A very small percentage of America’s colleges and universities are known as “work colleges,” because students cover much of the cost of attendance by doing work on campus. Some of them have been around since the 19th century, and others were recently formed. Apparently, they are filling a need, but just how do they work?

In today’s Martin Center article, Jenna Robinson looks at work colleges.

She writes:

What makes these schools different from other postsecondary institutions is their strategic incorporation of employment into education. The Work College Consortium explains:

Each school is unique and operates the work program in a slightly different fashion. However, “work-learning-service” is a central component of each work college. Student work, coupled with robust academics and a spirit of service, is the common denominator.

There are currently 10 federally recognized work colleges in the U.S. (as well as one independent two-year work college). The Work College Consortium was formed in 1995 to encourage collaboration between the institutions.

Students can choose from a range of useful academic programs.

Robinson suggests two policy changes that could improve the work college option:

Two reforms could help work colleges to keep costs down and attract additional students. One option is to give students course credit for the work they are already doing as part of the program. Another option would be for work colleges to introduce 90-hour degrees (which the Martin Center wrote about here). Either option would align with the colleges’ mission of work-learning-service. Public university systems could also consider converting institutions into work colleges.