New Research Report Explores What Students Value in College

Posted by American Association of Colleges and Universities on May 26, 2026

Much of the national conversation about higher education focuses on jobs, earnings, and workforce preparation. A new report from the LearningWell Coalition and the American Association of Colleges and universities (AAC&U) presents findings on what students value most in college and the educational experiences most strongly connected to well-being, growth, and success.

Students are looking for purpose, mentorship, personal growth, meaningful relationships, and opportunities to apply learning in real-world settings. Yet the experiences students say matter most are often the ones hardest to come by.

Based on a survey of undergraduate students conducted by Morning Consult, What Students Value in College examines students’ motivations for attending college and the experiences they find most valuable and impactful.

Among the Findings:

• students who participate in internships report significantly higher levels of well-being than students who do not;
• mentorship is one of the most valued experiences in college, yet nearly half of students do not have a faculty or staff mentor;
• lower-income and first-generation students are more likely to prioritize personal growth and identity development over career preparation alone;
• students consistently value opportunities to connect learning to real-world challenges and experiences; and
• the educational experiences with the strongest well-being outcomes are often the least accessible.

As colleges and universities continue navigating questions about student success, workforce preparation, and public confidence in higher education, these findings offer a clearer picture of what students themselves value most and where institutions have the greatest opportunity to make an impact.

Learn more and download the report.