Do "High-Impact" College Experiences Affect Early Career Outcomes?

The study contributes new evidence on the associations between "high-impact" (AAC&U, 2007) college experiences and career outcomes in the years immediately following college. Drawing on a representative sample of college graduates who participated in the ELS:2002/12 study, results highlight that specific college experiences differentially influence early career outcomes, where major field of study, institutional quality, and major-job congruence exert the strongest influence. Results further indicate the importance of helping students select a college major and secure jobs related to their majors, over and above the importance of providing students with the kinds of "high-impact" college experiences often emphasized within institutions.