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 -- 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dating back to 2019, the report uncovers a deepening crisis: students are navigating a rapidly changing world with outdated tools and minimal guidance.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:
- Just 35% of Class of 2024 graduates are heading to a four-year college, a steep drop from 55% in 2019.
- Nearly 72% of students report feeling only moderately, slightly, or not at all prepared for life after high school.
- 77% say they would have been more engaged in school if they better understood their strengths and career options.
- Of those attending college, only 56% have declared a major, and 42% of them have already changed it, many more than once.
- Half of graduates say they lacked work-based learning experiences, and 45% wanted better access to career counseling.
"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:
- Start early with aptitude and interest discovery. Too many schools are using outdated, non-scientific tools to help guide students.
- Ensure every student has access to personalized, aptitude-based career assessments and counseling.
- Expand real-world learning, from industry certifications to work-based experiences.
- Equip families to have early, informed conversations about career options.
"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 2025 Post-Graduation Readiness Report or see how YouScience Brightpath equips schools to drive real student outcomes, visit youscience.com.
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.
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