Survey Highlights Graduate Anxiety Over Salary Negotiation
Recent findings indicate that many new graduates experience anxiety when it comes to negotiating their salaries with employers.
A survey conducted among 2,000 higher education alumni from the classes of 2024 and 2025 explored various scenarios to determine which would be more stressful.
The results showed that 54% ranked salary negotiation as more stressful than breaking up with a significant other, which only 39% found to be more daunting.
Interestingly, the graduates also expressed varying degrees of stress regarding other adult responsibilities, like filing taxes and assembling IKEA furniture. In fact, 52% preferred the complexity of taxes over putting together IKEA products.
Budgeting isn’t easy for most, as only 35% reported creating and sticking to a budget. In contrast, 26% managed to write checks, and 22% claimed they could balance their checkbooks.
This survey, carried out by Talker Research on behalf of the banking app Chime, sheds light on the challenges alumni face in transitioning into adulthood.
About 71% of respondents graduated with concerns about their future, a reflection of the uncertainty surrounding their post-graduation plans. Interestingly, the survey found that many did express a sense of “very certain” about their next steps, despite their anxiety.
For those who graduated a year earlier, 66% felt they were following a clear plan. However, the majority of them—71%—stated that their post-graduation experience exceeded their expectations.
Graduates from 2025 appear to feel more mentally prepared to leave college compared to their predecessors—82% to 63%. Yet, there’s a notable disparity among 2024 graduates in terms of financial readiness, with 39% of males feeling “very prepared” compared to just 27% of females.
Cost considerations were significant when selecting their higher education institutions, as 49% indicated that expenses had a “very significant impact” on their choices. Furthermore, a striking 76% agreed that if education were more affordable, their trajectories might look different.
Jennie Isell, vice president of the Chime Scholars Foundation, remarked, “There’s immense pressure to have a clear plan after graduation, which I think isn’t always realistic. Life can take unexpected turns, and that’s okay. Utilizing accessible tools can enhance financial confidence for graduates, whether they follow certain paths or adapt along the way.”
When asked about their post-graduate priorities, 47% ranked applying for and landing jobs in their field topmost, while 36% emphasized the importance of saving money. Nevertheless, some respondents reported a lack of confidence in securing jobs related to their studies, with 29% prioritizing any employment that covers their expenses.
Graduates with four-year degrees (43%) or master’s degrees (40%) generally felt more prepared to manage their finances post-graduation than those from two-year institutions or trade schools (30%). Additionally, men tended to report feeling more budget-ready (58% vs. 48%) and were also more likely to invest (35% vs. 21%).
Isell advised, “The best way for graduates to feel financially prepared is to start with fundamentals. Assessing income versus expenses and exploring ways to save can significantly enhance financial wellbeing.” Even simple steps, like setting up direct deposit and automating savings, can lead to substantial improvements.
Top Concerns of Recent Graduates
- Finding work in their field – 44%
- Managing student debt – 35%
- Paying monthly bills – 33%
- Securing affordable housing – 24%
- Making new friends – 11%
- Being away from friends and family – 9%
Research Methodology
The Talker survey collected responses from 2,000 higher education alumni from various institutions, including four-year universities, two-year colleges, and trade schools, between April 23-29, 2025, on behalf of Chime.
