Degree in hand, jobs out of reach: Why recent grads are struggling in a competitive market

Graduating college no longer gives students a leg up in the workforce. They need real world experience, too. Now, colleges are stepping up their internships and co-op programs to fill the increasing need.

Madia Bellebuono, a University of Vermont graduate, spends her days in a Boston coffee shop scrolling through job openings on LinkedIn. Since earning her degree in strategic marketing and public communications in May 2024, she has applied for more than 300 jobs. Despite two internships, a strong GPA and looming student loans, she is unemployed. Bellebuono said she felt unprepared to enter the competitive job market. “I think the school could have done — and still can do — a better job preparing their students for the post-grad world,” she told CNN. “And not just focusing on the test that’s coming up next week or your grades.” The University of Vermont told CNN helping their students get started on their career paths is an important part of their educational experience. Bellebuono’s story isn’t unique. A recent study from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported the widest unemployment gap between new graduates and experienced degree holders since the 1990s.