Early Success in the College-to-Career Transition and the Involvement Gap

2024 Longitudinal Study Findings

Kristen Case, Scholar Research and Grants Manager
Senator George J. Mitchell Scholarship Research Institute
November 20, 2024


The 2024 Longitudinal Study was conducted between February and May 2024. Four main segments comprise the longitudinal study year over year:

  • Mitchell Scholar Alumni: Alumni are confirmed to have graduated, or to have received four checks towards their pursuit of a post-secondary degree
  • Graduating Mitchell Scholars: Graduating Scholars are thought or known to have graduated from their post-secondary studies as of Spring or Summer 2024
  • Continuing Mitchell Scholars: Continuing Scholars are those who were enrolled in post-secondary studies and have been confirmed as such via the Verification process, as of Spring 2024
  • Comparison Group Members: Comparison Group members from years 2018–2024 for whom we have sufficient contact information received the survey; Comparison Group members have the option to opt out of the study at any time.

Key Findings

Among the key findings, the data show Scholars from lower-income households (under $50,000) are less likely to have a post-graduation plan by their senior year of college. While Scholars from all income levels are navigating the college-to-career transition at robust rates, those from higher-income families, particularly those earning over $100,000, are more likely to achieve early career success.

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Beyond Degree Completion: The College to Career Transition

Initial analysis of the Graduating Scholar Survey yielded a result that shaped the overall direction of this year’s report: A greater percentage of 2024 graduates successfully navigated the college-career transition in a short timeframe, securing either a long-term job or a graduate school acceptance before graduation, than have in recent years.

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The Involvement Gap: Involvement, Barriers, Outcomes

This year’s study gathered data on current Scholar involvement by household income level. The results show that many key educational experiences and campus involvement opportunities are less accessible for lower-income Scholars, which may help explain the income disparities in the outcomes referenced above.

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Economic Mobility: Earnings, Debts, and Career Shifts

This year’s Alumni survey yielded data in line with recent years regarding Alumni income. Overall, just over half (53%) of Alumni respondents currently make more than their household income at the time of application.

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Conclusions

This year’s report yields several data points worth celebrating. Perhaps chief among them, our graduating Scholars had an unusual degree of early success in navigating the college-career transition. This was especially true for our scholars of color. Also, the Alumni survey continues to confirm the difference the Mitchell Scholarship makes in Scholars’ post-college financial well-being.

The report provides compelling evidence that Scholars who are involved on their campuses are more likely to find early success in navigating the college-career transition. Forms of engagement that correlate highly with post-graduation success include athletics and extracurricular activities, leadership activities, involvement in honors programs, and mentorship experiences. Mentorship experiences in the senior year correlate especially highly with a Scholar’s likelihood of having a post-graduation plan in place before graduation.

Senator George Mitchell

“No one should be guaranteed success … but everyone should have a fair chance to succeed, to go as high and as far as his or her talent, willingness to work and willingness to take risks will carry them.”

Click here to learn more about Senator George J. Mitchell, Founder and Honorary Chairman of the Mitchell Institute

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