Salary expectations vs reality for recent graduates collide

Salary expectations have collided with market realities for recent graduates, according to a new report by The CE Shop. This growing discrepancy highlights the widening gap between what students anticipate from their degrees and the realities of entering the workforce.

When the class of 2025 walked across the stage this spring, many expected their first full-time job to bring in a six-figure salary. However, according to ZipRecruiter, the average expected starting salary was $101,500, while the actual average was $68,400. This $33,000 gap is not an anomaly but a sign of a larger issue: 68% of graduates felt their degrees did not adequately prepare them for their first jobs between 2023 and 2026.

The situation has worsened over time. In 2024, 41% of graduates secured full-time roles in their field of study, a figure that dropped to 30% by 2025. Additionally, 64% of 2025 graduates said they regretted their major choices, and 77% reported learning more on the job in the first six months than during their entire undergraduate career.

These statistics reflect a structural disconnect between higher education and the career paths students expect to emerge from it. As a result, a generation feels both overqualified and underprepared, with many graduates seeking alternative routes to professional success.

The CE Shop has observed a significant shift in where graduates are turning for career opportunities. Increasingly, they are exploring licensed, hands-on professions such as real estate, mortgage lending, home inspection, and appraisal. These fields offer a defined starting point, a shorter path to professional independence, and a clear career trajectory.

For example, obtaining a real estate license takes about four weeks, a mortgage loan originator license can be achieved in two to three weeks, and a home inspection license is awarded after six weeks. These professions begin with pre-licensing education that is available online and can be completed at the student's own pace, often for a fraction of a semester's tuition. The credential at the end is a state-issued professional license that grants immediate entry into a working career.

These paths are particularly attractive to graduates seeking a faster, more direct route into a career. Ninety percent of recent graduates prioritize schedule flexibility, but only 29% report having it. Licensed careers offer independence, performance-based income, and the ability to scale effort directly into outcomes, without waiting for a corporate ladder.

The CE Shop has developed the Career Clarity Profile, a free five-minute assessment designed to help graduates and career changers identify suitable licensed career paths that align with their strengths, working style, and goals. The assessment evaluates five dimensions related to career readiness and satisfaction, helping users find environments that suit their preferred working style.

The CE Shop is the leading provider of professional real estate education with online courses in mortgage, real estate, home inspection, and appraisal available throughout the United States. Whether veterans in their field or those launching new careers, The CE Shop offers quality education that can make a significant difference.