It’s not that today’s college students are somehow less talented or motivated. It’s that they’ve had too few opportunities to apply what they’re learning in real-world settings. The disconnect between higher education and the workforce isn’t new, but in today’s fast-changing economy, it’s more urgent than ever to close that gap. From internships and co-ops to project-based experiences embedded directly into coursework, work-based learning helps students translate theory into practice, build confidence and networks, and graduate with a resume that reflects the development of job-ready skills.
Demand for these experiences is rising, and not just from frustrated employers. More than 70 percent of community college students now say that “gaining skills to succeed in the workplace” is a top reason they go to college. Access remains limited, however. Too many students still graduate without ever having a meaningful opportunity to gain professional experience. While many colleges are looking to expand work-based learning, they’re constrained by fragmented infrastructure, limited employer partnerships and funding models that prioritize enrollment over outcomes. Bridging this gap will require leadership — and investment — at the state level.
A few states are taking action with policies and funding streams making it easier for institutions to embed experience into students’ academic journeys. In Virginia, for example, the state’s Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP) is helping colleges expand access to paid, credit-bearing internships through regional hubs and competitive grants. At the University of Virginia’s College at Wise, for instance, V-TOP funding supports staff dedicated to helping students and employers co-design high-quality experiential learning opportunities, ensuring that hands-on learning is a core part of the college experience.
Texas, meanwhile, has launched the Tri-Agency Workforce Initiative, a partnership among the state’s higher education, workforce and K-12 agencies. The initiative aims to expand work-based learning that’s aligned with high-growth industries in the state. Importantly, it’s backed by legislative momentum, including a directive for state agencies to identify long-term funding strategies to grow and sustain these opportunities.
Indiana has long had an Office of Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship, whose aim is to promote and support a continuum of opportunities that connects students directly with employers. The state is also working to directly fund and incentivize these connections, helping more employers offer paid work-based learning experiences. Through the EARN Indiana program, for instance, eligible employers are reimbursed for 50 percent of a student’s internship wages, reducing barriers for participation and encouraging more small businesses to invest in talent development.
In Colorado, a cross-agency partnership spanning workforce development, higher education, economic development and labor has produced a detailed report outlining shared goals and strategies to align education and employment systems. Meanwhile, the state’s Department of Higher Education is leading a statewide Industry Credentials/Work-Based Learning program that awards college credit for work-related experience.
Despite this growing momentum, efforts remain fragmented and underfunded. Many programs rely on temporary grants, ad hoc employer partnerships or the goodwill of overstretched faculty. Funding arrives in short bursts. Promising pilots deliver results, then vanish. Without greater funding and stronger infrastructure, most colleges will be unable to deliver work-based learning at the scale and consistency that students and employers need.
That's a missed opportunity for both students and the economy. Work-based learning remains one of the most effective strategies states have for improving both college completion and career readiness. It also works to prevent brain drain and build talent pipelines to attract and retain businesses to create new jobs and a thriving economy. Virginia, Texas, Indiana and Colorado are demonstrating what’s possible. Other states should build on these efforts by coordinating, codifying and expanding work-based learning initiatives. That means setting clear goals, securing sustainable funding and fostering cross-sector partnerships that make it easier for institutions and employers to collaborate.
Work experience can no longer be treated as optional. Embedding it into the core of the college experience is essential to preparing students for the realities of today’s workforce.
Dana Stephenson is the co-founder and CEO of Riipen, which provides a work-based learning platform to help bridge the gap between education and employment. Former Massachusetts Gov. Jane Swift is the president of Education at Work, a nonprofit serving higher education and focused on work-based learning.
Governing’s opinion columns reflect the views of their authors and not necessarily those of Governing’s editors or management.
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