Why It’s Time to Rethink First Destination Surveys and What Comes Next

LiveAlumni
3 days ago
3 min read

Updated: 4 hours ago

For years, First Destination Surveys (FDS) have been the trusted method for understanding where graduates go after college: their jobs, salaries, and further studies.

But as higher education evolves, so do the challenges of capturing this information accurately. Response rates have steadily declined, the data often arrives too late, and the process no longer fits the way today’s students live and communicate.

It is time to explore new and better ways to understand alumni outcomes, beginning with modern tools like LinkedIn and solutions such as LiveAlumni.

The Problem with Traditional First Destination Surveys

First Destination Surveys are not failing because institutions lack effort; they struggle because graduate behavior has changed. Many graduates are already focused on their next chapter, leaving little time or motivation to complete lengthy questionnaires. Others see no personal benefit in sharing their data.

Here’s why participation has become so difficult:

They take too long. Graduates balancing new jobs or studies rarely have time for long forms.
They don’t feel relevant. Many alumni do not see how completing a survey benefits them directly
Timing is poor. Surveys often arrive months after graduation, when students have emotionally moved on
They feel outdated. Today’s graduates expect simple, mobile-friendly, one-click interactions.

The result is incomplete and inconsistent data, which makes it difficult for Career Services and Institutional Research teams to tell a complete story of student success. This affects reporting accuracy, rankings, accreditation, and alumni engagement.

Why LinkedIn Changes Everything

LinkedIn provides something that surveys cannot: real-time, continuously updated data directly from alumni themselves. As of 2025, about 28.7% of LinkedIn users globally are aged 18-24, and 46 million students and recent graduates use the platform. When Career Services and Institutional Research teams help students create and optimize LinkedIn profiles before graduation, institutions see stronger results in both data quality and engagement.

At LiveAlumni, we have seen this transformation firsthand.

Institutions without a structured LinkedIn initiative typically have only 25 to 30 percent of seniors on LinkedIn at graduation.
Those that implement a guided, multi-touch approach see that number rise to 75 to 80 percent.

This shift is not just about data. It represents a new culture of professional readiness and ongoing connection between students and their alma mater.

From One-Time Task to Ongoing Strategy

Many campuses treat LinkedIn profile creation as a one-time workshop or optional assignment, but the most successful institutions make it part of the student experience.

LinkedIn engagement happens across multiple points in the student journey, not just once.
Students receive clear, step-by-step guidance to build and update their profiles.• Integration happens through internships, advising, and capstones, where students learn to highlight their achievements.
Education on profile optimization helps students stand out by refining headlines, adding skills, and showcasing their growth.

When LinkedIn becomes part of the campus culture, updating a profile becomes as natural as updating a résumé. Students graduate ready to share their professional identities, and institutions gain verified, real-time career outcomes long after graduation.

The Long-Term Benefits

Increasing the number of active alumni on LinkedIn has ripple effects across every area of higher education.

Better data for advancement: Up-to-date profiles make it easier to locate and engage alumni for events, mentorship, and fundraising.
More accurate outcome reporting: Verified career paths demonstrate institutional impact for rankings and accreditation.
Stronger engagement and giving: When alumni see their success reflected in institutional data, they feel more connected and proud to give back.

LinkedIn turns one-time survey data into a living, evolving record of alumni success.

How LiveAlumni Helps

LiveAlumni partners with colleges and universities to fill the gaps left by low First Destination Survey participation. Our tools provide verified, AI-enhanced career data and help teams:

Identify gaps in alumni career visibility and tracking.
Develop LinkedIn engagement strategies tailored to your student population.
Automate outreach and campaigns for institutions with limited staff resources.

LiveAlumni combines the power of LinkedIn data with institutional expertise, making outcome tracking more accurate, efficient, and sustainable.

From First Destination Surveys to Strategy

First Destination Surveys will always have a place in higher education, but the future of student and alumni tracking is digital, dynamic, and ongoing. By combining the trusted framework of institutional research with the accessibility of LinkedIn and the insights of LiveAlumni, institutions can transform data collection into a continuous story of alumni success.

Learn More

If you'd like to learn more about LiveAlumni or you're an existing user looking for suggestions or help running a custom report, contact us today!