An initiative to close the college-to-career gap for low-income and first-generation college students in the United States

There’s a growing disconnect between what students learn in college — and what employers expect. Working shoulder-to-shoulder with higher education institutions and employers, Braven ensures that all students are prepared, especially those who are first-gen and from low-income backgrounds.

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Two people sit on stage holding microphones; the woman in a pink dress is smiling as the man in a light suit jacket speaks.

Project
Description

Big Idea

Every year in the United States, nearly 1.4 million students from low-income or first-generation backgrounds enter college, believing they’re on the path to the American Dream. But for too many, that promise is broken when it should matter most: the transition from college to career. On average, low-income Bachelor’s degree holders start their careers earning just 86 cents for every dollar earned by their higher-income peers — a gap that widens over time, resulting in fewer opportunities and about half the lifetime earnings. By recognizing the growing mismatch between what colleges offer and what today’s economy demands, Braven is closing the college-to-career gap for low-income and first-generation college students. Their goal: to embed career preparation into the undergraduate experience and reach all students — not just the confident or connected — delivering the skills, experience and networks needed for a high-paying career while proving that economic mobility is possible at scale.

Plan

Braven will transform the transition from college to career, by partnering with 25 colleges and universities that serve large numbers of low-income and first-generation college students in at least 10 key geographies in the US. Braven offers a three-year, career-connected experience that is built into the undergraduate journey, beginning with a credit-bearing course and paired with continued mentoring, connections to professional networks and job opportunities for entering the workforce. Braven Fellows are 42% more likely than graduates from peer institutions with similar demographics to secure a first job with a competitive salary, benefits and promotion pathways — or to enroll in graduate school within six months. By 2030, Braven will help 50,000 students secure strong first jobs, unlocking over $8 billion in additional lifetime earnings, while shaping the policies and practices to make career preparation the norm for hundreds of thousands more students in college.