The Center for Engaged Learning periodically conducts surveys on students’ experiences in higher education and their application to students’ post-graduation lives.

April 2024: Meaningful Undergraduate Experiences and How They Matter Now

The Elon University Center for Engaged Learning conducted an online survey of U.S. residents who were 18-34 years old and graduates of two- or four-year higher education institutions (n=956). The survey explored recent graduates’ experiences during college with the key practices for fostering engaged learning, high-impact practices (e.g., internships, study away), and mentoring. Participants also offered insight on skills they used in their day-to-day lives and whether they developed those skills in college. The online survey was conducted April 18-19, 2024.

Report of Topline Results • Learn More

November 2021: High Impact Undergraduate Experiences and How They Matter Now

In partnership with the Elon University Center for Engaged Learning, the Elon University Poll conducted an online survey of U.S. residents who were 18-34 years old and graduates of two- or four-year higher education institutions (n=1832). This goal of this survey population was to represent experiences of younger, recent college graduates in the United States. The online survey was conducted November 10-12, 2021.

From the Elon Poll: News Release • Full Report and Methodology

June 2019: High Impact Undergraduate Experiences and How They Matter Now

The Elon University Poll, in collaboration with the Center for Engaged Learning, conducted a survey of college graduates, age 18-34, living in the United States (n=1,575). The purpose of this survey was three-fold:

• To explore how commonly graduates experienced high impact undergraduate experiences, including meaningful relationships with faculty, undergraduate research, internships, and more.
• To investigate what skills and competencies are the most important in their day-to-day lives now, and whether they developed those skills in college.
• To establish the most common types of writing college graduates do for their jobs, and whether college prepared them to do this writing.

The survey was conducted June 7-12, 2019.

From the Elon Poll: News Release • Full Report and Methodology

July 2018: The Importance of Mentors and Peers in the Undergraduate Experience

The Elon University Poll, in collaboration with the Center for Engaged Learning, conducted a representative online survey of Bachelor degree holders in the United States. The purpose of this survey was to study the extent of mentor and peer
relationships during ungraduated education and the impact of those relationships on educational outcomes.

From the Elon Poll: News Release • Full Report and Methodology