In May 2025, we wrapped the biggest-ever survey of state-educated people ever conducted.

We probed 10,125 state schoolers nationwide on everything from the guilt associated with experiencing social mobility, the continued influence of informal networks, and feelings of leaving communities behind, to stunted progression, financial precarity, and whether their talents are taken seriously.

The survey revealed that 92% of respondents said they can’t turn to alumni from their school for advice, job leads or career support. That missing network - that lack of social capital - matters.

It matters because 70% of students say it’s the best-connected peers who land the top jobs, with nearly half ranking being well networked as more important than hard skills - like qualifications - in landing their dream roles.