Harris Poll

Project Success and Harris Poll Topline Results

November 2019

Research Rationale

Project Success is where students connect to their purpose. This September, Project Success launched a new Institute to offer career exploration and certificate programs in coding, financial literacy, cooking/wellness and film. They also expanded into four new Minneapolis Public Middle Schools broadening reach from 14,000 to over 15,500 6th – 12th grade students.

But not all students have access to the types of experiences Project Success offers that will help them grow and reach their dreams. And not everyone understands the impact of other types of educational opportunities, from goal setting skill workshops and career tours to professional theater experiences to visits to historical museums such as the National Museum of African American History and Culture. That’s why Project Success is working to close what it calls, the Exposure Gap.

We commissioned The Harris Poll to get a better understanding of whether there is a disconnect on what types of learning experiences will lead to future career success for students and what Americans feel students need more of to succeed in life.

Below are the topline results of our findings with The Harris Poll and methodology.

What We Uncovered

  • Only 23% of Americans believe a college degree is absolutely essential for students seeking career success
  • Only 28% of college graduates felt that a college degree was absolutely essential
  • 21% believe STEM education is absolutely essential
  • 37% of Americans believe soft skills are absolutely essential
  • 36% of Americans believe job preparation is absolutely essential

Our Methodology

This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Project Success from July 30 – August 1, 2019 among 2,015 U.S. adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Marta Fraboni, Director of External Relations at Project Success at marta@projectsuccess.org.

Results Snapshot

For more information and full poll results, please contact Marta Fraboni, Director of External Relations at Project Success at marta@projectsuccess.org.