This study examined the integration of career planning into entrepreneurship education as a foundation for a career development program at Shandong Vocational College of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine. Employing a convergent parallel mixed-methods design, data were collected from 8 teachers and 390 students through surveys, interviews, and focus groups. Quantitative findings revealed that integration enhanced entrepreneurial interest (WM = 4.33) and outcome expectations (WM = 4.30), though self-efficacy remained comparatively lower (WM = 4.11). Qualitative results highlighted barriers such as over-reliance on theoretical instruction, limited mentorship opportunities, and unrealistic success expectations. These challenges underscored the need for experiential, practice-oriented approaches. The study proposed the “Pathways to Purpose” program, which emphasizes project-based learning, industry mentorship, and digital tool utilization to strengthen entrepreneurial confidence and align educational outcomes with labor market demands. The integration of career planning demonstrated significant potential to foster entrepreneurial readiness by enhancing motivation, clarifying career trajectories, and cultivating resilience. Findings suggest that embedding career planning within entrepreneurship curricula can bridge the gap between academic instruction and realworld application, thereby equipping students with the psychological, social, and technical resources necessary for sustainable career development. The proposed program offers a replicable framework for vocational institutions seeking to balance theoretical knowledge with practical competencies in entrepreneurship education.

Keywords: career planning, entrepreneurship education, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, entrepreneurial interest, vocational education, social cognitive career theory