While 55 percent of high school graduates in 2019 planned to further their academic careers at a four-year college or university, just 35 percent of the Class of 2024 had the same aspirations, according to a new report. Still, it was the most popular post-grad pathway.
YouScience’s 2025 report on post-graduation readiness offers a glimpse at students’ paths as they exit the K-12 system and provides insights on how educators can more effectively support young adults as they embark on their respective journeys. Life beyond high school: How students are rethinking college, career, and success is based on the findings of a recent national survey of more than 500 graduates from 2021 through 2024 as well as trends between 2019 and 2024.
A growing percentage of teens are choosing to work toward career goals (28 percent in 2024 versus 13 percent in 2019) or are opting to take time off (16 percent in 2024 versus 10 percent in 2019). And although it was less common for individuals to intend to be “working to get by” in 2024 (6 percent compared to 16 percent in 2019) following high school, the current rate was far lower than in previous years (between 14 and 15 percent in 2020 through 2023).
Just 2 percent of those surveyed were pursuing vocational/technical training or trade school in 2024, down from between 7 and 9 percent in 2019 through 2023.
“The percentage of students working directly toward a career goal after high school is on the rise, reflecting a shift toward more practical, skills-based pathways,” according to the report. “These findings underscore the urgent need for earlier, more personalized career exploration and planning for all students — and a more nuanced understanding of how different groups navigate their post-graduation decisions. Most planning tools today offer only a narrow glimpse of a student’s potential, missing the opportunity for true whole-self understanding. It’s time for a new approach, one that supports earlier, more personalized career exploration for every student.”
Other findings
Girls were more likely to have college goals than boys, who were also “significantly more likely to have no post-graduation plan.”
In the most recent survey, 14 percent of boys and 8 percent of girls said they had no plans; and even for those who did, morale was lacking.
“Nearly 72 percent of graduates report feeling only moderately, slightly, or not at all prepared for life after high school — a clear signal that most are entering adulthood without a strong foundation,” YouScience found for the Class of 2024 — a stat that has been relatively consistent over time. Seventy percent of graduates in 2024 lacked strong confidence in their plans.
Students expressed a desire for opportunities to identify and understand their aptitudes and said it would have improved their engagement in school.
“Students consistently identify college and career readiness assessments, along with one-on-one counseling, as the most impactful preparation experiences,” according to the report. “This includes taking career and technical education courses, earning industry-recognized certifications that directly align to their coursework, and participating in ‘out-of-school’ work opportunities, such as internships or apprenticeships. Early exposure to varied [career and technical education] programs and work exploration is key.”
The report also delves into data regarding the college-going population as well as the critical role that families play in shaping college and career decisions and highlights the ways in which students recognize they could have done more to prepare themselves for their futures while in high school.
