College Track: 2020 Social Mobility Report 2020 Social Mobility Report | Page 21

SUMMARY
Students make choices on how
to spend their time in college
and maximize their campus
experience.
In our survey we asked a range of questions
about the experiences during college
that lead to better career outcomes
post-graduation. Detailed results are
documented in Appendix B. For the second
straight year we were able to run a multi-
variable regression model, with our largest
sample size to-date, confirming last year’s
findings and adding a few more 4
Internships in college continue to be
a significant factor in securing full-time
employment, even after controlling for
other influences, including academic
standing, and student demographics.
Having one internship in college increases
a students odds of being employed by
19%; two or more internships by 27%.
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering
& Math) majors earn approximately
$10,000 more in their first job than those
who major in all other non-STEM disciplines
(e.g. liberal arts, psychology, business).
Graduating from an institution that College
Track sees as an “Affordable Option”
increases a students’ chance of
employment within six months of
graduation by 18%. We define these
as colleges with high graduation rates,
low debt post-graduation, and support
services for first-generation and low-income
students.
Students who participated in at least one
club on campus were more likely to be
employed and earn a higher income, with
the most significant findings for students
who also held a leadership role within their
clubs. These students were 19% more likely
to be employed and earned approximately
$13,000 more in their first job upon
graduation.
A handful of other in-college experiences
appear to impact finding a job upon
graduation: having a well-defined college
plan and attending networking events
appear to positively impact employment
rates. Strong academic performance
also correlates with better employment
outcomes. Additionally, we found that our
students who take longer to complete their
degrees are less likely to be employed
upon graduation.
College Track
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