Career-aligned coursework lifts retention rates and can be especially beneficial for underserved students, according to new research from the University of California, Irvine.
The study examined undergraduates at Arizona State University who enrolled for a semester in the Global Career Accelerator, an online program connecting students to coursework co-designed with nonprofit and industry leaders.
Wells Fargo, Intel, Procter & Gamble and over 50 other partners immerse students in real-world workplace challenges. Students who complete the course’s capstone projects receive a microcredential—an increasingly important signal for employers looking for career-ready graduates.
Through synchronous and asynchronous online coursework, students develop durable and technical skills used in today’s job market. The course also features on-demand advising and weekly live meetings for students to collaborate on projects.
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These embedded, experiential assignments aim to meet demand for internships that can be hard for many students to access.
This disparity can carry long-lasting effects on college graduates. Students who don’t participate in an internship are more likely to be underemployed, according to Burning Glass Institute. Moreover, career-aligned learning boosts satisfaction with careers and with the cost of college, according to the Strada Institute for the Future of Work.
Experiential learning propels retention rates
The Accelerator’s undergraduates persisted to the next semester at higher rates than other students in each academic year of UC Irvine’s independent study.
Across 2021, 2022 and 2023, retention was six to 10 percentage points greater among experiential learning students. For example, over 92% of students who participated in career-focused projects in the 2021-22 academic year stayed enrolled, compared to 82.2% among learners who didn’t.
Improved outcomes also applied when comparing students by Pell eligibility, first-generation status, GPA, major and race.
Undergraduates in the Accelerator were more likely to be a minority student or Pell-eligible. This shows the program is reshaping college for students who traditionally persist and graduate at lower rates.
Experiential learning can also propel students into high-demand fields.
Arizona State University delivered its experiential learning coursework in partnership with Podium Education, which works with over 100 colleges and universities nationwide.
“When students get real, embedded work experience, they see a brighter future for themselves and stay in college,” said Chris Parrish, co-founder and president at Podium.
