But after students step off the stage at commencement, they must decide whether they will seek employment in Michigan or venture to other states for job opportunities.

The 2010 U.S. Census reports that Michigan is the only state that has shown population loss over the last decade, which affects the state’s job market and economy.

Photography major Amanda Murphy, who will graduate this spring with a Bachelor of Arts, has decided to move to Indiana after graduation for work experience.

“The photography ring within Grand Rapids is very exclusive,” Murphy said. “It is difficult to break into the scene. Indianapolis is a great area, full of opportunities and entertainment. I hope to set up an apprenticeship or internship with a photography studio or gallery and eventually open my own studio and art gallery.”

However, while some students like Murphy choose to leave Michigan, GVSU students have typically remained in state after graduation.

According to the GVSU Alumni Relations website, the majority of former students have opted to stay in Michigan after graduation. Of the 77,283 alumni surveyed, more than 58,000 reside within the state. The next largest concentration of alumni is in Illinois, followed by Florida, California and Texas.

Senior Nicole Cross, who is studying journalism and English, plans to stay in Allendale after graduation. She currently works in the Zumberge Library as a student assistant and a floor assistant. After graduation, she plans to earn Master’s degrees in Library Science and Business and Administration.

“After I graduate, I hope to work at the GVSU Zumberge Library as a full-time staff member,” Cross said.

For some students who stay, leaving the state may not be possible. Career Services Director Troy Farley said financial issues, such as college loans, make seeking work outside of the state an expensive venture.

However, Farley said internships have made the search easier for some students struggling for jobs after graduation.

In the 2008-2009 Postgraduate Employment Report conducted by the Career Services office, 72.3 percent of students were employed after graduation, down from 75 percent in the 2007-2008 report.

Additionally, 56.5 percent of graduates were reported as directly employed in their field of study compared to 63.5 percent from the previous school year.

“In the last couple years, there’s been a major push for internships,” he said. “That becomes a gateway for jobs, so the employment track is happening earlier.”

Students who seek in-state internships earlier in their college careers are offered entry level positions when they graduate, Farley said.

GVSU graduates may also choose to work in Michigan to make a difference in the current social and economic conditions of the state, said Janean Couch, assistant director of Career Services

“Students see opportunities where they can use their knowledge to influence local conditions,” Couch said. “We get to invest in their education, and then they give back to the community. There’s no greater benefit than having them contribute.”

Farley said many students who leave the state decide to return later in life.

“I see students leave for work, new experiences and reasons of diversity,” he said. “But after a couple years, many want to come back, and they enrich the state with their experiences.”

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