Career pathways partnership expands labor market data to first-year Purdue Global students

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue Global is expanding a pilot program launched in 2025 to provide first-time college students with customized career support that includes labor market data and salary range information.

Purdue Global, with support from Indianapolis-based Strada Education Foundation, will offer the information to more students across more degree areas. In addition to online information and in-class sessions, students will continue to participate in career presentations and post-presentation surveys, which recently had more than 96% of students responding favorably to the career support information.

Jennifer Lasater, Purdue Global’s vice president of student and career advancement, said the presentation and survey input have affirmed the project’s goal.

“The feedback from the students included a raised awareness of jobs in certain industries and fields, Purdue Global’s support and opportunities to find the right jobs and careers, the importance of both technical skills and soft skills, and increased confidence in making the right choice in a career,” Lasater said.

The pilot program involved placing labor market data on Purdue Global’s website, allowing students to see projected growth in career fields, potential job roles and titles, salary ranges, required skills, and local jobs available in those fields.

“The additional information helps students make more informed decisions as they choose or move through their program of study,” she said.

The career presentations and surveys were offered to 1,000 students enrolled in the Associate of Applied Science in legal support and services, Associate of Applied Science in business administration, and medical billing and coding certificate programs. Students in those programs are most likely to be the first in their families to go to college and not have earned any previous college credits. More than 600 students responded to the surveys.

“We wanted to ensure these students received the information and support they need to choose the best program of study for their career aspirations,” Lasater said. “This interaction will help students realize that staying in college even when ‘life gets in the way’ is going to help them work toward that career goal, thus assisting with overall persistence.”

The expansion of the labor market data project will include a tool kit for other colleges to learn how to share information along with best practices for implementation. This is a collaborative effort through a Year 2 grant to help other universities.

“Our adult learners are coming back to school to make an impact in their career and want to see an impact on their current salary,” Lasater said. “The more we can equip them with knowledge and information at the start of their journey is a real value add for them and any student, and they know what to expect through their studies.”