Background: Career-focused education programs in the United States increasingly emphasize 21st century workplace readiness. These programs use project-based learning to develop a holistic, noncognitive skillset linked to an entrepreneurial mindset. Purpose: This study assesses the relationship between entrepreneurial mindset development and students in entrepreneurship education programs compared with other career-focused academies. Methodology/Approach: Using a quasi-experimental design, entrepreneurial mindset was measured in two matched groups of students from underserved communities at the beginning and end of the school year. Additional analyses were conducted to assess the impact of career-focused education on student outlook of career readiness. Findings/Conclusions: Students in entrepreneurship education showed an overall statistically significant increase in entrepreneurial mindset, specifically in communication and collaboration, opportunity recognition, and critical thinking and problem-solving. Moreover, there was a positive association between entrepreneurial mindset gains and perceptions of future career success. Implications: This study paves the way for more rigorous research on linkages between career-focused education and noncognitive skills and suggests that entrepreneurship education may be effective in developing noncognitive skills linked to career success. © The Author(s) 2020.
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