Work College Can Give You Experience and Education for Free

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For the past few decades, common sense has dictated that if you want a good career and better opportunities for a good life, you need a college education. However, these days people are wondering if a college degree is really worth it . Even if you take into account research that shows that college is still a pretty good investment for most people, there is one huge problem: college is damn expensive. Average annual tuition at four-year colleges is nearly $11,000 for in-state students and $27,560 for out-of-state students. And that’s just tuition fees. Even if you think a college degree will help you achieve your life goals, the student loan crisis may make you think twice about forking out the cash.

But maybe you don’t have to. Because there are nine four-year colleges in this country that qualify as “worker colleges” according to the federal government, and from these colleges you can earn a degree at a greatly reduced cost of tuition or even for free.

What is a labor college?

Simply put, a work college is a college where students work part-time (usually at the college itself), which either offsets the cost of tuition or eliminates it altogether. It is important to note that this is not simply a form of work-study where students work part-time as part of their financial aid package. The employability aspect is a central part of the educational philosophy of these colleges. The idea is to give students work experience that will benefit them in their careers, while also giving them a sense of ownership and partnership with their college.

These colleges must comply with federal regulations set by the U.S. Department of Education, which also oversees their operations. There are currently nine such colleges in the country:

Of these, two offer free tuition to all full-time students (Berea College and College of the Ozarks), four offer free tuition to full-time students who meet other criteria, including residency and income requirements (Alice Lloyd College, Bethany Global University, College Blackburn and Warren Wilson College), and three offer reduced but not completely free tuition (Kuyper College, Paul Quinn College and Sterling College).

Pros and cons

The most obvious (and most compelling) benefit of attending a trade college is reduced or free tuition, which can make all the difference for those who can’t (or won’t) shell out an exorbitant amount of money. But there are other reasons to consider a vocational college, and some downsides you should also think about.

  • Pros: work experience. College can often be an abstract experience, filled with theory and isolated from the pressures of real work. Even programs that allow you to intern or shadow a trade don’t really capture the ins and outs of the actual job. College work experiences combine the abstract and the concrete, giving you practical experience that will pay off when you enter the workforce.
  • Pros: network. The work experience you gain will look good on a resume, but you’ll also have the opportunity to network with alumni and other professionals already in the field while you gain that experience. All of this can help you find a job.
  • Minus: time. Labor colleges typically require you to work up to 15 hours per week at your assigned job. This may not seem like much until you consider that you will also be attending classes full time, which can make time management difficult.
  • Cons: limited number of specialties. There are only nine labor colleges in the country, so if you choose this option, you’re limited to the programs they offer— only 40 majors among them.
  • Minus: culture. Again, the small number of work colleges means you can’t be too picky when it comes to culture. For example, Bethany Global University and The College of the Ozarks are both explicitly Christian schools. If it’s not in your comfort zone, you have even fewer options.
  • Cons: size. Labor colleges are small schools. Bethany Global University has only a few hundred students, and the largest (Berea College) has only 1,600 students. Acceptance rates range from 12% to 93%, but even at higher levels, only a small number of positions open each year. Some of these colleges also only accept students from the immediate area, meaning you may not even have the opportunity to apply.

All things considered, if money is the main obstacle between you and a college degree, it might be worth considering a vocational college. These days, graduating with little (or no) student debt and a ton of work experience sounds amazing.

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