Through the haze of pandemic disruptions, a trend is emerging in higher education today: Many students may need something different than the traditional model of post-high school learning. This reality creates an opportunity for colleges and universities to explore new educational and financial models that meet these challenges and are attractive to new types of students, particularly working learners.
A promising set of models includes “learn and earn” programs, such as apprenticeships, paid internships, and co-ops. One of these models is the work college, which are four-year liberal arts institutions that intentionally include work programs alongside academic programs. There are 10 work colleges in the country today.
This report from the American Council on Education shares information and insights into the structure and potential of work colleges. The research examines whether the work college model can work for working students who must combine learning with significant earning to support themselves and their families and if the work college model be expanded or adapted to provide these learners with some sort of learn and earn postsecondary education experience.
The report also provides case studies on two work colleges—Berea College and Paul Quinn College.