Impact Report

2024-2025 school year

Together with our higher education and employer partners, we’re proving what’s possible when you empower the next generation of leaders with the skills, networks, confidence, and experience necessary to launch a strong career.

FALL
2022 FELLOW
NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
Juviny Noriega
Software Engineer,
Bank of America
Chris Joyce

What does this report cover?

Together with our dedicated partners, Braven is reigniting the promise of the American Dream.

By 2032, we aim to serve 80,000 to 100,000 students, equipping 25,000 new undergraduates each year with the career-readiness skills, networks, confidence, and experience to thrive through the Braven model.
‍
So far we’ve helped to empower nearly 14,000 Fellows across the country and we’re just getting started. In this report, we shine a spotlight on the powerful journeys of these remarkable leaders as we explore five critical questions about Braven’s impact:

Are our Fellows securing quality career outcomes that put them on the path to the American Dream?
Are we impacting more
students and maintaining
program quality?
Are we supporting Fellows
to secure internships and
complete college?
Are our Fellows developing the career readiness skills, networks, and confidence needed for success?
Are we building employer and higher education partnerships with true shared value?
Spring 2024 Fellow
DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY
Eunicsa Samuels
Master’s in Forensic Molecular Biology, George Washington University
Kat Goduco
FALL
2022 FELLOW
SPELMAN COLLEGE
Maya Daniels
Peace Corps Member,
Vietnam

Why our work matters

Only about one quarter of the 1.4 million students who are the first in their family to go to college or who have limited financial resources will graduate and secure a strong first job or enter graduate school.1

That’s about one million students every single year who aren’t on the path to the American Dream.

Mission

In collaboration with our higher education and employer partners, Braven empowers promising college students with the skills, networks, confidence, and experience necessary to transition from college to strong economic opportunities, which lead to meaningful careers and lives of impact.

Vision

The next generation of leaders
will emerge from everywhere.

The Braven Equation


In combination with students earning a four-year degree, Braven seeks to support career readiness, thereby ensuring students graduate ready to secure a strong first opportunity.


Braven refers to the sum of these four career-readiness factors as the Braven Equation.

The Braven Experience

Braven empowers promising college students on their paths toward quality economic opportunities through a semester-long, cohort-based course—developed with input from our higher education partners and faculty—and support that extends beyond the course, continuing through six months after college graduation.

In our core higher education model, students take the course for credit. Students who come through BravenX via college success organizations receive a financial stipend in lieu of credit.

Our Partners
1

Are our Fellows securing quality career outcomes that put them on the path to the American Dream?

NIU Braven Fellows Secured Strong Roles Post-Graduation

Of the 143 Braven Fellows who graduated from NIU in 2024, 85% are employed or enrolled in graduate school and 76% secured quality or pathway outcomes.2

Chris Joyce
FALL
2022 FELLOW
Northern Illinois University
Sterlen Johnson
Tax Auditor,
Franchise Tax Board California

NLU Braven Fellows Secured Strong Roles Post-Graduation

Of the 124 Braven Fellows who graduated from NLU in 2024, 77% are employed or enrolled in graduate school within 6 months
of graduation.2

Chris Joyce
WINTER 2024 FELLOW
NATIONAL LOUIS UNIVERSITY
Olga Subtselnaia
Business Analyst Intern,
Ashling Partners
–
MS Power
Platform Consultant,
Ashling Partners
Chris Joyce
FALL
2022 FELLOW
northern illinois university
Juviny Noriega
Software Engineer,
Bank of America

With NIU and Braven’s help, Juviny Noriega built the foundation for his path to the American Dream.

Fellow Enrollment
in Graduate School

in 2024, 23% of our 980 graduates went on to graduate school within six months of graduation.

Enrollment in graduate school is one of the ways Braven defines a quality outcome.

  1. Agnes Scott College
  2. American University*
  3. Barry University
  4. Baruch College**
  5. Boston University
  6. Brown University
  7. California State University, Long Beach
  8. Campbell University
  9. Capella University
  10. Chicago School of Professional Psychology***
  11. Chicago-Kent College of Law***
  12. Clemson University
  13. Columbia University**
  14. Cornell University**
  15. DePaul University***
  16. Duke University
  17. Eastern Illinois University
  18. Elmhurst University
  19. Emory University
  20. Emory University Goizueta Business School
  21. Florida A&M University
  22. George Mason University*
  23. George Washington University*
  24. Georgetown University*
  25. Georgetown University School of Medicine*
  26. Georgia State University
  27. Georgia State University College of Law
  28. Hofstra University**
  29. Howard University*
  30. Lebanon Valley College
  31. Lehman College**
  32. Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College
  33. Loyola Marymount University
  34. Loyola University Chicago***
  35. Meharry Medical College
  36. Mercer University
  37. Michigan State University
  38. Montclair State University
  39. Morehouse School of Medicine
  40. National Louis University***
  41. New Jersey Institute of Technology
  42. North Carolina Central University
  43. Northern Illinois University
  44. Northwestern University***
  45. New York University**
  46. New York University Silver School of Social Work**
  47. Ohio State University
  48. Oregon State University
  49. Pepperdine University
  50. Purdue University
  51. Quinnipiac University
  52. Rush University***
  53. Rutgers Business School
  54. Rutgers School of Public Health
  55. Rutgers University - Newark
  56. Samuel Merritt University
  57. San José State University
  58. San José State University - Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering
  59. Seton Hall University School of Law
  60. South College Atlanta
  61. Stanford University
  62. State University of New York Upstate Medical University
  63. Syracuse University
  64. The City College of New York**
  65. The City University of New York**
  66. The George Washington University*
  67. Tufts University
  68. Tuskegee University
  69. University of California, Los Angeles
  70. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  71. University of Cincinnati
  72. University of Connecticut
  73. University of Georgia
  74. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  75. University of Illinois Chicago***
  76. University of Indianapolis
  77. University of Miami
  78. University of Michigan
  79. University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
  80. University of Pittsburgh
  81. University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
  82. University of San Diego
  83. University of South Carolina
  84. University of Southern California
  85. University of Tennessee
  86. University of the District of Columbia*
  87. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
  88. Vanderbilt University

International Schools

  1. British Academy of Dramatic Arts
  2. London School of Economics
  3. University of Manchester

* Denotes schools in Washington D.C. area (8)
** Denotes schools in New York City area (9)
*** Denotes schools in Chicago area (8)

Kyle James, Put You On Stage
FALL
2022 FELLOW
THE CITY COLLEGE OF NEW YORK
Alanis Omar
Legislative Intern,
United States Senate

Internships Often Lead to Strong First Opportunities After College

For college students, internships serve as critical proof points of experience that open professional doors.

The influence of internships on post-graduate success is underscored by our data: Braven Fellows nationwide who have completed at least one internship in college are 18 percentage points more likely to secure a quality first opportunity than Fellows who have not (67% vs 49%).

Rise of AI Presents Opportunities and Concerns for New Graduates

AI is likely to automate tasks that are tedious and routine–those typically performed by entry-level talent.3
‍
But in the rapid rise of AI, there is still tremendous value in a college degree.
‍

With the advancement of AI, the human skills students practice while earning a college degree are more important than ever: problem solving, communication, collaboration, and real-world experience. Just as important is students’ AI literacy: the ability to leverage AI thoughtfully, strategically, and confidently to enhance their work and impact.

College helps early career
professionals develop:

While no one is certain of the true impact AI will have on the job market, research shows that economic opportunity will increasingly favor workers with higher levels of education and training.

According to The Future of Good Jobs report produced by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce, while there will be good jobs in every educational pathway in 2031, only 15 percent will be available to workers on the high school pathway, compared to 66 percent on the bachelor’s degree pathway and 19 percent on the middle-skills pathway.7

2

Are we impacting more students and maintaining program quality?

~14,000 Braven Fellows Served Nationwide to Date

During the 2024-2025 school year, Braven supported 3,500+ Fellows nationwide.

2024-2025 Northern Illinois University Braven Fellow Class

176 Fellows completed the Braven course in the 2024-2025 school year at Northern Illinois University.

2024-2025 NIU Braven Fellows are:

75%

of NIU Braven Fellows who take the
Braven Accelerator Course feel
Braven has improved their chances
of getting a job a great deal or quite a bit.

58

Net Promoter Score:
a widely used customer satisfaction metric on a scale of -100 to 100 that measures how likely a Fellow would recommend Braven to a friend. Above 0 is good, above 20 is favorable, and above 50 is excellent.

Top 5 Majors

2024-2025 National Louis University Braven Fellow Class

50 Fellows completed the Braven course in the  2024-2025 school year at National Louis University.

2024-2025 NLU Braven Fellows are:

88%

of NLU Fellows who take the
Braven Accelerator Course feel
Braven has improved their chances
of getting a job a great deal or quite a bit.

64

Net Promoter Score:
a widely used customer satisfaction metric on a scale of -100 to 100 that measures how likely a Fellow would recommend Braven to a friend. Above 0 is good, above 20 is favorable, and above 50 is excellent.

Top 5 Majors

3

Are we supporting Fellows to secure internships and complete college?

Pathways to Securing Internships for All Students

Securing an internship during college is challenging.

Common reasons students cite for not interning include prioritizing paid work over unpaid internships due to financial need and the difficulty of finding and securing an internship due to a lack of social networks, managing heavy course loads, and a lack of awareness about how to find internships.10

In 2023, approximately 8.2 million students wanted an internship, but only 3.6 million had the opportunity.8 This means only about four in ten college students secured an internship during their undergraduate experience.

Even in light of these barriers, internships remain an important means for organizations to recruit college-level talent for entry-level roles.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ (NACE) 2024 Internship & Co-op Survey, 53% of eligible interns on average were converted into full-time, entry-level hires by their employers in the 2023-2024 academic year.9

Chris Joyce
FALL
2022 FELLOW
Northern Illinois University
Jaelyn Logan
Digital Marketing Intern,
Algus Packaging

NIU Braven Fellows Outpace Graduates Nationally in Internship Attainment

Compared with graduates nationally, NIU Braven 2024 graduates were 4 percentage points more likely to have at least one internship during their college experience.

At NIU, the Braven Experience Drives Meaningful Increase
in Internship Attainment

Internships are a key step toward strong career outcomes.

In the 2024-2025 school year, NIU Braven Fellows saw a 16 percentage point uplift in internship attainment between the start and end of the Accelerator course, speaking to an important element of the immediate impact of the Braven experience.

Chris Joyce
WINTER
2024 FELLOW
Northern illinois University
Kailah Stewart
Public Relations Assistant,
Cook County Sheriff

Similarly at NLU, the Braven Experience Drives Meaningful Increase in Internship Attainment

Internships are a key step toward strong career outcomes.

In the 2024-2025 school year, NIU Braven Fellows saw a 16 percentage point uplift in internship attainment between the start and end of the Accelerator course, speaking to an important element of the immediate impact of the Braven experience.

Chris Joyce
SPRING
2022 FELLOW
national louis university
Juan-David Cardona Londoño
Master in Business Administration,
DePaul University
Joshua Christie - Purpose Portraits
SPRING
2023 FELLOW
Northern illinois University
Jaylan Peebles
Client Service Analyst,
Societe Generale

NIU and NLU Fellows Show Encouraging Levels of College Completion

97%  of NIU Braven Fellows are persisting in college or have graduated.13

NLU Braven Fellows have achieved a 93% six-year graduation rate.14

Nationally, only about 7 in 10 students graduate within six years of college enrollment.15 Braven Fellows, who typically join us during their sophomore or junior year, are persisting and graduating at an encouraging rate.

4

Are our Fellows developing the career readiness skills, networks, and confidence needed for success?

NIU and NLU Fellow Growth in
Career-Readiness Skills

The Braven experience focuses on the following six career-readiness skills: career navigation, problem-solving, teamwork, communication, organization, and leadership.

Why these career-readiness skills?
These career-readiness skills are:

In 2024-2025, Northern Illinois University Braven Fellows achieve an average Accelerator course pass rate of 92% and average final grade of 82%, showcasing strong career-readiness skill mastery.

National Louis University Braven Fellows achieved an 89% course pass rate and average final grade of 81%.

  • Reflects on strength, values, and interests
  • Explores multiple career options
  • Takes career actions such as making plans, creating a portfolio, and building networks
  • Presents ideas clearly and purposefully
  • Listens actively to understand and asks questions
  • Demonstrates empathy and respect
  • Leads from values
  • Grounds in purpose and assets
  • Learns continuously from feedback and reflection
  • Works effectively towards shared goals
  • Navigates differences
  • Holds self and others accountable for deliverables
  • Plans and prioritizes tasks
  • Monitors progress and adjusts
    when faced with challenges
  • Gets things done
  • Defines the problem and identifies root causes
  • Designs potential solutions
  • Tests and implements solutions

Network Strength

Extensive research has illustrated the importance of networks or social capital in career navigation and success.23

Braven supports students to build professional networks that are large, diverse, and consist of strong relationships, and to build the skills necessary to mobilize those networks to advance their career goals.

To measure students’ Network Strength,
we leverage resources from the Search Institute.

NIU and NLU Fellows’
Network Strength

To put these results into context, on a scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree), Braven Fellows report that by the end of the Accelerator, their networks encompass trusted strong ties and valuable weak ties that they can rely on for professional support.

NIU Fellows’ Growth in Confidence:
Self-Efficacy Measures

Each semester, Braven measures growth in self-efficacies from the start to the end of the Braven Accelerator.

Self-efficacy is a person’s belief in their ability to succeed in various situations and is associated with academic and lifetime success. It is not typically measured through traditional assessments like standardized tests, but plays a large role in explaining job search, career search behaviors, and career outcomes.
‍
In 2024-2025, NIU Braven Fellows showed growth across all three self-efficacy measures.

Chris Joyce
SPRING
2022 FELLOW
Northern illinois University
Donna Gillespie
Administrator,
Transdev North America

NLU Fellows’ Growth in Confidence:
Self-Efficacy Measures

Each semester, Braven measures growth in self-efficacies from the start to the end of the Braven Accelerator.

Self-efficacy is a person’s belief in their ability to succeed in various situations and is associated with academic and lifetime success. It is not typically measured through traditional assessments like standardized tests, but plays a large role in explaining job search, career search behaviors, and career outcomes.
‍
In 2024-2025, NLU
Braven Fellows showed growth across all three self-efficacy measures.

Chris Joyce
FALL
2023 FELLOW
national louis University
Lyna Haddad
Marketing Intern,
Cramer Krasselt
5

Are we building employer and higher education partnerships with true shared value?

Employer Spotlight:

This year, Atlassian is one of Braven’s partners investing $250,000 and providing crucial programmatic support.

Braven’s collaboration with Atlassian helps open doors to the American Dream.

impact
Employee Volunteerism
Programmatic Highlights

Braven has 14 projects in
Jira Service Management across all departments at Braven.

Atlassian provided $75,000+ in product support, fueling Braven’s ability to scale impact.

Braven’s transition to the Atlassian suite enables our teams to:

Dr. Grace Cadiz
Partnerships Manager, Global Education
Atlassian

“Our partnership with Braven shows what’s possible when we go all-in: our funding fuels their growth, our technology amplifies their reach, and our volunteers become champions after meeting Braven Fellows who just need that first door opened. If you believe talent is everywhere but opportunity isn’t, Braven is proving we can change that and they’re inviting all of us to be part of the solution.”

Joe Mazza Photography (San Francisco, CA)
FALL
2024 FELLOW
SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY
Atharva Shrivastava
Undergraduate Research
Assistant Intern,
RED Lab

Higher Education Spotlight: San Francisco State University

In Fall 2024, Braven launched a partnership with San Francisco State University, expanding our footprint in the Bay Area to equip even more students with the skills, networks, confidence, and experience they need to launch strong first jobs.

444
Fellows completed the course this past school year
206
Mock Interviewers collectively volunteered 500+ hours
100
Leadership Coaches collectively volunteered 6,000+ hours
Lynn Mahoney
President
San Francisco State University

"Partnering with Braven reflects SF State’s deep commitment to student success. Together, we’re ensuring that more of our students—many of whom are first in their families to attend college—graduate not only with a degree but also with the confidence, networks, and career readiness to thrive in the workforce."

Braven National
Faculty Council

The Braven National Faculty Council is a distinguished collective of faculty leaders from Braven’s partner institutions.

Faculty have deeply informed our model from the start. This past year we formalized their engagement through our Inaugural Faculty Council. These trailblazers serve as strategic advisors in shaping the evolution of our curriculum. They’ve discussed topics ranging from Braven’s approach to generative AI in the curriculum to strengthening alignment between the Capstone Challenge and AAC&U’s high-impact practices.

Alicia Schatteman

Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Professor,
‍Northern Illinois University

Hyacinth Miller

Assistant Teaching Professor
Africana Studies and Political Science Internship and Study Abroad Director,
‍Rutgers University-Newark

Kaleena Rogers

Associate Director of Field Education & Teaching Instructor,
Rutgers University-Newark

Kimeu Boynton, JD

Associate Professor,
Sociology and Criminal Justice; Interim Assistant Dean of the College of Humanities, Education & Social Sciences,
‍Delaware State University

Phyllis Brooks Collins, PhD

Director for Liberal, Integrated & Leadership Studies,
‍Delaware State University

Ryan Skinnell

Professor of Rhetoric & Writing and Director of First-Year Writing,
‍San José State University

We couldn’t do it without you!

Higher Education Partners & Employer Partners

Higher Education Partners

Chicago State University (BravenX)
The City College of New York
Delaware State University
National Louis University
Northern Illinois University
Rutgers University - Newark
San Francisco State University (launched Fall 2024)
San José State University
Spelman College

BravenX Partners

5 Strong Scholars Foundation
Achieve Atlanta
Arkansas Commitment
Ascend Public Schools
Associated Colleges of Illinois
Augustana College
Breakthrough Kent Denver
Carmen Schools of Science & Technology
Chicago Scholars
Chicago State University
City Year Chicago
Coney Island Prep Public Schools
Cooperman College Scholars
Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas
Cristo Rey Network
DREAM Charter School
DSST Public Schools
Evanston Scholars
Excel Academy Charter School
Excellence Community Schools
Freedom Preparatory Academy Charter Schools
IDEA Public Schools
Judson University
KIPP Metro Atlanta
KIPP Forward
KIPP NJ
Lehman College
LISA Academy
National Association for Urban Debate Leagues
Newark Youth Career Pathways Program
North Central College
Noble Schools
Rivet School
SEEDS
The Academy Charter School
The Wight Foundation
Uncommon Schools
Uplift Education
UtmostU

Employer Partners
LEAD
($250K+ and programmatic support)

Adobe
Blackstone Charitable Foundation
Deloitte
JPMorgan Chase Foundation
LinkedIn
Morgan Stanley
NBA Foundation

ANCHOR
($100K+ and programmatic support)

Allstate
Cognizant US Foundation
Salesforce
The College Board
UBS

KEYSTONE
($25K+ and programmatic support)

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance
Blackbaud
CBRE
CIBC Bank USA
CME Group Foundation
Cornerstone Research
Northern Trust
Silver Lake
Taco Bell Foundation
United Airlines
Wells Fargo

INNOVATION
($10K+ and programmatic support)

Rakuten International

IMPACT
($5K+ and/or programmatic support)

Catalina
Chicago Sky Foundation
Cramer-Krasselt
GEM Realty Capital
McKinsey & Company
McMaster-Carr
Medline
Summit Trail Advisors

Philanthropic Supporters ($10k+)

A Better Chicago Fund, a Fund of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation
Anonymous x 3
Bill Unger
Charles Ashby Lewis & Penny Bender Sebring
Chicago Community Trust
Crankstart Foundation
Crown Family Philanthropies
David Cohen & Kristen Argo
Deloitte Foundation
Ellie’s Foundation Fund
Finnegan Family Foundation
Mansueto Foundation
Marc and Jeanne Malnati Family Foundation
Origami Works Foundation
Osa Foundation
Paul M. Angell Family Foundation
Prosper Road Foundation
Ron & Kathy Sonenthal
Sandy & Jim Reynolds
Sarah Berghorst
Schreiber Philanthropy
Siragusa Family Foundation
Square One Foundation
The Cleveland Avenue Foundation for Education
The Joseph Pedott Charitable Fund at The Chicago Community Foundation
The Mayer and Morris Kaplan Family Foundation
Vivo Foundation

And a big thank you to our Chicago Board of Directors:

Sarah Berghorst
Mara Botman
David Cohen
Joan Evans
Betty Fleurimond
Kelly Mannard
Ron Sonenthal
Liz Thompson

Endnotes

  • Statistics are drawn from data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics, including figures from its Digest of Education Statistics (January 2024 table) and a report on Pell Grant recipients (February 2018). Further data is from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center’s “Transfer and Progress” report (February 2024) and the IPEDS Trend Generator (data as of Winter 2020–21).
  • We have jobs data for 81% of 2024 NIU Braven graduates, and 81% of 2024 NLU Braven graduates.
  • Thompson, Derek. “The Job Market Is Worse Than It Looks—Especially for Young People.” The Atlantic, 18 Apr. 2025, https://www.theatlantic.com/economy/archive/2025/04/job-market-youth/682641/. Accessed 19 May 2025.
  • McKendrick, John and Andrew Thurai. “AI Isn’t Ready to Make Unsupervised Decisions.” Harvard Business Review, 16 Sept. 2022, hbr.org/2022/09/ai-isnt-ready…supervised-decisions.
  • Sanders, Nada R. and John D. Wood. “The Skills Your Employees Need to Work Effectively with AI.” Harvard Business Review, 3 Nov. 2023, https://hbr.org/2023/11/the-skills-your-employees-need-to-work-effectively-with-ai.
  • Caddy, Becca. “How Does ChatGPT Know So Much about Everything? Here’s Where AI Gets Its Knowledge from.” TechRadar, 7 June 2025, www.techradar.com/computing/artificial-intelligence/how-does-chatgpt-know-so-much-about-everything-heres-where-ai-gets-its-knowledge-from.
  • Strohl, Jeff, et al. The Future of Good Jobs: Projections through 2031. Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, 2024, cew.georgetown.edu/cew-report…jobsprojections2031/.
  • Williams, Candace, et al. Expanding Internships: Harnessing Employer Insights to Boost Opportunity and Enhance Learning. Business-Higher Education Forum, 2024. https://www.bhef.com/publications/expanding-internships-harnessing-employer-insights-to-boost-opportunity-and-enhance.
  • Marken, Stephanie, and Tyisha Curtis. “Four in 10 College Students Have Had Internship Experience.” Gallup, 2023, https://www.gallup.com/education/509468/four-college-students-internship-experience.aspx.
  • Marken & Curtis, 2023; Strada, 2024.
  • Jackson, Johnny. “Intern Hiring Is Stable for 2024: NACE Survey.” Diverse: Issues In Higher Education, 25 Apr. 2024, https://www.diverseeducation.com/students/article/15669496/intern-hiring-is-stable-for-2024-nace-survey.
  • Strada Education Foundation. “From College to Career: Students’ Internship Expectations and Experiences.” Strada Education Foundation, 17 May 2023.
  • Cumulative persistence/graduation rate is calculated for the 417 eligible NIU Braven Fellows who completed the Accelerator course as a freshman, sophomore, or junior through Spring 2024.
  • Six-year graduation rate of Braven Fellows includes students who enrolled as first-time freshmen at National Louis University not including those who took Braven as seniors, not including those who took Braven as seniors, transfer students, or international students.
  • National comparison is the implied six-year graduation rate for Pell Grant recipients who were full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students in the 2017 starting cohort (adjusted) at four-year public Title IV institutions, after accounting for those who persisted from freshman to sophomore year and from sophomore to junior year. Sources for data: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS, Winter 2023–24, Graduation Rates component (provisional data); Pitcher, McCall, and Parson, Kelle. “More to the Retention Story: Exploring Second- to Third-Year Retention at 4-Year Colleges and Universities.” American Institutes for Research. July 2023.
  • National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). (2022). Career Readiness: Development and Validation of NACE Career Readiness Competencies.
  • Association of American Colleges and Universities. (2009). Valid Assessment of Learning in Undergraduate Education (VALUE). Author. https://www.aacu.org/initiatives/value .
  • Finley, A.P. (2023) The Career-Ready Graduate: What Employers Say About the Difference College Makes. AAC&U. https://dgmg81phhvh63.cloudfront.net/content/user-photos/Research/PDFs/AACU-2023-Employer-Report.pdf.
  • NACE. (November 2023). Job Outlook 2024. https://www.naceweb.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/2023/publication/research-report/2024-nace-job-outlook.pdf.
  • Joseph B. Fuller, Kerry McKittrick, et al. (Fall 2023). Unlocking Economic Prosperity: Career Navigation in a Time of Rapid Change. Published by the Harvard Kennedy School.
  • Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, Workplace Basics: The Competencies Employers Want, 2020. (cited above as: Carnevale, Fasules, and Campbell, 2020). https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/competencies/.
  • Rios, J.A., Ling, G., Pugh, R., Becker, D., & Bacall, A. (2020) Identifying Critical 21st-Century Skills for Workplace Success: A Content Analysis of Job Advertisements. Educational Researcher. 49(2) 80-89. https://journals-sagepub-com.ezproxy.cul.columbia.edu/doi/epub/10.3102/0013189X19890600.
  • Fuller, 2023; Scales et al., 2020.

Addendum

Course outcomes for 2024-2025 BravenX Fellows

580 Fellows completed BravenX during the 2024-2025 school year.

2024-2025 BravenX Fellows are:

79%

of BravenX Fellows who take the
Braven Accelerator Course feel
Braven has improved their chances
of getting a job a great deal or quite a bit.

74

Net Promoter Score:
a widely used customer satisfaction metric on a scale of -100 to 100 that measures how likely a Fellow would recommend Braven to a friend. Above 0 is good, above 20 is favorable, and above 50 is excellent.

Top 5 Majors

All-time BravenX Impact
‍

BravenX  Partners

FALL
2024 FELLOW
BravenX
COLumbia university
Erik Berlanga Vazquez
Media, Content &
Communications Strategist
Columbia Undergraduate Student Life

“Participating in the BravenX Accelerator has been one of the most impactful parts of my college experience. It gave me the structure and space to reflect on the kind of professional I want to become and helped me align my personal goals with my career aspirations. I especially appreciated being able to apply my current skills through a capstone project that felt both relevant and exciting. Because of BravenX, I feel more prepared and confident in the job search process—I truly believe it’s given me an edge in recruitment.”

Spotlight:
IDEA Public Schools

IDEA Public Schools believes that each child can go to college. Since 2000, IDEA Public Schools has grown to a network of tuition-free, K-12 public charter schools in the United States, currently serving 87,000 college-bound students in 145 schools across Texas and its affiliates.

In the last 17 years, IDEA has sent nearly 100% of its graduates to college and remains on track to uphold that legacy.

José-Luis Vasquez
Managing Director
of Alumni Affairs,
IDEA Public Schools

“At IDEA Public Schools, our Alumni Affairs Team proudly partners with Braven to drive real, measurable outcomes for our alumni.
‍
With 15,000 alumni today, and on track to serve 50,000 by 2030, we’re scaling and engineering an alumni support model that proves positive 60%+ college graduation rates amongst our alumni.
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Braven shares our commitment and urgency. They’re not just leading a movement. They’re transforming what success looks like for students. This partnership directly fuels our mission: to prepare our graduates for success in college and life, generally, and to democratize college completion, specifically. We’re not just imagining change, we’re building it, together through real partnership.”

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