Madia Bellebuono, a University of Vermont graduate, spends her days at a Boston coffee shop scrolling through LinkedIn job postings.
Since receiving her degree in strategic marketing and public communications in May 2024, she has submitted over 300 job applications. Despite having two internships, a solid GPA, and the weight of student loans hanging over her, she remains without a job.
Bellebuono acknowledges that she felt unprepared for the fierce competition in the job market.
“I believe the school could have done—and still can do—a better job in preparing students for life beyond graduation,” she told. “It shouldn’t just be about the next test or your grades.”
In response, the University of Vermont told that supporting students in launching their careers is a fundamental part of their educational mission.
Bellebuono’s experience is not unique. A recent study from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that the unemployment gap between recent college graduates and experienced degree holders is at its widest point since the 1990s.
The Struggle to Secure Employment
David Deming, a professor of public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, attributes this growing gap to heightened competition and evolving employer expectations.
“What we’re seeing is a consequence of our success in increasing educational attainment,” Deming told. “A college degree no longer guarantees a competitive advantage, as today’s graduating classes have some of the highest completion rates in history.”
He noted that entry-level job requirements have increased compared to a decade ago, though the change has been gradual.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 2024, the U.S. economy added an average of 186,000 jobs per month—a number consistent with pre-pandemic levels but significantly below the surge seen during the economic recovery period.
“New graduates continue to face a challenging job market, and the slowdown in hiring affects them slightly more than the broader workforce,” said Kory Kantenga, head of economics for LinkedIn Americas.
Kantenga also pointed out that job postings don’t always lead to actual hires, as the number of open positions often exceeds the number of unemployed workers.
“There’s a gap between what employers are seeking and what they are finding in the labor market,” he said.
A December 2023 survey by Intelligent, an online magazine covering higher education, revealed that 58% of hiring managers feel recent graduates are unprepared for the workforce.
However, Deming argues that employers also play a role in this disconnect.
“The first thing companies can do is increase wages,” he said. “Often, it’s not that they can’t find qualified candidates—it’s that they don’t want to pay the market rate or make necessary compromises.”
The Shift in Expectations for Higher Education
With more graduates struggling to find work, universities face mounting pressure to ensure students see a strong return on their investment.
A 2024 Pew Research survey found that nearly half of Americans believe college is only worth the cost if students avoid taking on loans.
While Bellebuono does not regret her student debt, she feels her university lacked key elements needed to fully prepare her for the workforce.
“I’ve had interviews where they ask me questions I just can’t answer because I don’t have the experience,” she said.
Grad StudentsShe believes she would have benefited from structured career support, such as required internships, career-focused courses, and mentorship programs.
“I could have done more research and realized that finding a job isn’t as easy as it once was,” Bellebuono said. “But given the investment I made in my education, the university should have done more to help graduates secure employment.”
The University of Vermont responded, stating, “We provide a wide range of resources, beginning with our career center, which connects students with internships, employers, job opportunities, and career preparation support.”
As job placement becomes a higher priority, universities are being judged more on career outcomes than prestige. The Wall Street Journal has adjusted its college rankings to emphasize post-graduation success over institutional reputation.
As a result, schools like Claremont McKenna and Babson College now rank above Harvard and MIT, signaling a shift in what matters to prospective students.
Deming noted that these rankings reflect growing demands for colleges to focus on job readiness.
“Will students start choosing Claremont McKenna or Northeastern over Harvard? Maybe not today, but possibly in the future,” he said. “These rankings highlight schools excelling in areas that traditional lists don’t always recognize, and that’s important because students need better information.”
The Rise of Career-Focused Education
Deming believes that colleges can better support students by setting realistic job market expectations and incorporating more career-oriented strategies.
“But there’s no universal solution,” he said. “It could involve direct employer partnerships, reevaluating degree programs, or enhancing job training initiatives.”
In response to these concerns, some universities are already adapting. Northeastern University’s cooperative education (co-op) model, which integrates professional work experience into academic programs, has surged in popularity. Since 2020, applications to Northeastern have increased by 53%, pushing its acceptance rate down to 5.2%.
“The most innovative changes are happening at schools that weren’t traditionally considered elite but are striving to reach that status,” Deming said. “That’s how Northeastern became a success story.”
Following this trend, the University of Vermont plans to introduce an undergraduate co-op program in fall 2025.
“We are expanding career readiness efforts with over $15 million in recent donations, supporting new co-op experiences for UVM business students and expanded internships,” the university told CNN. “Additionally, we have hired a Director of Professional & Career Development to assist graduate students entering the workforce.”
Drexel University, which has operated a co-op program since 1919, is another leader in career-driven education. In 2024, U.S. News & World Report ranked Drexel’s co-op program second in the nation, just behind Northeastern.
Ian Sladen, Drexel’s vice president for cooperative education and career development, stated that their graduates enter the workforce with a significant advantage.
“Drexel students don’t face the same employment challenges as others because they’ve already established professional networks and gained experience before graduation,” Sladen told CNN.
According to Drexel’s website, 97% of the undergraduate class of 2022 were employed or pursuing further education within a year, with 87% working in their chosen fields.
For Breanna McClarey, a Northeastern graduate with a degree in criminal justice and political science, the co-op program was instrumental. McClarey, who graduated in May 2023, completed three co-ops, which she says gave her a competitive edge in job hunting.
“We enter interviews with more confidence because we already have real-world experience,” McClarey told.
After working abroad for Northeastern over the summer, she began her job search in September and secured a litigation paralegal position within a month.
“My friends from other schools eventually found jobs,” she said, “but for most of them, it took six to nine months.” McClarey noted that many of her Northeastern peers secured jobs within two to three months, often with their co-op employers.
“Companies frequently tell me that Northeastern graduates are ‘workplace-ready,’” she said. “That doesn’t mean graduates from other schools aren’t capable, but at Northeastern, career readiness is almost guaranteed.”
