In a new report from the Progressive Policy Institute, Bruno Manno and Deanna Ross explore why millions of Americans are questioning the traditional college path and how apprenticeship degrees offer a promising alternative.
The report highlights the disconnect between higher education and the workforce: more than half of bachelor’s degree holders are underemployed, and student debt burdens continue to rise. As public confidence in the value of a four-year degree declines, there’s growing demand for more affordable, work-based learning models.
Apprenticeship degrees answer that call. By integrating paid employment, academic credit, and mentorship, this model provides a pathway to both a degree and a career — without the debt. Manno and Ross frame apprenticeship degrees as a new public-private partnership capable of expanding access, supporting working learners, and meeting the needs of employers nationwide.
Their report is a call to action for policymakers to reorient higher education funding and support around models that offer a more effective pathway to a degree, career, and upward mobility.
Read the full report:
