Copyright © 2026 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

@article{198054,
        author = {Simran Sinha and Kashish Khiyani and Gaurav Goenka and Hena Kauser},
        title = {Impact of Family Income on Career Choices of College Students in Pune},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {11},
        pages = {9191-9200},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=198054},
        abstract = {This research examines the influence of family income on the career choices of college students in Pune, Maharashtra. Given the rapid socio-economic shifts in urban India, understanding how financial backgrounds shape academic and professional trajectories is crucial for educational planning and career counseling. A quantitative research design was employed, involving a survey of 121 college students across various fields of study, including Science, Engineering, Medical, Commerce, Arts, and Management. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, linear regression, and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The findings indicate that while family influence remains a significant factor (28.9%), personal interest has emerged as the primary driver for career choices (46.3%) in the urban Pune context. Statistical analysis revealed that family income did not have a significant impact on career choice scores (p = 0.867) in this specific cohort, and no significant differences in perceived income impact were observed across various fields of study (p = 0.76). These results suggest a shifting paradigm where individual aspirations and job market trends are becoming more prominent than traditional socio-economic constraints among urban students. The study concludes that while economic context provides a background, it is no longer the sole architect of career destinations for students in Pune's modern educational ecosystem.},
        keywords = {Family Income, Career Choice, College Students, Pune, Socio-economic Status, Personal Interest, Social Cognitive Career Theory, Urban India.},
        month = {April},
        }