More than a third of college grads say they would choose a different major if they got a do-over. So many choices are freighted with so much importance, which is hard enough with guidance. Without support and structure, students spin their wheels trying to make sense of timelines, prereqs, and course sequences. Uninformed choices lead students to accumulate needless credits, extending their timelines or leading them to drop out altogether.
About 75% of low-income or first-generation students who enroll in college leave without a job related to their studies or without entering graduate school, causing many to doubt the utility of college.
About 17% percent of students who report having received “poor support making the transition to work” believe their education was worth the cost.
More than half of students reported primarily relying on advice from informal social networks to help them choose a major.
In 2024, 52% of college graduates were underemployed in their first job, up from 43% in 2018.
At Complete College America, we work with impatient reformers to connect students with the resources they need to find their purpose, make the best choices for them, and take control of their lives.
The latest on purpose
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Learn More: Rethinking Career Readiness: New Report Guides Colleges on Embedding Career Purpose From Enrollment to AlumniRethinking Career Readiness: New Report Guides Colleges on Embedding Career Purpose From Enrollment to Alumni
Complete College America refreshes Purpose First report with new recommendations for how colleges can connect the student experience to career and economic mobility after graduation
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Learn More: The EDU Ledger: Colleges Must Embed Career Purpose Throughout Student Journey, New Report UrgesThe EDU Ledger: Colleges Must Embed Career Purpose Throughout Student Journey, New Report Urges
Quotes CCA President Dr. Yolanda Watson Spiva on CCA’s College on Purpose, 2.0 publication.
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Learn More: Amplification Lab: Tennessee Transforms College Access: How Direct Admissions with Financial Aid is Changing the GameAmplification Lab: Tennessee Transforms College Access: How Direct Admissions with Financial Aid is Changing the Game
Tennessee just launched the nation’s first direct admit program that pairs college admissions with personalized financial aid info. 41,000 students will receive acceptance letters AND know exactly how they can afford college—no application fees required. A game-changer for access in higher ed.