While a bachelor’s degree is still the surest path to economic prosperity, a new study by Burning Glass Institute and Strada Education Foundation shares some striking statistics: nearly half of college graduates end up in jobs where they don’t use their hard-earned degrees.

To ensure students are set up for success and a life of impact, in addition to a strong academic focus, they need rigorous career development during their undergraduate experience as well as access to networks and high-quality internships that boost confidence. It’s then that students can genuinely put their education to work in ways that maximize meaningful careers and economic mobility.  

As an anchor institution in Newark, Rutgers University-Newark (RU-N) is committed to educating students and playing a proactive role in uplifting the surrounding community and fostering its long-term success. In partnership with Braven, a national nonprofit founded in 2013 with a mission to empower first-generation college students, particularly low-income and students of color, RU-N empowers its students with the skills, networks, confidence, and experiences to land jobs worthy of their bachelor’s degree.

Braven is offered for course credit, during which college students gain foundational learning that equips them with career-advancement skills, knowledge, and critical opportunities to build their professional network. Upon course completion, students receive additional support, including personalized coaching, networking opportunities, and access to internship and job opportunities.

The results are encouraging. According to the 2024 Newark Jobs Report, Rutgers’ Braven students have shown what is achievable:

• In 2023, 238 RU-N Braven Fellows earned bachelor’s degrees, 83% of whom identify as people of color, 67% come from a low-income background, and 58% are first-generation college students. This new class is outpacing their peers nationally in quality opportunity attainment by 25 percentage points (68% vs 43%) within six months of graduation. (Braven defines quality opportunity attainment as a full-time role that requires a bachelor’s degree and includes some combination of promotion pathways, employee benefits, and a market-competitive starting salary or enrollment in graduate school.)
• Of the 238 graduates, 96% are employed or enrolled in graduate school, with 91% securing quality or pathway roles or enrolled in graduate school.
• 76% of RU-N Braven graduates nationally are already outearning their parents at the same age in their first job out of college. By comparison, by age 30, Americans have a 50-50 shot of out-earning their parents.
• Across all of Braven’s university partners, Braven graduates earn above the national average salary of all early career college graduates. $57,667 is the mean salary of full-time employed FY23 Braven graduates in the first six months after college graduation. They earn $7,500 more compared to a national average of $50,122 of recent college graduates aged 23-24 who worked full-time in 2022. 
• Further, 69% of recent Braven graduates are in roles aligned with their long-term career interests.
• Compared with graduates nationally, RU-N Braven 2023 graduates were 24 percentage points (65% vs 41%) more likely to have at least one internship during their college experience.
• Fellows, who typically join Braven during their sophomore or junior year, persist and graduate from college at encouraging rates. Braven Fellows have achieved a 94% six-year on-time graduation rate. Nationally, about 7 in 10 of Braven Fellows’ peers graduate college on time.

“Our partnership with Braven is moving the needle on career preparedness, career success, and socioeconomic mobility for students from all backgrounds,” says Rutgers-Newark Chancellor Nancy Cantor. “That impact is starting to ripple across Newark and all the communities our students call home.”

Samantha Crockett, Executive Director of Braven Newark, highlights the impact on racial wealth gaps: “With New Jersey facing a significant wealth gap challenge, Braven is proud to play a role in closing these gaps in Newark and beyond. We unlock the potential of talented people by equipping them with skills, networks, and confidence to thrive.”