Welcome from our President

How we’ve grown, what we’ve learned, and how we’ve helped

It feels like there has never been a more volatile time to be an educator, a student, or an employer. There is so much uncertainty about student enrollment, the high cost of college and a graduating workforce with disparity between the skills employers are looking for and the skills employees possess.

For students — especially first-generation students and students living on low incomes — the promise of an affordable high-quality education, a good job, and a rewarding career can feel like a mirage. They can envision it but fear they will never touch it.

For employers, finding and retaining qualified, talented
employees is hard.

Colleges and universities are experiencing severe challenges of their own — in recruiting students and then ensuring that they can afford college, graduate in a timely manner, and use their education to build a fulfilling career.

At Education at Work, our mission is to build lasting partnerships among students, colleges, and employers that benefit all three groups — and to ensure students graduate with less debt and get the workplace skills and experience they need.

At Education at Work, our mission is to build lasting partnerships among students, colleges, and employers.”

— Jaime Nunez

President, Education at Work

Education at Work’s mission is critical.
Right now, 70% of college students work at least one job to make ends meet, according to a Georgetown University study.

The majority graduate with debt averaging in the tens of thousands. Even then, they may not be equipped with the skills they need to land their first job. Our model is founded on the premise that it’s not enough just to provide students with extra income or skills development or opportunities to make career connections — the combination of the three are essential to serve students and advance a more equitable society.

Education at Work is celebrating 10 years of helping students pay for college, acquire valuable skills, and build career connections.

Over the past decade, we have provided more than $95 million in salaries and tuition assistance to 8,088 students in four states. Today, we are poised for growth and hope to serve many more students, universities, and employers across the country.

Our students overwhelmingly report their experience at EAW helped them complete their degrees, and they’re graduating with an average of $15,000 less in student loan debt than peer groups. They feel more confident than their peers when it comes to early career skills such as critical thinking, teamwork, and professionalism. Finally, they’re more likely than their peers to be employed full-time. They’re finding fulfillment in their jobs and are contributing to society.

EAW graduates finished college with 60% less student loan debt than their peers.

National Comparison
Sample

$19,000

AVERAGE STUDENT LOAN DEBT