Career Outcomes of First-generation Graduates

Abstract

Most undergraduate students enroll in college with the aim of securing a professional career after graduation; however, not all students achieve this goal. Prior research has explored whether career outcomes differ between students of varying academic and demographic backgrounds, but few studies have examined whether first-generation status is correlated with career outcomes. In addition, different parameters are used to define first-generation students within the research literature, making it difficult to capture consistent data on this population. In this quantitative study, I analyzed NACE First Destination Survey data to assess whether recent first-generation college graduates from the same higher education institution achieve differing career outcomes from their continuing-generation peers, applying three distinct definitions for first-generation students to highlight within-group differences in this population. The results of this study showed some disparities in career outcomes between first-generation graduates and their continuing-generation peers, with first-generation students unemployed at slightly higher rates, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, graduates' field of study was a stronger predictor for career outcomes than any other academic or demographic variables included in the study. This study aims to provide future directions for higher education institutions to critically examine the career outcomes of their graduates to better target career development resources to the students who need it most.