Everything about First Destination Survey at BU
The First Destination Survey (FDS) is an annual survey that examines the initial landing spot for undergraduate alumni within their first six months of graduating from Boston University. Data are collected according to standards set by the National Association for Colleges and Employers (NACE) and contains information related to employment outcomes, starting salaries, continuing education, and more. For more information about this national survey, please visit the NACE website.
Who is included in the survey?
The survey includes all bachelors degree recipients from Boston University. Each survey cycle includes graduates from the Summer II, Fall, and Spring terms. The class year is based on the Spring term. For example, the Class of 2024 includes graduates from Summer 2023, Fall 2023, and Spring 2024.
How long is the data collection process?
Data collection for a given class year goes on from Summer graduation until December 31st of the following year. For example, the Class of 2024 data collection process began in August 2023 and concluded on December 31st, 2024. This data collection period provides sufficient time for alumni to share information with us, update their LinkedIn profiles, etc.
When does First Destination data become available?
After the data collection period closes, data are validated, cleaned, and prepared for reporting. Data for a class year typically is available in Spring of the following year. For example, the Class of 2024 data became available in Spring 2025.
How does BU use First Destination data?
Data are used across campus for a variety of purposes, including but not limited to federal reporting, grant applications, accreditation, recruitment, campus planning, etc. Data from the First Destination Survey are always shared at an aggregated level, and never at the individually-identifiable level.
How do I access First Destination data?
For a given class year, we publish a campus-wide, aggregated report. The reports are provided in the Resources section on this page.
For requests regarding department/program-level data, you must submit a formal data request to the Center for Career Development by emailing future@bu.edu. Please note that depending on the nature of your request, we may not be able to provide data.
