Information - Median Wages

Median wages reflect the annual wage of graduates from programs who were employed in "covered employment" in North Carolina a given number of years after their graduation. "Covered employment" includes all individuals working for employers subject to North Carolina's unemployment insurance tax laws, as specified in Chapter 96, Article 2 of the North Carolina General Statutes. It is estimated that covered employment represents over 90% of North Carolina's total employment. However, employment that is not covered by North Carolina's unemployment insurance laws includes (but is not limited to):

• Individuals who are self-employed
• Individuals working for the federal government, including the military
• Individuals who are working outside of North Carolina

An individual's annual wage is determined by examining quarterly unemployment insurance wage records for that individual in the four quarters representing a given number of years after the individual's graduation. For instance, if a student graduated in May of 2006 (i.e., Q2 2006), that student's annual wage one year after graduation will be determined by the sum of the student's quarterly wages in the next four quarters (i.e., Q3 2006, Q4 2006, Q1 2007, Q2 2007). Students who were not employed in North Carolina covered employment (i.e., had annual wages of $0) for a given year are not included in the percentile wage values.

In situations where a student graduated multiple times during a given school year, the last relevant graduation date is used as the reference point for the wage data match. For example, if a student received an Esthetics Technology Certificate in December 2005, and an Esthetics Instructor Certificate in May 2006, that student's annual wage will be determined using Q4 2005 as a reference point when viewing outcomes for 2005-2006 graduates with Esthetic Technology Certificates, using Q2 2006 as a reference point when viewing outcomes for 2005-2006 graduates with Esthetic Instructor Certificates.

Information - Median Wages

Median wages reflect the annual wage of graduates from programs who were employed in "covered employment" in North Carolina a given number of years after their graduation. "Covered employment" includes all individuals working for employers subject to North Carolina's unemployment insurance tax laws, as specified in Chapter 96, Article 2 of the North Carolina General Statutes. It is estimated that covered employment represents over 90% of North Carolina's total employment. However, employment that is not covered by North Carolina's unemployment insurance laws includes (but is not limited to):

• Individuals who are self-employed
• Individuals working for the federal government, including the military
• Individuals who are working outside of North Carolina

An individual's annual wage is determined by examining quarterly unemployment insurance wage records for that individual in the four quarters representing a given number of years after the individual's graduation. For instance, if a student graduated in May of 2006 (i.e., Q2 2006), that student's annual wage one year after graduation will be determined by the sum of the student's quarterly wages in the next four quarters (i.e., Q3 2006, Q4 2006, Q1 2007, Q2 2007). Students who were not employed in North Carolina covered employment (i.e., had annual wages of $0) for a given year are not included in the percentile wage values.

In situations where a student graduated multiple times during a given school year, the last relevant graduation date is used as the reference point for the wage data match. For example, if a student received an Esthetics Technology Certificate in December 2005, and an Esthetics Instructor Certificate in May 2006, that student's annual wage will be determined using Q4 2005 as a reference point when viewing outcomes for 2005-2006 graduates with Esthetic Technology Certificates, using Q2 2006 as a reference point when viewing outcomes for 2005-2006 graduates with Esthetic Instructor Certificates.

Information - Student and Graduate Counts

Counts of students and graduates represent the number of unique individuals present in CFS data for the selected programs during the specified school year. This means that total counts of students or graduates will not always be equal to the sum of their parts. For example, if a student majors in both History and Sociology, that student will be counted once for the number of History students, once for the number of Sociology students, and once and only once for the total number of bachelor's degree students. Also note that the Public University System reports students' program of study only for "Upper Division Enrollment." As a result, counts of students enrolled in any particular course of study in the Public University System will not include Freshmen and Sophomores. However, counts of students enrolled in all programs will include Freshmen and Sophomores.

External Information

For more information about student and graduate counts, consult each agency's internal statistics. Please remember that, because of federal reporting requirements and other factors, educational agencies may count students and graduates in a fashion that is slightly different from the methodology used by NC Tower. For example, the University of North Carolina counts students based on fall semester enrollment and counts unique degrees conferred rather than unique individuals receiving degrees. NC Tower also removes students with invalid SSNs from student and graduate counts so that employment rates are not distorted by a lack of matching data. These factors may cause some slight discrepancies between the counts provided by educational agencies and those present in NC Tower.

• Community College System Statistical Reports
• Public University System Facts and Figures

Information - Student and Graduate Counts

Counts of students and graduates represent the number of unique individuals present in CFS data for the selected programs during the specified school year. This means that total counts of students or graduates will not always be equal to the sum of their parts. For example, if a student majors in both History and Sociology, that student will be counted once for the number of History students, once for the number of Sociology students, and once and only once for the total number of bachelor's degree students. Also note that the Public University System reports students' program of study only for "Upper Division Enrollment." As a result, counts of students enrolled in any particular course of study in the Public University System will not include Freshmen and Sophomores. However, counts of students enrolled in all programs will include Freshmen and Sophomores.

External Information

For more information about student and graduate counts, consult each agency's internal statistics. Please remember that, because of federal reporting requirements and other factors, educational agencies may count students and graduates in a fashion that is slightly different from the methodology used by NC Tower. For example, the University of North Carolina counts students based on fall semester enrollment and counts unique degrees conferred rather than unique individuals receiving degrees. NC Tower also removes students with invalid SSNs from student and graduate counts so that employment rates are not distorted by a lack of matching data. These factors may cause some slight discrepancies between the counts provided by educational agencies and those present in NC Tower.

• Community College System Statistical Reports
• Public University System Facts and Figures