Key Points
- 57% of the Class of 2025 feel pessimistic about their immediate job prospects
- 45% of students worry that AI and the current political climate will negatively impact job availability and security.
- 54% of students say that their student loan debt is a major source of stress.
As the Class of 2025 embarks on their final year of college, a new survey from Handshake reveals a sobering outlook. Key findings from the survey show that a significant 57% of this year’s seniors feel pessimistic about starting their careers, with competition for jobs, student loan debt, and the rise of generative AI contributing to their concerns. This marks a stark increase in pessimism compared to the Class of 2024, which saw 49% reporting similar feelings last year.
The survey, which included responses from 1,925 students across 521 U.S. colleges, highlights the intense pressures facing this year's graduating college class.
Class Of 2025 Student Loan Debt
Student loan debt was highlighted as a big concern for the Class of 2025. More than half (54%) of the students pointed to student loans as a significant stressor. Only 46% believe the amount of student loan debt they have is manageable.
When you compare this survey data with our own Student Loan Debt Statistics that show that the average student loan borrower will have over $37,000 in student loans, it can be daunting.
This average monthly student loan payment for 2024 is currently estimated to be $504 per month. However, that number is skewed because of the high number of borrowers in income-driven repayment plans with $0 payments.
Career Prospects
Students remain hopeful about their long-term career prospects, but most acknowledge immediate challenges. 57% of respondents to the survey feel pessimistic about their immediate job prospects. This anxiety is exacerbated by a turbulent political climate and uncertainty about the impact of AI on the job market.
While immediate job opportunities seem bleak, a majority of students still believe their college experience has equipped them with the skills necessary for personal and professional growth.
According to the survey, 88% of respondents felt that college contributed significantly to their personal development, while 68% believed it will help them secure a well-paying job.
However, many students are still taking proactive steps to improve their job prospects. The survey found that 68% of seniors were attending career fairs and networking events, 63% were applying to more jobs, and 61% were pursuing internships.
However, not all students are engaging with available resources: one-third of respondents reported having no experience with their college career center. That's concerning.
Final Thoughts
The Class of 2025 is just the latest class to face a tough job market and student loan debt. This has been an on-going struggle for college graduates since the early 2000s.
However, technology and rising costs are making the same struggles seem more challenging and are allowing them to be more visible to the public.
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Editor: Colin Graves
Robert Farrington is the founder of The College Investor and is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading voices on student loan debt and saving for college. He holds an MBA from UC San Diego Rady School of Management and has spent over 15 years researching, writing, and advising on student loans, 529 plans, financial aid programs, and saving and investing for young professionals.
Robert has been featured in the The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, NBC News, and Forbes, where he has been a regular personal finance contributor for over a decade. His work combines both professional expertise and personal experience – he successfully navigated his own student loan repayment journey and has helped thousands of readers do the same.
He is committed to making the intersection of personal finance and education transparent and accessible. You can learn more about Robert on the About Page or on his personal site RobertFarrington.com.