Each year, hundreds of University of Wisconsin-Green Bay students cross the commencement stage with a diploma in hand. They then move from college life into the world. For many UWGB graduates, the move does not mean packing up and leaving the state. UWGB often points out that many UWGB graduates stay in Wisconsin after graduating. The message appears in UWGB marketing materials, in UWGB campus tours, and in recruiting events.
Interviews with graduates and Career Services staff show that decisions about staying in Wisconsin depend on job availability, money issues, internships, family ties, lifestyle choices, and the growing role of work. Together, these factors shape whether graduates stay in Green Bay, move to another part of the state, or leave Wisconsin.
Recent data shows that a clear majority of UWGB graduates stay in the state. Most stay close to home. According to the First Destination Survey, over the three years, 71 to 76 % of UWGB graduates found jobs in Wisconsin within a year of graduation. For the Class of 2024, 71.1 % of UWGB graduates (429 people) worked in Wisconsin. Smaller portions went to Minnesota (2 %), Illinois (1 %), Michigan (1 %), or internationally (0.2 %). Remote positions made up 0.8 %, while 18.4% did not say what their employment status was.
The Class of 2023 recorded 74.4% of graduates working in Wisconsin, with smaller percentages in Minnesota (1 %), in Illinois (1 %), in Michigan (1.3 %), and abroad (0.1 %). Remote work was 0.6%, and 16.3% did not say what their employment status was.
For the Class of 2022, 75.7 % of graduates were employed in Wisconsin. 1.7% of them were employed in Minnesota, 1.3% in Illinois, 0.7% in Michigan, 0.4%, and 1.1% in positions. Across all three years, 46 to 48 percent of graduates remained in Brown County, indicating a consistent local retention trend.
The data show that many graduates begin their careers near where they studied, reinforcing the university’s message about regional impact. At the same time, the data indicate that some graduates move to neighboring states or take remote positions, while others build long-term careers in Wisconsin. Career Services staff says that the statistics are useful, but they do not tell the full story. Kay Voss, director of Career Planning and Professional Connections at UWGB, says that the First Destination Survey relies heavily on self‑reported data. The self‑reported data can change depending on when the survey is taken.
Voss said, “Sometimes students fill out the First Destination Survey when they are still working a part‑time job that they had in college. Then, two months later, she notices the respondents secure a job related to their major. The respondents don’t always return to update the survey, so the data isn’t always up to date.”
UWGB adds data by checking alumni outcomes five years after graduation and ten years after graduation. UWGB checks alumni outcomes to learn about long-term career paths. Alumni outcomes often show graduates getting jobs in places different from the place they lived right after college. The First Destination Survey still works as a tool for students who want to see where graduates from their major end up.
Salary also plays a role in decisions about staying local. According to the First Destination Survey, in the three graduating classes, the average starting salaries for graduates were between $53,000 and $55,000. When paired with Wisconsin’s cost of living, those salaries make remaining in the state feasible for many graduates, particularly when housing and transportation costs are considered.
One of the reasons that UWGB graduates stay in Wisconsin is the availability of jobs. Local jobs often begin as internships that turn into full‑time jobs. Voss said, “Employers across the state actively recruit UWGB students. Employers look for students in healthcare, education, business, engineering, environmental science, and communications.” Companies and organizations such as Schneider, Aurora Health Care, Green Bay Public Schools, Associated Bank, Bellin Health, and regional manufacturing firms keep ties with UWGB.
Voss said that if an intern works and the employer offers a full‑time position, the intern will probably stay. Voss also mentioned there is no reason to job search if the opportunity is already there. Internships give more than experience and can pave the way for your future career.
Internships let students meet the supervisors and coworkers, and help students learn workplace expectations. It lets students show the value they bring to employers before they graduate. Staying in Green Bay or staying in Wisconsin can be hard on the wallet when jobs are available.
Still, staying in Green Bay or staying in Wisconsin is not always financially realistic. Annie Tyrell, a UWGB graduate from May 2025, stayed in Green Bay through September to finish the internship with the Green Bay Blizzard. After the internship, Annie Tyrell moved back to Illinois. Annie Tyrell liked the time in Green Bay, but the decision was about finances.
“I would have loved to stay in Green Bay for longer after graduation, ” Tyrell said. “Moving home was financially smarter for me while I work my remote job.”
Tyrell said that finding work in media and communications locally was possible, but the process was not always straightforward. She said that the job search was not super easy, but it was not super difficult either. Tyrell explains that many jobs are either entry-level positions with pay or roles that require years of experience. Those conditions leave options for graduates who fall somewhere in between.
After Tyrell finished two seasons as an intern with the Blizzard and lived off campus, she weighed the options carefully. With the job opportunity, Tyrell could stay in Green Bay. Keep paying the rent, or she could move home and save the money. Tyrell said, “It made sense for me to move home so I could earn money without having to pay the rent.”
Her experience reflects a broader trend among communications and digital media graduates. Remote work has expanded job options beyond geographic boundaries, allowing graduates to accept positions elsewhere while living in areas with lower living costs. The flexibility can also make staying local less appealing when the cost of living is higher.
Many UWGB students grew up in Wisconsin. Staying in Wisconsin gives the familiarity and the stability that the students need during the time of change. Tyrell said, “I am a homebody who enjoys sports, and I love Green Bay.”
She added that the area may not appeal to everyone: “I would not recommend Green Bay to an extrovert who’s always on the go.” Tyrell said that Green Bay might feel too slow.
Career Services staff say preparation matters for students who want to stay local. Voss says every UWGB student studying for a bachelor’s degree gets a career advisor. The career advisor knows the student’s program. They work with the student on development and help students with interview preparation. The career advisor guides the student through internships, networking, and graduate school planning while the student is at the university.
“A big misconception is that we only help students at the end,” Voss said. “The work starts when students figure out what they want to major in and what careers match their interests.”
Tyrell finds the UWGB education valuable, no matter where Tyrell goes. Tyrell said, “I had a couple of professors give me advice that fit my future. The way the professors guided me through my time at UWGB prepared me to work.”
The internships and work-based learning opportunities have become more important. The employers expect the graduates to start the workforce with experience. From what Voss has seen, internships and work-based learning are now essential. “Students cannot just graduate with a degree anymore, ” Voss said. “Students need experience, and the internships and work-based learning count as experience.”
Many graduates stay in Wisconsin after graduation. Other graduates leave for professional reasons. Some graduates look for jobs in cities such as Chicago or Minneapolis, and others go back to their home states. Voss said that the alumni often leave for a time and then return later, “We see alumni move away, gain experience, and come back to Green Bay a year later.”
In the end, UWGB graduates pick paths that match their work priorities. Some UWGB graduates stay close to home, build a career, and help the community. Other graduates go away to chase jobs in other places. Both outcomes show the university helps its graduates get ready for life after graduation, wherever that life goes.