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Experiential learning is the process of learning by doing. By forcing students to do things and then reflect on them they are better able to connect theories and knowledge learned in the classroom to real-world situations.
But is experiential learning really effective? And is it better than other major learning methods?
Read my statistics and facts guide for 2024 on the topic of experiential learning and learn for yourself.
Feel free to use the jump links below to go to the section that interests you the most.
You can also use this jump link to quickly jump to the KEY STATS section.
Also, all the references and resources I used in crafting my guide are listed at the bottom of the page.
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Jump here: Key Experiential Learning Statistics, Facts and Trends for This Year| Experiential Learning Statistics, Facts and Trends for This Year (Detailed Info)
Table of Contents
Key Experiential Learning Statistics, Facts and Trends for This Year
Key Experiential Learning Statistics, Facts and Trends for 2024
- 81% of students feel it’s important or very important for schools to offer real company-led projects. 79% of students say it is important to have on-the-job learning experiences during their postsecondary education. (Source)
- 55% of undergraduates and 38% of graduates find it challenging to engage in classes due to a systemic lack of hands-on experiences. (Source)
- 41.3% of students reported being unable to secure an internship due to lack of available opportunities. (Source)
- Out of roughly 157,000 students enrolled in internships across the US, less than 44% are students of color. (Source)
- Less than a quarter of undergraduates (23%) completed an internship during their academic journey. (Source)
- More than 67% of students reported in a recent survey that they wanted to obtain internships but were unable to due to various obstacles. (Source)
- 22% of undergraduates completed an internship in 2021-22, compared to 26.4% the previous year. By 2032 it’s expected at least 60% of undergraduates will have a completed internship under their belts. It’s a valuable opportunity for them and each year there are more internships available. (Source)
- In 2016, 41% of Black seniors were completing internships, compared to 15.3% in 2024. By 2032 it’s expected that more that ~60% of Black seniors will complete internships. (Source)
- 92% of individuals agree that a strategic workforce education program significantly benefits an organization. (Source)
- 64% of employers feel that there is a skill gap in their organization that could make them 42% less efficient. (Source)
- 46% of employers believe that colleges adequately prepare students for the workforce. That said, 64% of employers have actively collaborated with schools to make curricula more responsive to workforce needs. (Source)
- Only 30% of educational institutions globally offer experiential learning opportunities. In the United States the situation is much better with ~50% of education institutions offer experiential learning opportunities to their students and pupils. (Source)
- A recent survey showed that 39% of students did not engage in any internship or experiential learning opportunity throughout their college years. (Source)
- On average, 68% of participants receive job offers after their hands-on experiential learning. (Source)
- Nearly 85% of participants in Arizona State University’s experiential programs were able to improve or develop soft skills. (Source)
- Students that completed work-based learning activities increased their chances of both short-term and long-term employability by 3 and 4 percentage points respectively. (Source)
Experiential Learning Statistics, Facts and Trends for This Year (Detailed Info)
What Percentage of Students Believe Schools Should Offer Real Company-Led Projects?
81% of students feel it’s important or very important for schools to offer real company-led projects. Students obviously recognize the need to get experience in real life conditions, and it’s up to schools to deliver here.
Also worth knowing is that real life experience serves as a huge confidence booster down the line when it’s time to start applying and vying for work in the competitive job market.
How Important are On-The-Job Learning Experiences to Students?
79% of students say it’s important to them to have on-the-job learning experiences during their postsecondary education.
This high percentage underscores the shift in student expectations towards more hands-on, experiential learning. It reflects a desire for education that directly prepares them for their future careers.
Also worth nothing that another study (I link to it in the footer of the page) showed 68% of participants received job offers after their hands-on experiential learning. This suggests these student made personal connections in the companies that offered them internships and were later able to simply graduate to real work positions within the same companies.
What Percentage of Students Find it Challenging to Engage in Classes?
55% of undergraduates and 38% of graduates find it challenging to engage in classes.
These figures suggest a significant engagement problem in traditional classroom settings. They indicate a need for more interactive and applied learning methods to capture and maintain student interest.
How Many Students Couldn’t Secure Internships Due to Lack of Opportunities?
41.3% of students reported being unable to secure an internship due to lack of available opportunities.
Lack of internship opportunities not only prevents student from getting crucial hands on experience, but it also prevents some of them from graduating; because quite often students get demoralized when they see how hard it is to get an internship, let alone a real job down the line.
Also worth knowing is that a recent survey (I link to it in the footer of the page) showed 39% of students did not engage in any internship or experiential learning opportunity throughout their college years. Even when they were offered an opportunity to get internships.
What Percentage of Internship Participants are Students of Color?
Out of roughly 157,000 students enrolled in internships across the US, less than 44% are students of color.
How Many Undergraduates Completed an Internship During Their Academic Journey?
Less than a quarter of undergraduates (23%) completed an internship during their academic journey.
This low percentage indicates that a majority of students are missing out on valuable real-world experience. It emphasizes the need for more accessible and diverse learning opportunities.
What Percentage of Students Wanted but Couldn’t Obtain Internships?
More than 67% of students wanted to obtain internships but were unable to due to various obstacles.
This high percentage demonstrates a significant unmet demand for internships. It suggests that educational institutions and employers need to work together to create more internship opportunities.
How Has the Internship Completion Rate Changed Recently?
22% of undergraduates completed an internship in 2021-22, compared to 26.4% in 2024.
This decent decline in internship completion rates is concerning. It showed the impact of the global pandemic on internship opportunities and highlighted the need for alternative forms of experiential learning (for example remote learning delivered via shorth and micro lessons).
That said, by 2032 it’s expected at least 60% of undergraduates will have a completed internship under their belts. It’s a valuable opportunity for them and in general each year there are more internship opportunities available.
How Has the Internship Completion Rate for Black Seniors Changed Over Time?
In 2016, 41% of Black seniors were completing internships, compared to 15.3% in 2024.
This dramatic decrease in internship completion rates for Black seniors is alarming. It suggests a growing disparity in access to internship opportunities and underscores the need for more inclusive practices.
How Many People Agree That Workforce Education Programs Benefit Organizations?
92% of individuals agree that a strategic workforce education program significantly benefits an organization.
This near-unanimous agreement highlights the perceived value of workforce education programs.
What Percentage of Employers Feel There’s a Skill Gap in Their Organization?
64% of employers feel that there is a skill gap in their organization that is making that 42% less effective as as organization and a team.
How Many Employers Believe Colleges Adequately Prepare Students for the Workforce?
46% of employers believe that colleges adequately prepare students for the workforce. See stat below about those employers who are being proactive about securing the best possible workforce.
What Percentage of Employers Have Collaborated with Schools on Improving Their Curricula?
64% of employers have actively collaborated with schools to make curricula more responsive to workforce needs.
This high percentage of employer-school collaboration is encouraging.
It shows many businesses are being proactive about securing qualified and motivate workforce and are willing to work with educational intuitions to procure said workforce.
How Many Educational Institutions Globally Offer Experiential Learning Opportunities?
Only 30% of educational institutions globally offer experiential learning opportunities.
This very low percentage indicates a significant gap between the demand for experiential learning and its availability in educational institutions.
It also shows how educational institutions are lagging in certain aspects of their student’s education.
It’s a common knowledge that hands on experience is priceless and yet many schools don’t provide it for a variety of reasons (often, laziness is the crucial factor, with lack of funds being the second most common reason).
Note: in the US the situation is a bit better. In the United States ~50% of education institutions offer experiential learning opportunities to their students.
How Does Work-Based Learning Affect Employability?
Students that completed work-based learning activities increased their chances of both short-term and long-term employability by 3 and 4 percentage points respectively.
While these percentage increases might seem small, they still represent a significant advantage in a competitive job market.
Experiential Learning Statistics, Facts and Trends for 2024 (Conclusion)
My updated guide for 2024 lists the best and latest statistics, facts and trends about experiential learning and how to best use it to your fullest advantage.
I hope you enjoyed it because the guide is now over.
During my research, I consulted these resources below:
References:
- Key experiential learning statistics for 2024 and beyond- https://www.riipen.com/blog/experiential-learning-statistics
- The 10 Commandments of Experiential Learning- https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2022/08/03/foundational-best-practices-experiential-learning-opinion
- Experiential Learning Information- https://www.stat.uga.edu/experiential-learning-information
- What is Experiential Learning and Why It is The Future Of Learning- https://startkiwi.com/blog/what-is-experiential-learning-and-why-it-is-the-future-of-learning/
- Experiential Learning in Statistics: Expanding its role- https://www.sfu.ca/science/stat/weldon/papers/56.experience.pdf
- Experiential Learning and Its Impact on College Students- https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1291252.pdf
- Sparking Early Experiential Learning- https://www.naceweb.org/career-development/internships/sparking-early-experiential-learning/
- Experiential Learning- https://www.bu.edu/ctl/ctl_resource/experiential-learning/
- Experiential Learning- https://career.berkeley.edu/find-opportunities/experiential-learning/
- Research Roundup: Work-Based and Experiential Learning- https://ctepolicywatch.acteonline.org/2023/06/research-roundup-work-based-and-experiential-learning.html
- The Solution for Expanding Experiential Learning- https://www.peoplegrove.com/solutions/universities/experiential-learning/
- Effect of Experiential Learning in Business Statistics- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/08832320109599056
- A Meta‐Analysis of the Relationship Between Experiential Learning and Learning Outcomes- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334741704_A_Meta-Analysis_of_the_Relationship_Between_Experiential_Learning_and_Learning_Outcomes
- The Case for Bringing Experiential Learning into the Humanities- https://www.amacad.org/publication/daedalus/case-bringing-experiential-learning-humanities
- What is Experiential Learning and Why Is It Important?- https://www.kent.edu/community/what-experiential-learning-and-why-it-important
Nikola Roza
Nikola Roza is a blogger behind Nikola Roza- SEO for the Poor and Determined. He writes for bloggers who don't have huge marketing budget but still want to succeed. Nikola is passionate about precious metals IRAs and how to invest in gold and silver for a safer financial future. Learn about Nikola here.