College students often struggle to turn their degrees into career opportunities. Mentorship platform PeopleGrove was recently named the Enhanced Curriculum Solution Provider of the Year at the 2026 EdTech Breakthrough Awards. This recognition comes at a time when higher education institutions are under pressure to prove that a degree is worth the investment.
What Happened
The annual EdTech Breakthrough Awards recognize platforms in education based on criteria like innovation, design, and user experience. Other winners this year included Savvas Learning Company for its dual-enrollment college prep courses, and ST Math, which we previously reported on for winning math learning solution honors.
For PeopleGrove, the award recognizes how the platform integrates alumni networks with student careers. At Fordham University, administrators used the tool to scale their mentoring program from 205 matches to an active community of over 11,000 users. Students use the platform's Experiential Learning tool alongside career tools like PathwayU to find internships and build career paths starting in their first semester.
The Bigger Picture
With tuition costs rising, families are demanding clearer proof of educational return on investment (ROI). Graduate programs and MBA schools are increasingly using their alumni networks to demonstrate this value to prospective students. According to market research from PeopleGrove, graduate schools must show clear employment outcomes to remain competitive.
As we previously explored, bridging the employability gap is a global challenge that educators are trying to solve through targeted technology. However, school administrators should view industry awards with a critical eye. While awards like the EdTech Breakthrough program recognize design and user popularity, they do not require peer-reviewed efficacy studies or classroom performance data. As highlighted in our guide to cutting classroom software clutter, schools must evaluate software based on actual learning outcomes rather than industry buzz.
What This Means for Families
For parents and high school students researching colleges, a school's career network is just as important as its academic rankings. Successful career integration starts long before senior year. Research shows that early mentorship fosters a deep sense of belonging, which directly improves student retention and graduation rates.
When evaluating universities, look beyond the marketing brochures. Ask how active the alumni network actually is and whether first-year students have direct, structured access to career mentors. A university that embeds professional networking into its daily curriculum helps students build the social connections required to land jobs after graduation.
What You Can Do
- Ask about mentor-to-student ratios. When touring colleges, ask admissions offices how many active alumni are registered on their mentoring platforms and how matches are made.
- Start career planning early. Encourage your student to engage with the campus career services center and alumni networks during their freshman year, rather than waiting until graduation approaches.
- Evaluate platform options. Check if the school utilizes structured tools like PeopleGrove or PathwayU to help guide students through career self-assessments and regional internship opportunities.