Appendix 2

Recent Graduates Employment and Earnings Survey

The purpose of the Recent Graduates Employment and Earnings Survey is to collect information about the average 

earnings of graduates from programs whose students receive federal financial aid and which are subject to 

regulations on gainful employment.

Responses to this data collection will be used only for statistical purposes. The reports prepared for this study will 

summarize findings across the sample and will not associate responses with a specific individual. We will not provide 

information that identifies you to anyone outside the study team.

1. Please verify that you are <First-Name Last-Name>. Is this correct? If you have legally changed your 

name but once went by <First-Name Last-Name>, please answer Yes below.

☐ No Thank you. Please return the survey in the enclosed envelope so that we can remove you from our 

list and you are not contacted again.

☐ Yes

The next few questions are about earnings during the 2013 calendar year, NOT the most recent 2014 calendar 

year.

This survey asks about wages and self-employment income separately. In some cases, it may not be clear to you 

where earnings you received should be reported. Please just use your best judgment about this, but please do NOT 

report the same earnings more than once. Remember to include earnings from ALL jobs.

2. Did you receive any wages, salary, tips, overtime pay, bonuses, or commissions from an employer in 

2013? 

☐ No Skip to question 3.

☐ Yes

2a. Think about the job you held the longest during 2013. In total, how much did you earn from that 

employer, before taxes and other deductions, in 2013?

$_____________

2b. Now think about all OTHER jobs you held during 2013. In total, how much did you receive from all 

other employers, before taxes and other deductions, in 2013? If you had no additional jobs, please 

enter a zero.

$_____________

3. Excluding any income mentioned above, did you receive any self-employment income, including 

income from your own business, in 2013? 

☐ No Skip to question 4.

☐ Yes

3a. What was the amount you received in net self-employment income in 2013? Please report 

income minus expenses. If this amount is negative, please enter zero. 
$_____________ 

 

4. People sometimes earn extra money doing work outside of their regular jobs, such as freelancing, 

consulting, moonlighting, or doing other casual jobs. In 2013, did you earn any other money from work 

you did that you have not already reported on this survey?

☐ No Thank you. Please return the survey in the envelope provided.

☐ Yes

4a. What was the amount of your additional earnings from work in 2013 that are not already 

reported above? 

$_____________ 

 

Thank you for your participation.

Please return the survey in the envelope provided.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

To show our appreciation for completing the survey today, we would like to send you $25. 

Please indicate your preferred payment type.

☐ PayPal  Please provide your email address. __________________________________________________

 (You will receive an email from PayPal 

notifying you of the transfer.)

Or

☐ Check  Please provide your mailing address. ___________________________________________________

(Please allow 4 weeks for delivery.)

 ___________________________________________________

 ___________________________________________________

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information 

unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this voluntary survey is 1845-NEW. 

The time required to complete this survey is estimated to average 5 minutes per response, including the time to 

review instructions, gather the data needed, and complete and review the survey. If you have any comments 

concerning the accuracy of the time estimate, suggestions for improving this survey, or any comments or concerns 

regarding the status of your individual submission of this survey, please write to: Sharon Boivin, Graduate 

Employment and Earnings Survey, National Center for Education Statistics, 1990 K Street, NW, Room 9051, 

Washington, DC 20006-5650. Do not return the completed form to this address. You may send email to 

GradSurvey@rti.org.