Case Study: Princeton University helps graduate students see new career pathways with Lightcast

The Graduate School of Princeton University uses Lightcast Data to Help Students See New Futures

Princeton University's Graduate School, through its GradFUTURES program, faced the challenge of helping its graduate students see the full range of career opportunities available to them beyond academia. With roughly half of its alumni pursuing careers outside of traditional academic roles, the school needed a way to connect students' specialized training to the wider labor market. To address this, they partnered with Lightcast for its labor market data and analysis services.

Using Lightcast data, the GradFUTURES team conducted a program review, developed a custom dashboard, and gained access to the Analyst tool. This provided clear insight into alumni outcomes, career pathways, and in-demand skills. The data helped smooth internal conversations about non-academic careers and directly informed new professional development programs, giving students greater clarity and confidence. The Lightcast solution empowered Princeton to help students understand how their PhD competencies connect to a diverse array of meaningful opportunities.

Princeton University

Eva Kubu

Associate Dean for Graduate Student Professional Development and Founding Director