BOSTON—April 16, 2025—American Student Assistance® (ASA), a national nonprofit changing the way kids learn about careers and prepare for their futures, and Open Campus, a nonprofit news organization dedicated to improving local coverage of colleges, today announced key findings of the Life After High School project. The initiative aims to provide a better understanding of how teens learn about their career and college options after high school.
“Too many young people are disconnected from key information about charting their own path after high school. To address this challenge, ASA partnered with Open Campus to create an information-needs assessment that will help give young people research-backed information they need to make informed, confident decisions to achieve their postsecondary education and career goals,” said Judy Goldstein, SVP of Marketing and Communications, American Student Assistance.
“Our research so far highlights the challenges Americans face when looking for quality information on their options after high school,” said Scott Smallwood, CEO of Open Campus. In the first two phases of the project, which included research and listening work from March-November 2024, researchers focused on Chicago and Houston, with some additional research in rural Texas, to gather a wide range of perspectives and understand the unique information needs of their residents. Nearly 200 interviews were conducted with experts representing community-based organizations, trade associations and unions, workforce development organizations, college access and success programs, research consortiums, high school and college students and parents, recent alumni of career training and outreach programs, first generation college students, and members of minoritized communities, including immigrants. The following are some of the key findings from the report:
Career exposure: Interviewees said they’re not aware of the different career paths they could pursue, and they’re limited to traditional choices as depicted in media, or jobs common in their family and friend networks.
- Mentorship and networking beyond family circles: Families exert influence over young people, in both positive and negative ways. Some people reported feeling undue pressure to attend college, while others appreciated being supported in that way. In addition, while young people recognize the importance of social and professional relationships, they feel unsure of how to build them. Tapping into professional networks that expose students to different career options can be especially valuable for immigrant and low-wealth families.
- Immigrant support: First-generation immigrant families face specific hurdles. Language can often be a barrier, and parents may lack cultural and practical context. A community organization representative who works with Latino immigrants noted that not having information accessible
in the primary language of parents and caregivers is a big obstacle to understanding post-high school options. - Prevalence of online information and skepticism about the value of college in general: YouTube and TikTok got the most mentions for sources of “real people” sharing information about school and jobs. Instagram and Reddit are also popular. Some students said they prefer to go straight to a primary source for information on choosing a college or a career, however, such as a university website. Some interviews revealed an air of skepticism and even cynicism about college. In addition, several interviewees felt they could learn what they needed to online, with no need to spend money on college.
- General sense of overwhelm and fear of making the wrong decision: Even as many young people reported wanting more information, they also reported feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information available, with no great way to navigate it.
To learn more, download the complete report.