Noah knows his degree is more than just a piece of paper—it’s a promise. For decades, higher education has been billed as a key to a better life: more earnings, more stability, more opportunity.

Noah earned his “key,” a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

But is that promise of a better life guaranteed? Or does the timing of his first job after graduation tell the real story? Does Noah really need to get a job within six months of graduating?

The six-month mark matters more than many realize. That’s when the federal student loan grace period typically ends.

By then, college graduates are expected to have found stable work — jobs that match their skills, pay consistently, and ideally, start building a career.

Sixty-seven percent of Nebraska's recent college graduates who are employed in-state hit that mark.

Attending college isn’t enough. For Noah, graduating is what changed the game.

In Nebraska, 78 percent of two-year college graduates secure timely employment compared to just 56 percent of their non-graduate peers.

The story is similar at Nebraska four-year colleges, including Noah's: 80 percent of graduates find stable work within six months—compared to only 65 percent of non-graduates.

A diploma isn’t just a key. It’s the key that opens the door to greater opportunity.

Experience speaks louder than academics alone. Nebraska students who work more during their last two years of college—whether in part-time jobs or internships—are significantly more likely to secure timely employment after graduation.

Even non-graduates who earn more during college often achieve employment rates close to graduates.

Noah interned at a clinical lab while going to college, assisting with lab tests and research.

The skills, connections, and real-world experience he gained during his internship will give him a competitive edge when applying for full-time jobs.

Timely employment isn’t just about starting sooner.

It’s about earning more, faster.

Nebraska graduates who find stable jobs within six months consistently out-earn those who take longer to find work in their first three years post-college.

When Noah starts his first job as a nurse, he'll make $68,000 a year. His best friend Liam, who graduated from the same college program but did not find a job within six months, will make $62,000 his first year.

This wage gap will persist for a decade until Liam finally lands a higher-paying role, eventually closing the gap.

The first job isn’t always the dream job. But getting in the door quickly matters. For Noah, graduating with a degree in health sciences and completing an internship paved the way for timely employment.

In Nebraska, understanding and improving the factors that lead to timely employment is an investment in people, prosperity, and the promise that higher education still holds.