ASE Releases Results to the 2025 Starting Salaries for Co-op Students and Recent College Graduates Survey

Troy, MI – December 19, 2024 – ASE, one of the nation’s oldest and largest employer associations, has released the 2025 Starting Salaries for Co-op Students and Recent College Graduates Survey this week. The annual survey provides a comprehensive look at the current state of wages and benefits provided to co-op students and recent college graduates.  The survey also presents employers with a snapshot of the recruitment and retention trends associated with these new entrants to the workforce.

Highlights of the ASE 2025 Starting Salaries for Co-op Students and Recent College Graduates Survey include:

• 40% of those surveyed have increased rates for Co-op/Intern students within the last year.  This is a decrease from last year, where 51% had increased wages for this segment of their workforce.
• More than six of ten respondents (66%) say their company has hired a recent college graduate in the past year or plans to hire one in 2025. This is a decrease from what was reported in 2023 (72%).
• The top six in-state institutions survey respondents actively recruit from are: 1) University of Michigan-Ann Arbor; 2) Michigan State University; 3) Oakland University 4) Wayne State University; 5) Michigan Technological University; 6) Kettering University.
• The top three knowledge/skill factors organizations consider when making hiring decisions, in order, are: computer skills, related coursework (i.e., to the work required in the job), and degree level.
• 78% of respondents reported that they do not provide benefits to co-ops/interns

• • Of the 22% of respondents that provide benefits to co-ops/interns, 40% provide medical coverage, 60% provide paid holidays, 40% provide paid sick or personal days, and 60% provide tuition assistance.

• The highest average starting salary was, again, Electrical Engineering at $77,471. This is a slight decrease from the previous year ($78,151).  The second and third highest average starting salaries were Mechanical Engineering ($75,362) and Manufacturing Engineering ($73,570).
• The average salaries for select non-technical roles were as follows: HR/Labor Relations at $62,394, Psychology at $48,699, Social Work at $46,995, and Communications at $46,337.

The ASE 2025 Starting Salaries for Co-op Students and Recent College Graduates Survey findings were announced by ASE President and CEO, Mary E. Corrado. “The ASE 2025 Starting Salaries Survey highlights a shifting landscape for new graduates, with fewer companies planning to hire and slower wage growth for co-ops and interns, signaling a more challenging and competitive labor market for those entering the workforce.”

Background information on the ASE 2025 Starting Salaries for Co-op Students and Recent College Graduates Survey

138 organizations from across Michigan participated. Organizations with 100 employees or less nationally made up approximately 36% of the survey sample, while organizations with 101-499 employees nationally represented roughly 46% of the sample. The remaining 18% of the sample came from organizations with more than 500 employees.  A variety of industries have been represented in the survey, with durable goods manufacturing (47.8%) leading the pack. Trades and Services (23.9%) were the second-largest industry representation.

This survey is available at no cost to ASE Members via the ASE Survey Library. It is available for $415 for non-member participants and for $825 for non-member non-participants. Request to purchase here.

By Heather Nezich, courtesy of SBAM-approved partner, ASE.

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