Enduring aspirations and moral learning: A longitudinal study of U.S. College students

The present study tracked stability and change in college students’ aspirations, as expressed in survey open text entries at two time points three years apart. Interviews with a subset of respondents provided descriptive accounts of their experiences of moral/civic learning connected with their college experiences. Participants (n=640) were drawn from 11 U.S. colleges and universities. Surveys were conducted in winter 2018-2019 and fall 2021. Fifty-four survey respondents participated in hour-long interviews in spring 2021. Most survey respondents’ aspirations were stable over 3 years, with most focusing on contribution beyond-the-self, fulfillment and preparation for vocations. Only a small percentage focused on financial goals or credentialing. Aspirations to contribute beyond-the-self were expressed even more frequently in interviews. When asked to describe what they had learned in courses and extracurricular activities and in their relationships with peers and adults, interviewees described learning relating to ethics and virtue, social justice and civic issues.