First Destination Data Outcomes Formatting Guidelines

Please review and understand the below guidelines for formatting your outcomes data file. Once you’ve reviewed the guidelines, then please follow this checklist and use your unique template found in the Publish > Student Outcomes > Upload Data section of your dashboard to build your file. Your file can then be uploaded within the same dashboard area.

If you are looking for the MBA CSEA guidelines, please refer to them on this page.

Important Notes:

Your data set is automatically set up for the NACE First Destination format. If you would like to switch to the MBA CSEA format, please reach out to our support team.

Regardless of the format you use, you can only use ONE formatting data set at a time, meaning you cannot display both undergraduate and graduate/master’s outcomes data in one instance.


Sample File Templates:

Here are examples of outcomes data files with errors and then the cleaned outcomes data file after running it through our AI prompt if you want some help with data clean-up!

View Incorrect Outcomes Data File (with Errors)

View Correct Outcomes Data File


Formatting Details & Guidelines

FILE FORMAT: Excel/CSV (.xls, .xlsx, .csv)

DATASHEET FORMAT:
The attributes below are the required core elements of career outcomes assessment based on the NACE First-Destination Survey Standards and ProtocolsRemember, your column headers in your outcomes data file must match EXACTLY to the ones listed below in these guidelines.

Data/Column HeaderData Type/FormatRequired? Y/NAdditional Notes
User IDNumberNoYou can still import without them, but identifiers let us connect outcomes to engagement data and make your reporting more powerful.
User EmailTextNoYou can still import without them, but identifiers let us connect outcomes to engagement data and make your reporting more powerful.
Academic Division/SchoolTextYesSeparate multiple with semicolon
Program Name/MajorTextYesSeparate multiple with semicolon
Degree LevelTextNo
Graduation DateNumberYesA 4-digit class year, e.g. 2019
Outcome Type [Corresponds with “First Destination” chart]Text, one of the following values:
  • Employed Full Time
  • Employed Part Time
  • Volunteer Service
  • Military Service
  • Continuing Education
  • Seeking Employment
  • Seeking Continuing Education
  • Not Seeking
Yes

Under this column, you can input various values. However, many visualizations for different data points rely on a filtered data view and need specific values for the Outcome Type data point.

For outcomes linked to ’employed’, such as Top Employers or Starting Salary, the Outcome Type value must contain the keyword employed for data filtering. Therefore, values like Employed, Employed Full Time, or Employed Part Time are acceptable, while Working is not.

For outcomes associated with Continuing Education, such as Top Universities, the Outcome Type value must precisely match Continuing Education.
Employing OrganizationTextNoIf outcome is employed
Position Location - CountryTextNoIf outcome is employed.

For the US, valid values are: US, USA, United States, United States (USA), United States of America
Position Location - StateTextNoIf outcome is employed; required if country is US.

For D.C, value values are: DC, District of Columbia, Washington DC, and Washington, D.C.
Annual Base SalaryNumber/USDNoIf outcome is employed
Name of Institution [Corresponds with “Top Universities” Chart]TextNoIf outcome is continuing education
Location of Institution – CountryTextNoIf outcome is continuing education
Location of Institution – StateTextNoIf outcome is continuing education; Required if country is US
Program/Field of Study [Corresponds with “Fields of Study” chart]TextNoIf outcome is continuing education
Degree to be earned [Corresponds with “Degree Types” chart]TextNoIf outcome is continuing education
Experiential Learning ParticipationTextNoSeparate multiple with semicolon, e.g. Paid Internship;Study Abroad
Employment FunctionTextNoIf outcome is Employed, full time or part time
Employment IndustryTextNoIf outcome is Employed, full time or part time