WASHINGTON, D.C. — Most Gen Z high school students and their parents are largely unaware of the full range of options available after high school, other than going to a four-year college or getting a job. This lack of knowledge, coupled with infrequent discussions about the future between parents and children, is leaving many students feeling unprepared for life after graduation.
A new study from Gallup, Walton Family Foundation and Jobs for the Future reveals that while over half of parents of Gen Z students report knowing “a great deal” about postsecondary options such as working at a paid job (60%) and earning a bachelor’s degree (52%), they are less knowledgeable about other alternatives.
Between 15% and 37% of parents say they are well-informed about associate degrees, certificate and certification programs, experiential learning opportunities such as internships and apprenticeships, military service, or starting a business.
These insights come from Gallup, Walton Family Foundation and Jobs for the Future. The online survey of 1,327 Gen Z students (aged 16 to 18) and their parents was conducted April 15-25, 2025, via the Gallup Panel.
Compared with their parents, Gen Z students report knowing relatively little about even the most common options. About one in three say they know “a lot” about earning a bachelor’s degree (33%) or working at a paid job (32%), while fewer than one in five know a lot about any of the six other options presented.
Older students have greater knowledge about their options, yet it is relatively limited. On average, 45% of sophomores know “a lot” or “some” about the eight postsecondary pathways presented. This increases to 52% among juniors and 59% among seniors.
While Gen Z high school students lack knowledge about their options, this doesn’t mean they aren't interested. They tend to show the most enthusiasm about the paths they know best: 45% of students are “very interested” in enrolling in a bachelor’s degree program in the first year after high school, while 40% express strong interest in entering the workforce. Less than 20% are very interested in any other postsecondary option.
Conversations About Postgraduation Plans Often Come Too Late
Increasing students’ awareness of various educational and career alternatives and engaging in conversations with students about these options may boost their interest in pursuing them. On average, students whose parents discuss these postsecondary paths with them are twice as likely to show some interest in these options compared with their peers whose parents haven’t initiated such discussions.
Many parents may be waiting too long to start these conversations. Just over half of parents (53%) say they “frequently” discuss postgraduation options with their high school-age child. While more parents of older than younger teens are discussing postgraduation plans, about one in three parents of high school seniors (35%) — those nearest to graduation — are not frequently discussing their child’s future after high school.
However, even when such discussions do happen, they tend to focus on the two options most familiar to parents: four-year college degrees (68%) and paid work (64%). Far fewer parents — less than half — bring up or recommend any of the other six options asked about. On average, parents have discussed three of the eight pathways with their child.
Limited Knowledge, Guidance May Affect How Prepared Students Feel
Most Gen Z students, including those closest to graduation, have given limited thought to the kind of job they want after graduation. Four in 10 students, including half of seniors, have thought “a lot” about the type of job or career they want to have in the future.
Along with not knowing a great deal about the different postsecondary options available to them, many high school students get infrequent guidance from their most trusted sources, which may affect how prepared they feel for life after graduation. Fewer than three in 10 high schoolers say they feel “very prepared” to pursue any of the postsecondary options they are interested in.
Even when looking at the options that students are “very interested” in pursuing — to which they have presumably dedicated the most thought and preparation — on average, 46% of students feel “very prepared” for these most-preferred paths.
Certain experiences, however, appear to significantly support students in making informed decisions about their future. Nearly four in 10 students who had in-person college visits (39%) or work or internship experience (38%) say those were “extremely helpful” in shaping their postsecondary plans. About one in four say the same for volunteer experience (26%) and talking to job recruiters (24%).
Implications
Without early, frequent and well-informed discussions about the full spectrum of postsecondary opportunities, Gen Z students are left to make life-shaping decisions with limited knowledge and guidance. Against this backdrop, many students feel underprepared to take the next step after high school, no matter which direction they hope to go.
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