There is a contradiction between students’ optimism about their future and their feeling of being prepared for it.

A new survey of young people in Generation Z (ages 12 to 27) shows that most respondents believe they have a bright future ahead of them, but only about half feel prepared for it. For students who don’t plan on going to college, those numbers are significantly lower. Students who don’t go to college also feel less connected to their classes and feel less supported by the adults in the school building.

The survey was conducted by the Walton Family Foundation and the Gallup polling firm. from April 26 to May 9, with responses from 4,157 young people of Generation Z, including 2,317 who attend K-12 school. It is the second iteration of the survey, which was first released in 2023. (The Walton Family Foundation supports Education Week’s coverage of strategies to improve opportunities for the neediest students. Education Week retains sole editorial control over coverage.)

Here’s how Generation Z students view their education, their future prospects, and what they consider most important components of a “great life.”

More and more members of Generation Z say they are “woke” in their lives

About half of Gen Z members say they are thriving in their lives, up slightly from 47 percent in 2023. The biggest increase between the 2023 and 2024 surveys was among Gen Z adults ages 18 to 27. Forty-seven percent of that age group said they are thriving this year, up from 41 percent last year.

But whether Generation Z considers themselves successful depends on the path they took after high school.

Fifty-one percent of Gen Z adults said they were successful in life this year, up six percentage points from 2023, when 45 percent said they were successful. But the percentage of Gen Z adults with only a high school diploma who said they were successful dropped from 2023 to 2024—from 37 percent to 35 percent.

Students’ future prospects vary depending on college plans

Students who do not plan to attend college have less positive future outlooks than their peers who are pursuing advanced degrees. Only 68 percent of students with no college plans had a positive future outlook, compared to 81 percent who are pursuing an associate degree and 86 percent who are pursuing a bachelor’s degree.

According to the survey results, students who are not pursuing a college degree are also less likely to agree that they feel prepared for their future (40 percent) than those who are pursuing an associate degree (45 percent) or a bachelor’s degree (54 percent).

Their answers to another question may explain at least part of why that is. High school students surveyed said they were three to five times more likely to have heard about applying to college in school (68 percent) than about other possible post-secondary pathways, such as completing an apprenticeship or other type of vocational training (23 percent), pursuing careers that do not require a college degree (19 percent) or starting their own business (13 percent).

When schools offer career-specific training—where students can learn, for example, how to conduct interviews and apply for jobs, research possible careers, and complete internships and industry certifications—students are more confident about succeeding in their careers, according to the survey.

Wealth and status are not as important to Generation Z as other things

Most Gen Z respondents said that close relationships with family and friends and time for hobbies were the most important components of a “great life.” Fewer respondents said that “wealth” or a “high-status job” were the most important requirements for them.

Priorities varied depending on the age of Generation Z respondents.

Those still in school were more likely to say that getting their dream job and becoming wealthy were very important aspects of a great life. Gen Z adults, on the other hand, were more likely to say that getting married, having children and volunteering in their community were priorities. Less than half of Gen Z adults said that owning a home (45 percent) and having children (35 percent) were important parts of a great life.

Students who do not plan to go to college feel less engaged and encouraged in school

Students who do not plan to go to college are less likely than their peers to report that they are motivated to get good grades and that there is an adult at school who encourages them to do so.

Students who did not go to college were also less likely to have learned something interesting in school recently and to feel challenged by their schoolwork.