Washington, D.C. (June 2025) — Today, the UNCF Institute for Capacity Building (ICB) released the highly anticipated Career Pathways Initiative (CPI) report, providing a data-driven narrative on how Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are redefining student success and aligning education with career outcomes. Fueled by a transformational investment from the Lilly Endowment Inc, CPI empowered HBCUs to strengthen the link between academic experiences and the demands of a rapidly evolving workforce.  

The outcomes speak volumes. Across the program period, 2016 to 2022, participating institutions experienced a 27% increase in median job placement and a 21% increase in median salary when comparing pre- and post-pandemic periods. But CPI’s impact goes beyond employment metrics. The report reveals CPI is a transformative approach to experiential learning and student engagement. The report highlights a 184% surge in service-learning participation, a 100% increase in undergraduate research experiences, and a 40% growth in internship engagement.

“These numbers reflect more than just programmatic success—they represent lives changed and futures reshaped,” said Ed Smith-Lewis, Senior Vice President of Institutional Programs and Strategic Partnerships, who led the initiative. “This report isn’t just a look back; it’s a vision forward—a blueprint for how HBCUs can lead in designing bold, student-centered pathways that drive economic mobility.” 

This work is part of ICB’s larger mission: to catalyze transformation across the HBCU sector through aligned partnerships, strategic investments, and a commitment to institutional excellence. 

Read more and download the report below: