We Asked. You Answered.

This spring, thousands of UB graduates took part in the 2026 Alumni Enthusiasm Survey. Below are some of the key results.

More UB alumni are enthusiastic than ever before

The UB community comes together to celebrate Homecoming and Family Weekend with tailgating and the football game against Eastern Michigan in October 2025 at the UB Stadium. \r\rPhotographer: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki.

Thousands of UB alumni shared their perspectives through our 2026 Alumni Enthusiasm Survey.

The results reflect a community that is proud of its UB experience, values academic excellence and lifelong connections, and sees opportunities to strengthen communications, volunteer engagement and alumni programming. 

What Alumni Told Us

Below is a snapshot of what we learned and how your input is helping shape the future of alumni engagement at UB.

Alumni Enthusiasm

44%
Percentage of enthusiastic graduates has doubled.

Alumni enthusiasm is up significantly since the prior survey, from a score of 61.9 in 2020 to 70.9 in 2026. The percentage of enthusiastic alumni more than doubled, from 21% to 44%, indicating the connection between UB and our alumni community is growing.

Survey says! On UB community.

“The strong sense of community in my program made my UB experience unforgettable. Years later, we’re still connected.”

True Blue Pride

79%
Percentage of graduates proud of their association with UB.

With 79% of UB graduates shouting it out, alumni are overwhelmingly proud of their alma mater. In addition, 84% report satisfaction with their academic experience, while 78% would also reccomend UB to potential students, demonstrating their True Blue pride in the university.

Survey says! On UB pride.

“I’m proud to see UB continue to be recognized for academic excellence. Loyal Blue forever.”

staying engaged

42%
Learning something new is the top reason alumni stay engaged.

Why do UB alumni stay engaged? Learning something new is the leading motivation for alumni engagement, followed by staying informed (35%), connecting with fellow alumni (34%) and access to valuable benefits and services (31%).

Survey says! On engaging experiences.

“Being an orientation leader helped me discover everything the university had to offer while building meaningful friendships, confidence and a sense of adventure.”

What Else We Heard

  • Alumni want more relevant, personalized communications.
    We're developing ways to target communications based on alumni interests and preferences.
  • Many would like more opportunities to volunteer and mentor.
    We’re exploring additional volunteer opportunities for you to share your time, talent and expertise in meaningful ways.    
  • Alumni want to better understand UB’s priorities and the impact of their involvement.
    We’re committed to sharing more about the university’s priorities and how alumni philanthropy make a difference. 

What’s Next

“Our alumni took the time to tell us what matters most, and we take that responsibility seriously,” Kristen Murphy, BA ’96, assistant vice president for alumni engagement, said. “Thank you for helping shape what’s next.”  

Moving forward, the alumni team will continue building programs and opportunities that reflect your feedback, while improving communications and expanding volunteer opportunities. Most importantly, we’ll keep listening and keep connecting you with UB and one another.

If you have questions about the survey, please use the form on the contact us page.