High school graduates are increasingly skeptical about attending a four-year college or university—and are largely unsure about what to do with their lives.
That’s according to a recent report from YouScience, an aptitude test platform, that surveyed over 500 high school graduates from the Classes of 2021 through 2024.
Just 35% of Class of 2024 graduates are heading to a four-year college, a drop from 55% according to an earlier survey by YouScience in 2019. At the same time, 28%—the highest rate in the last five years—said they are working toward a career goal. This may imply that they may be opting to enter the workforce after high school, according to the report.
Most students (72%) reported feeling only moderately, slightly or not at all prepared for life after high school. Males are significantly more likely to feel lost, with 14% of males saying they have no plan after high school.
The Class of 2024’s disinterest in four-year colleges and universities may stem from a lack of vision for higher education’s potential. More than three-quarters (77%) of graduates said they would have been more engaged in high school if they better understood their strengths and career options.
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Similarly, half said 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,” Edson Barton, CEO of YouScience, said in a press release. “We must rethink what it truly means to prepare students, not just academically, but practically, for a world that values skills, purpose, and adaptability.”
How to get high school students on track
Building on responses from the Class of 2024, the report offered education leaders some advice on how to help high school students get excited about postsecondary education.
- Provide opportunities for students to discover their career interests: Students consistently identify college and career readiness assessments, along with one-on-one counseling, as the most impactful preparation experiences.
- Expand real-world learning: Career and technical education courses (which offer industry-recognized certifications and align with coursework) and out-of-school work opportunities should be provided.
- 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 said. “This report gives us a roadmap. It’s up to all of us to act.”
