spectrum isn’t alone. Recruiters from Leopardo Companies, a Chicago-area general contractor, say they’re interested in UW–Madison engineering students because they have both the technical skills and the real-world experiences that allow them to make contributions as soon as they join the company. “We know the students here receive a well-rounded education,” says project engineer Rachel Feil, who is also UW–Madison engineering alumna.

Feil says that UW–Madison’s emphasis on co-op experiences is a draw for Leopardo. “Each undergrad in the Construction Management Program typically has two full-time, co-op experiences by the time they graduate,” she says. “This gives them the foundation they need to hit the ground running at Leopardo and build their career right away.”

Director of Engineering Career Services John Archambault says UW–Madison engineering students hone their teamwork, problem-solving and communication skills through a range of academic and co-curricular activities. Many engineering majors require a capstone course, which provides direct, hands-on project experience. These academic activities complement the college’s strong internship and co-op program.

“We send graduates out into the state as part of the Wisconsin Idea to spread into both the public and private sector the latest technologies and ideas in their profession,” says Archambault. “Our students take that knowledge from the university to improve the competitiveness of Wisconsin organizations in a global marketplace.”

—John Steeno