Key Takeaways
Among surveyed California graduates with access to student support services, 76% said their degree cost about the right amount or was worth more.
Without support access, positive cost assessments fell to 47%, and 35% said college was not worth the cost.
Before enrolling, compare colleges' career, academic, mental health, and internship services based on your goals and needs.
College graduates who had access to student support services were more likely to say their degree was worth the cost, according to a new survey.
BestColleges' and National University's California Educational Outcomes Survey asked 1,006 California bachelor's degree-holders who graduated between 2016 and 2021 about their education, careers, finances, and perceptions of degree value.
Among respondents who reported access to at least one college support service, 76% said their degree cost about right or was worth more than they paid. That share fell to 47% among the relatively few grads without access to these services.
While the survey doesn't conclude that support services are the reason graduates value their degrees more, the findings do show a strong relationship between access to support and the graduates' appraisal of their college investment.
Graduates With Support Services Saw More Value
Graduates who reported access to student support services were 29 percentage points more likely to say their degree was either worth the cost or worth more. However, only 49 out of 1,006 respondents reported no access to services, so the findings for this smaller group should be interpreted cautiously.
| Access to Support Services | Said the Degree Was Worth the Cost | Said the Degree Was Not Worth It |
|---|---|---|
| At least one service | 76% | 6% |
| No services | 47% | 35% |
Among graduates with access to support services:
51% said their degree cost about the right amount
18% said it was worth more than it cost
7% said it was worth much more
By comparison, just 45% said the cost of their degree was about right, 2% said it was worth more, and none said it was worth much more.
What Types of Support Did Graduates Receive?
The survey asked graduates about 10 services, covering career preparation, academic guidance, mental health, mentorship, and other forms of support. Most respondents (93%) reported access to at least one type of service.
Career Services Were the Most Common Support
Career counseling was the most commonly reported service, available to 53% of graduates, followed by:
Resume or interview preparation (42%)
Employer recruiting events (37%)
Internship or placement assistance (35%)
Alumni networking (29%)
Mentorship programs (28%)
Job placement (26%)
Together, these services can potentially help students turn a broader educational goal into a specific career plan. For example, career counselors may help students explore occupations or identify the skills employers seek, while resume preparation, interviews, recruiting events, and alumni networks can help them present those skills while making professional connections.
The survey doesn't prove that access to career services directly affects a degree's worth, but the findings mirror National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) research that found graduating seniors in the class of 2022 who used at least one career service received more job offers than those who did not.
Internships Helped Some Graduates Enter the Workforce Faster
Colleges can help students find internship opportunities by partnering with employers, sharing openings, matching students with placements, reviewing applications, and preparing them for interviews. In the survey, 35% of graduates reported being able to access internship placement assistance as a support service.
The importance of internships for securing a job during or right out of college is evident in the broader survey results.
Over half of the survey respondents (52%) completed an internship, practicum, clinical or field placement, or co-op while earning their bachelor's degree.
Among graduates with that experience, 32% found their first job before graduation or within three months after. By comparison, 23% of graduates without that type of experience found work within that same period. The gap narrowed over time, with most graduates in both groups securing jobs within one year, but the findings suggest that hands-on experience may help some graduates transition from college to the workforce more quickly.
Similarly, NACE research also shows that graduates who participated in internships and other experiential learning experienced faster career advancement, greater job satisfaction, and an average of $15,000 higher salaries than those who did not.
Other Services Support Progress and Connection
There are other support services that are not strictly tied to jobs and careers. For example:
41% of respondents reported access to academic advising
30% of graduates reported access to mental health support
18% reported access to credit for prior learning
Academic advisors can help students understand degree requirements, choose courses, and assist with scheduling or academic problems that could threaten their progress. Credit for prior learning may allow eligible students to receive credit for knowledge gained through work, military service, training, or prior education, potentially reducing the amount of coursework they need to take or pay for.
Mental health services address a different and frequent challenge of the college experience. Counseling and related resources can support students when stress, anxiety, burnout, or personal challenges affect their well-being or their ability to remain engaged in school.
There is no one single service that will meet every student's needs. But taken together, career, academic, and personal support can help students navigate college, prepare for work, and make fuller use of the education they are paying for.
What to Look for in College Support Services
Most of the California graduates who responded to the survey rated their career preparation positively: 70% said their bachelor's program prepared them well or very well, and 24% said it prepared them adequately. Only 9% reported no major gaps.
The survey does not show whether access to support services directly improved preparedness, but the areas of opportunity that graduates identified can potentially help students evaluate what to look for in a school's services.
Job-search and salary support: Thirty-three percent wanted better job-search, resume, or interview preparation, while 29% wanted more guidance on salary negotiation.
Technical and digital skills training: Another 33% wanted stronger technical or job-specific skills, and 28% cited digital or technology skills.
Leadership and communication development: Thirty-two percent identified leadership or management as a gap, while 30% wanted stronger communication skills.
When comparing colleges, consider whether their services address the skills respondents said they needed most.
Also assess student support services for challenges outside of the classroom, especially if you're balancing school with raising a family. For example, National University partners with The Y to offer childcare services for parenting students.
