Degree apprenticeships are emerging as a powerful strategy for states and territories seeking to align education and workforce systems, address talent shortages in high-demand industries, and expand access to high-quality postsecondary pathways. By combining paid, work-based learning with the attainment of a college degree, degree apprenticeships offer learners an opportunity to earn a wage while developing the skills and credentials employers need.
Through its degree apprenticeship portfolio, the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA) is working with Governors, state agencies, higher education institutions, employers, and workforce partners to explore policies and practices that support the development and expansion of degree apprenticeship programs. Building on insights from state leaders, national experts, and international models, NGA is helping states and territories identify priority sectors, strengthen partnerships, navigate implementation challenges, and develop sustainable strategies for scaling degree apprenticeships.
Convenings
Oxford
In August 2025, the National Governors Association (NGA), in partnership with Craft Education and the National Center for the Governance of Youth Opportunity (NCGYO), convened state leaders at the University of Oxford for a five-day Degree Apprenticeship Convening. The gathering brought together governors’ office staff, higher education leaders, workforce agencies, employers, and national organizations to examine how states can expand degree apprenticeship opportunities in high-demand fields such as education, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, information technology, and other critical industries. Through a combination of policy discussions, peer learning, and international examples, participants explored practical strategies for strengthening pathways that connect education and employment.
Throughout the convening, attendees engaged with leading apprenticeship programs across the United Kingdom through site visits to the Dyson Institute, Milton Keynes University Simulation Lab, and Blenheim Palace, while also participating in interactive sessions on workforce funding, data systems, employer engagement, teacher apprenticeships, and state policy development. State teams worked together to identify opportunities to strengthen cross-agency collaboration, align education and workforce policies, and develop actionable roadmaps for launching or scaling degree apprenticeship programs in their own states.
A central theme of the convening was that successful degree apprenticeship systems depend on sustained collaboration among governors’ offices, higher education institutions, workforce agencies, employers, and trusted intermediary organizations. Participants explored how community colleges can serve as both education providers and apprenticeship sponsors, discussed strategies for engaging employers through strong value propositions and labor market alignment, and examined how states can accelerate growth through policy alignment, funding incentives, mentor support, and robust data infrastructure. A featured discussion with Louisiana leaders highlighted how coordinated leadership across government, higher education, and workforce partners can drive statewide innovation and create stronger pathways to high-quality careers.
Louisiana – Degree Apprenticeship Roundtable
The National Governors Association (NGA), in partnership with Craft Education, convened state leaders, higher education institutions, employers, workforce agencies, and apprenticeship experts in New Orleans, Louisiana, for the Degree Apprenticeship Roundtable on May 27, 2026. The convening provided participants with an opportunity to explore how degree apprenticeship models can strengthen workforce pipelines, expand access to postsecondary education, and support state economic development priorities. Sessions examined the fundamentals of degree apprenticeship design, highlighted emerging national trends, and explored strategies for aligning education and workforce systems to create high-quality earn-and-learn pathways. A significant portion of the meeting focused on Louisiana’s efforts to build a statewide degree apprenticeship ecosystem, with leaders from the Governor’s Office, Louisiana Works, and the Louisiana Board of Regents sharing lessons learned around cross-agency collaboration, employer engagement, and strategic communications.
Throughout the day, participants engaged with SINA Communications and explored strategies for launching and communicating the degree apprenticeship opportunity in their state. Speakers from North Carolina, Utah, and Accenture demonstrated how employers, higher education institutions, and state leaders are using degree apprenticeships to address talent shortages and create new opportunities for learners. Craft, WGU, and JFF also explored innovations in competency tracking and credit articulation, highlighting approaches that better align workplace learning with academic instruction. The convening concluded with the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) and New America facilitated action-planning sessions that encouraged participants to identify priority sectors, implementation strategies, and partnership opportunities within their own states. Through peer exchange and team reflection, attendees developed concrete next steps for advancing degree apprenticeship efforts and left with practical tools, promising practices, and stronger connections to a growing network of leaders committed to expanding degree apprenticeship opportunities nationwide.
