From Campus Tour to Career (Part III)
Choosing a college is one of the most significant decisions a student athlete and their family will make. Beyond finding the right team or campus, it is about identifying a community that invests in a student’s growth well beyond graduation.
At POLARIS, we encourage families to look beyond facilities and rankings to evaluate something deeper: a college’s commitment to both access and long-term success. Families who ask about career outcomes, alumni success, and student support uncover a college’s true value and how it invests in student growth and long-term success.
Here’s how to assess whether a college truly supports its students on and off the field.
Look for a Track Record of Career Outcomes
Institutions should share data about what happens after graduation. Explore their employment rates, graduate school placement, and leadership paths.
Ask:
Does the college publish career or graduate outcomes?
How quickly do graduates find employment?
Are internships built into academic programs?
Colleges that share these outcomes transparently show accountability and confidence in the value of their degree. It’s important to do your research, ask the right questions, and compare your schools of interest with one another based upon your evaluation criteria.
Pay Attention to Alumni Success
Alumni demonstrate a college’s lasting impact. Look for graduates who have built meaningful careers and stayed connected to the community.
Where to look:
Alumni features on websites or social channels
Mentorship programs that connect students and alumni
LinkedIn networks showing where former athletes are now
An active alumni network signals pride and long-term opportunity. For student athletes, I encourage our families to inquire both about the sport specific and overall athletic department alumni networks as well as the broader college/university network.
Coaches and administrators serve as liaisons between all stakeholders, so that is a great place to start when further exploring athletic programs.
Evaluate Student Support Services
Support systems reveal how a college helps students thrive. Student athletes benefit from coordinated programs that balance academics, athletics, and well-being.
Consider:
Academic advising and tutoring
Mental health and wellness services
Career development support
Transition programs for new and graduating students
Accessible and proactive services reflect a school that invests in students from start to finish. Go beyond the surface and explore the professional services that are available within the athletic department for student athletes as well as the extended community for all students.
Coaches and administrators can point to all of their available resources and if you get a sense that it’s something that is left up to student athletes to navigate on their own or with help of their teammates, then that should be noted as a red flag.
Have the Value Conversation Early
Integrate discussions about career outcomes, alumni success, and student support throughout the recruitment and admissions journey. Asking about these three facets can help families determine value early while focusing on what truly matters: how the institution supports growth, preparation, and long-term success.
Colleges that welcome these questions see the process as a partnership in building a student’s future. And that too should be noted as a positive.
At POLARIS Student Athlete Consulting, we help families look beyond the surface to find institutions that demonstrate a clear commitment to outcomes, success, and support while preparing student athletes for life beyond their college experience.