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Associated Press
20-05-2025
- General
- Associated Press
Annual Report from YouScience Reveals 72% of Students Aren't Ready for Life After High School and Sharp College Enrollment Drop
As four-year college enrollment plummets to 35%, students are rethinking their futures, but most say they're unprepared for what comes next AMERICAN FORK, Utah, May 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- YouScience®, the leading education technology company transforming college and career readiness through its award-winning platform Brightpath, today released its third annual Post-Graduation Readiness Report, revealing a growing disconnect between students' education and their preparedness for real-world success. Drawing from a national online survey of over 500 high school graduates from the Classes of 2021 through 2024, and trends across six graduating classes dating back to 2019, the report uncovers a deepening crisis: students are navigating a rapidly changing world with outdated tools and minimal guidance. The findings demand urgent action to redesign how we prepare young people for life after high school. Among the report's most critical findings: 'This year's data makes one thing clear: today's students are open to new paths, but they lack the tools and guidance to make confident, informed decisions,' said Edson Barton, CEO of YouScience. 'We must rethink what it truly means to prepare students, not just academically, but practically, for a world that values skills, purpose, and adaptability.' The data also highlights significant gender disparities. Males are far more likely than females to graduate high school with no plan at all (14% vs. 8%), while females remain more likely to follow the traditional four-year college route (68% vs. 46%). Too many classrooms still lack career-connected learning opportunities that help students see how their education applies in the real world. In fact, 50% of respondents said schools could have offered more work-based learning opportunities and 41% said schools should have helped them better understand their aptitudes. Far too often, students are relying on shallow, interest-only tools that miss the mark and fail to uncover the deeper aptitudes that shape potential and purpose. Without that level of insight, students are left guessing instead of planning. With patchwork solutions and vague career advice failing students, YouScience calls on education, business, and policy leaders to take immediate steps to close the readiness gap: 'Students don't need more generic advice, they need meaningful career exposure, real data about their strengths, and practical experiences that connect learning to life,' Barton added. 'This report gives us a roadmap. It's up to all of us to act.' To read the full 2025Post-Graduation Readiness Report or see how YouScience Brightpath equips schools to drive real student outcomes, visit About the report The 2025 Post-Graduation Readiness Report is YouScience's third annual study on how high school graduates are navigating life after graduation. Based on a 2025 online survey of over 500 students from the classes of 2021–2024, and analyzing trends from 2019 to 2024, the report reveals an urgent need to rethink how we prepare students for life beyond high school. It offers insights into graduates' current pathways, sense of preparedness, and the decisions shaping their futures. About YouScience YouScience® is the leading education technology company dedicated to empowering individuals with the data and credentials needed to succeed in school, career, and life. Its award-winning platform, Brightpath, is the only College & Career Readiness solution built for both compliance and impact—powered by scientifically backed aptitude discovery, industry-recognized certifications, and meaningful career connections. By leveraging cutting-edge research, AI, and industry collaboration, YouScience helps individuals uncover their unique talents, validate their skills, and connect with in-demand educational and career pathways. YouScience has served more than 13,400 educational institutions and millions of users nationwide, making it the preferred choice for individuals, parents, educators, and counselors to achieve real outcomes through education and career pathways. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE YouScience
Forbes
17-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Gen Z's New College Calculus: Skills, Not Stadiums
Close view of mature female educator standing between early 20s classmates and offering guidance as ... More they work on project. Property release attached. When Emily Rodriguez toured colleges in 2022, the 24-year-old bypassed campus amenities and asked admissions counselors a single question: "How many graduates land jobs in their field within six months?" Now a nursing student at New York's SUNY Erie Community College, Rodriguez exemplifies a fundamental shift reshaping higher education. The era of selecting universities for their manicured quads or state-of-the-art recreation centers is fading. Today's students—confronting mounting student debt concerns, AI disruption, and fierce competition for jobs—prioritize credentials, internships, and practical skills over traditional college experiences. States like New York have taken notice, offering tuition-free programs for high-demand fields such as teaching and nursing through initiatives like the NYS Free Tuition Program. A 2023 Gallup survey revealed that 85% of Gen Z students rank "career preparation" as their primary consideration when selecting a college, a significant increase from 62% in 2010. This shift reflects profound economic anxiety: With 3.6 million federal positions eliminated through recent budget cuts and artificial intelligence increasingly automating entry-level roles, students increasingly view higher education as a critical survival tool rather than a four-year hiatus from reality. The disruption manifests across industries: AI's Impact on Entry-Level Positions: Global consumer goods giant Unilever has deployed AI chatbots for customer service functions traditionally filled by recent graduates. According to Reuters, major law firms now utilize tools like Casetext to draft documents, diminishing demand for paralegals. STEM's Strategic Pivot: Employer preferences have shifted toward data analysts over traditional scientists. Georgia Tech has responded by introducing a Bachelor of Science in Computational Data Science, replacing calculus-heavy curricula with coursework in data visualization and machine learning applications. New York's "Free College for High-Demand Careers" initiative, which targets adults aged 25-60, underscores a nationwide trend. Tennessee and California have implemented similar programs, channeling students into healthcare, technology, and skilled trades through initiatives like Tennessee Reconnect. "We're investing in jobs that can't be outsourced or automated," says New York Governor Kathy Hochul. The impact on individual students is profound: Priya Kumar, 28: After years in retail, Kumar enrolled in tuition-free coding boot camps to transition into cybersecurity. "My previous position paid $15 per hour and could have easily been eliminated by automation," she explains. Marcus Lee, 19: Selected an HVAC certification program over pursuing a liberal arts degree. "The prospect of substantial debt concerned me more than missing out on the traditional college social scene," he admits. Today's graduates face challenges unseen since the Great Depression. According to Zillow data, median monthly rent has climbed to $1,982, while entry-level compensation fails to keep pace. Simultaneously, 40% of employers report that new hires lack essential AI literacy skills, according to LinkedIn research. For generations, obtaining a degree translated to career stability. Today, 65% of Gen Z anticipates job-hopping to secure salary growth, according to Pew Research—even traditionally secure fields like technology require constant upskilling. After his employer automated his initial role, data analyst Carlos Mendez invested $5,000 in cloud computing courses. "Ceasing to learn means becoming obsolete," he observes. While the employment landscape continues evolving, human-centric professions—teaching, healthcare, and social work—will remain relevant. As artificial intelligence transforms industries, successful students will blend practical considerations with meaningful purposes. As Rodriguez says, "I chose nursing because robots can't hold a patient's hand. That's my competitive advantage."
