• 41% of young adults in school use AI for schoolwork, and 30% of young adults rely on it to learn new skills.
• But 71% of navigators believe young adults are becoming too dependent on AI, putting their development at risk.
• 60% of navigators say AI is hindering skill-building for the future workforce.
• Top concerns include reduced critical thinking (57%), loss of soft skills like teamwork and communication (54%), decreased human connection (50%), and exposure to misinformation (49%).‍
• Despite this, 68% still believe AI will expand career opportunities for young adults, highlighting a clear tension as navigators grapple with the potential harms and benefits of AI.

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• 37% of young adults rank mental health as one of the most important factors to their success, ahead of career, finances, and education.
• 29% say mental health is a top priority for external support, outranking financial planning, money management, and even job training or skills development.
• 75% are still feeling the aftershocks of the pandemic, with nearly a third (31%) of young adults citing its direct impact on their mental health. Meanwhile, only 22% of parents recognize the pandemic's impact on this generation's mental wellbeing.
• Mental health is seen by navigators as the second biggest barrier to young adults achieving their personal goals, just behind the lack of a strong support system. And 60% of navigators agree there aren’t enough mental health resources to meet the need.

• Half of young women (18-24) feel unprepared for the jobs of the future, compared to 40% of young men. And 61% of young women are unsure there are enough job opportunities compared to 52% of young men.‍
• 42% of young women don’t trust employers to review their applications, compared to 33% of young men, highlighting a major confidence gap in hiring systems.‍
• 51% of young women report facing mental health challenges, compared to 36% of young men, a 15-point gender gap that highlights the disproportionate mental strain young women carry.‍
• 66% believe the American Dream is out of reach or doesn’t exist, 11 points higher than men. ‍
• Just 29% say they know what drives them, compared to 42% of young men. Only 31% of college-educated women know what they are passionate about.

• Just 51% of both young adults and parents believe a college degree is worth the investment, citing high tuition and no guarantee of a job as reasons it is not.
• 65% or more across all groups agree that a degree alone isn’t enough to secure good employment, and that skills and experience matter more.
• Employers echo this shift: 58% say skills are more important than degrees, and 76% are open to adjusting education or experience requirements in entry-level hiring.
• Career navigators express support for non-college pathways, but in practice 70% still advise young people to pursue a college degree.
• The 4-year degree also remains the #1 post-secondary path that parents advise, even as many express doubts about its value and claim to support alternative options.