28 percent of St. Mary’s University fall graduates already have a job lined up – that’s eight percent higher than the national average! According to a survey done in May 2009 by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, only 19.7% of graduating college seniors had secured employment. The remaining percentage of St. Mary&’s graduates plan on accelerating their job search after graduation.

The data is a result of a post graduate survey conducted by St. Mary’s University Career Services/Service Learning Center; 78 percent of the graduating class of 287 students (155 undergraduate and 132 graduate) responded to the employment survey. Of the 28 percent of St. Mary’s graduates that already have jobs, 75 percent will be full-time, 78 percent have a job related to their major/career field and 94 percent are staying in Texas. Of the 155 students receiving their bachelor’s degrees, nearly half of them are planning to attend graduate school within the next year.

St. Mary’s Fall Commencement services will be held on campus this Saturday, Dec. 12 at 1:30 in Bill Greehey Arena. For those family members who can not make it to the ceremony, they can watch it live online.

This year’s commencement speaker will be Leticia Van de Putte, Texas State Senator for District 26. Senator Van de Putte is a strong advocate for children, veterans, and quality public education. One of her six children, Henry Van de Putte graduated from St. Mary’s in 2007.

With a 60 percent graduation rate, one of the highest in Texas, this is just one of the reasons why St. Mary’s University is ranked fourth in the West Region for quality and value in the “Great Schools, Great Prices” category of the U.S. News & World Report’s 2010 edition of “America’s Best Colleges.”

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