Work Pays Off
While headlines spotlight enrollment declines nationwide, Blackburn College in Illinois reports an 18% surge in incoming students this fall. The secret is its century-old identity as a federally recognized Work College, where every student holds a campus job in exchange for reduced tuition. The approach not only eases costs and builds practical skills for students but also strengthens enrollment by offering a distinctive value proposition. At a time when many liberal arts colleges are cutting programs or staff, Blackburn shows how aligning mission with affordability can turn labor into an asset. Odd yet effective, the work-study ethos has become a lifeline in a sector otherwise defined by contraction.
J. Howard Miller, We Can Do It!, 1943. Public domain. U.S. National Archives.