Students’ level of satisfaction with graduation research during the COVID-19 pandemic

[Purpose] We investigated the effects of the state of emergency declared following the spread of coronavirus disease on the level of satisfaction with graduation research. [Participants and Methods] The study included 320 students who graduated from a university in northern Tochigi Prefecture between March 2019 and 2022. Participants were categorized into the non-coronavirus group (graduation in 2019 and 2020) and the coronavirus group (graduation in 2021 and 2022). Levels of satisfaction with the content and rewards of graduation research were assessed using a visual analog scale. [Results] Levels of satisfaction with the content and rewards of graduation research were >70 mm in both groups and were significantly higher in females in the coronavirus group than in the non-coronavirus group. [Conclusion] The study highlights that despite the pandemic, educational engagement can improve students’ satisfaction with graduation research.