Business & Technology Placement Data Shows there is a Return on Your Investment

For students at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, getting a great return on their investment is the ultimate goal of their college career. Fortunately for College of Business and Technology (CBT) students, there are many people working behind the scenes to help them every step of the way. Faculty members offer freshmen a seminar-type course for each available major. These courses shine a light on the career opportunities available at the end of a student’s college career. Dustin Favinger, CBT Career Center Director, shares that these courses are a part of a bigger plan for each student, one that has proven to be an overwhelming success. This strategic plan starts on the first day of a student’s freshman year and doesn’t end until they graduate.

Faculty members work together to obtain data which helps create and strengthen this plan. According to the 2021-22 Placement Report, 92% of all CBT students land jobs in their major. In several majors, such as Agribusiness, Construction Management, Cyber Security, Finance, Industrial Distribution, Information Technology & Networking, and Interior & Product Design, there is a 100% placement rate. There is an over 92% placement rate for the following majors: Accounting, Business Administration, Management, and Supply Chain Management. And starting salaries are attractive as 55% of those who are placed make $50,000 or more. In fact, for the ITEC program graduates, those who major in Aviation, Construction Management, Industrial Distribution, and Interior and Product Design, 81% earn an annual salary of $50,000 or more. Top employers of CBT students are Winsupply, Buckle, Werner Enterprise, Menards, and Bayer.

In addition to providing opportunities for career success for its students, UNK plays an important role in the talent pipeline in Nebraska. This is especially true for areas outside the Lincoln and Omaha metro area. Of the 80% of students placed in Nebraska, 69% are placed in rural areas. This aligns with CBT’s Mission Statement which promises to provide transformational career-focused programs dedicated to extraordinary student experiences and regional economic development in Nebraska.

None of this happens by chance though. Favinger, like everyone at CBT, is invested in the lives of the students. He understands that “the end result for many that go to college is to get a job and to perhaps create a life that is better compared to if they did not go to college.” CBT faculty keep this in mind when orchestrating a step-by-step plan for students that works as “a platform that sets them up for their journey.”

As soon as students step into the College of Business of Technology on the first day of their freshman year, CBT faculty strategically start the process of “career development (and) personal development.” They also help them answer questions such as “What do you want to do with your life?” and “How can we ensure that you’re doing college correctly the first time so that you can get a high return on your investment?” Students at UNK benefit from the fact that it’s understood that “college is not cheap, and it takes a lot of time.”

For each major offered at UNK’s CBT, there is a course designed to assist students to get the best possible start with the goal of landing a job in their chosen career. Each seminar-course offered to freshmen includes an overview of the program to include career options, resume prep and review, and career fair prep. Several of the courses also offer guest speakers, company tours with faculty, student organization involvement, CliftonStrengths development as well as advising opportunities such as help with navigation online tools and time-management lectures. These freshmen also benefit from social events such as mentoring coffee sessions, ice cream socials, and other social events designed exclusively for new students. These initial courses are followed by other professional development opportunities that occur throughout the curriculum in each program.

Beginning with the end in mind is important, and Favinger states that “individualized personal experiences for students” are how he, as well as other faculty members, ensures they “get a feel for the professional environment” they will be a part of in their chosen field. During their initial year of college, students meet potential employers through the UNK’s Career & Internship Fair, when representatives of businesses and companies visit classrooms, and when they take tours of possible future places of employment. This strategy continues during their sophomore and junior years with touchpoints such as program specific career fairs and other professional development opportunities.

There is another part of this bookend approach to student success. This one typically occurs before their senior year when internships are completed. Many students, 60%, take advantage of internships at the end of their college career. The majority of these internships, 88%, are for academic credit. Of those that complete their internship for credit, 66% are offered a job before graduation.

At the end of their time spent learning on the campus of UNK, the majority of CBT students “have achieved the goal of getting a job in the major that they want or they’re going on to get a graduate degree.” Results like this are made possible through a holistic experience where students have had the opportunity for “academic prowess, professional development, opportunities, and career training.” The culture of the CBT is one that strives to ensure all students are prepared to succeed. As Favinger states, it’s necessary that “opportunities are actually present” which is “a reality for everyone that comes to campus.”

Not many things in life are guaranteed, but with a 92% placement rate where students receive a full-time job in their field major or choose to pursue a graduate degree, return on the investment of the cost of college is high at UNK. With the promise of a salary that is five to seven thousand dollars higher than average, students who take advantage of the internships offered through CBT’s Career Center reap the reward of the carefully planned programs offered by UNK. It all starts with an introductory class, the first rung of the college ladder that allows students to reach the pinnacle of their professional path.

Related Pages: Career Center