According to an alumni employment survey that was conducted in the summer of 2024, La Follette School alumni enjoy favorable employment outcomes after graduation, thanks in large part to the school’s strong connections with employers and its reputation as a place that prepares its students well for public service. These partnerships are advantageous for employers as well, giving them access to a pipeline of high-quality job candidates with a strong understanding of the policy world and pre-existing connections within the organization.
While completing their La Follette degrees, graduate and undergraduate students have access to many resources that allow them to explore different career options and build connections with potential future employers. Through regular employer site visits and access to internship and job opportunities, La Follette’s director of career and employer services Marie Koko helps to connect students and alumni with the school’s long-time partners. Through their capstone projects, MPA and MIPA students have another opportunity to make connections with staff working in organizations they may one day be interested in working for. The school also organizes networking events that connect current students with alumni around specific policy topics.
Establishing a partnership with the La Follette School can benefit employers for many years to come, as many La Follette alumni in these roles are hired soon after graduation and tend to stay with these bureaus, many of which allow room for career growth, for a long time. This room for advancement is reflected in the strong salaries of graduate alumni that show steady growth over time. Of MPA and MIPA alumni who are 0-5 years out from graduation, over 90% make at least $55,000 and 33% make $85,000 or more. Almost 50% of MPA and MIPA alumni make over $115,000 11-15 years after graduation.
“We love to hire La Follette alums, and a large portion of our staff are alums,” says Christa Pugh (MPA ‘14), who works as a program supervisor at the Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau, where she has worked since she graduated from La Follette in 2014. “When we hire someone who graduated from La Follette, we know we’re getting someone who has the skills and background this work requires.”
The survey found that master’s program alumni are spread out among diverse sectors, with 31% working in state government, 21% in the private sector, 20% in nonprofits, 19% in federal government, and 10% in local government. Graduates of La Follette’s undergraduate certificates in health policy and public policy also enjoy a variety of employment options, with many alumni going on to careers with the State of Wisconsin, the federal government, the Peace Corps, and private companies like Ernst & Young and Deloitte.
The La Follette School continues to support alumni through career transitions. If you would like to receive updates from our career services staff with employment opportunities, please contact Marie Koko.
La Follette Connection
The La Follette School offers students hands-on experiences and opportunities to make connections with alumni and other friends of the school who work in important policy roles. La Follette’s strong employer connections help our students find and excel in roles in a variety of organizations. This spring, we will explore some of the many ways that La Follette prepares our students for successful careers through a series of stories highlighting employer relationships and student experiences.