Strada Education Foundation

Nondegree credentials (NDC), such as vocational certificates and professional licenses, have grown significantly in the United States in recent years. 📊 According to recent survey data from The Pew Charitable Trusts,for more than half of students report that they cover the costs out of pocket. 💲 The cost of programs can vary widely based on duration, curriculum, and the need for the program in the workforce. One 2024 study found that the median monthly cost of attendance for NDCs across an academic year, including living expenses, was $2,112 or $2,552, depending on the type of provider.  Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dVvVaJgD

We’re honored to be named a 2026 Bellwether Award finalist, recognized nationally for our innovative work in building workforce pathways for adult learners. Our “Building Workforce Pathways for Adult Learners Through Strategic Partnerships” initiative was selected as a top 10 finalist in Workforce Development, highlighting the impact of our Integrated Education and Training (IET) model. This work connects adult learners to high-demand careers through education, workforce training, and wraparound support — strengthening both individual lives and our community. A huge congratulations to our dedicated faculty, staff, and partners who make this mission possible. 💙 Learn more about this national recognition and Rio’s innovative approach to workforce development ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/g-7pg7az Bellwether College Consortium, Strada Education Foundation, ALAMO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT, CAEL, Arizona Department of Education, Maricopa Community Colleges #WorkforceDevelopment #AdultEducation #BellwetherAwards #IET #CommunityColleges #InnovationInEducation #RioSaladoCollege #MaricopaCommunityColleges

🤝 Last week, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership VEDP announced a partnership with Handshake as part of Virginia’s efforts to train and retain talent through internships. “By connecting students directly with employers through a platform they already know and trust, we’re expanding access to high-quality internships and ensuring Virginia graduates are prepared to launch meaningful careers right here in the Commonwealth.” Megan Healy, Senior Vice President for Talent and Workforce Strategy at VEDP. In addition to this partnership, Virginia is partnering with local businesses in rural areas to establish more high-impact and paid internships to attract students. ➡️ Read more: https://lnkd.in/g5XXJFQs

According to the State Opportunity Index, many states have shown progress since last year’s inaugural Index in connecting education to opportunity through five focus areas: 📈 37 states are now rated Advanced or Leading for clear outcomes data — up from 22 in 2024. 💲 However, affordability in four-year institutions remains a challenge, with Florida being the only state to receive a Leading rating. As for two-year institutions, 45 states hold a Leading or Advanced rating. Learn more from University Business Magazine: https://lnkd.in/eez-NmnT

📆 “When you are focused on the long term, at the end of every week you should be able to answer the question: What did I do this week that added value?” This is one of the many lessons that Strada’s President of Affiliates and Partnerships, Beth Cobert, learned early in her career. Today, she leads the organization’s partner work, and its owned affiliates and mission-aligned nonprofit organizations. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eWj73fWY

Cost transparency has long been a point of concern for both students and institutions. Institutions have attempted to demonstrate transparency through marketing campaigns and improvements to their calculator tools and tuition resets, showing that the cost of attendance is often lower than the published sticker price. However, students and their families are still uncertain about whether they can afford a postsecondary education. At a recent hearing for the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Strada Senior Vice President of Affordability Justin Draeger stated that the federal government should regulate financial aid offers to use straightforward and standardized language. “The goal is the same whether it’s with the College Cost Transparency Act or through state-level unit record data: It’s to deliver what students and families told us they want, … what the odds are of them completing their program, … and what the return on investment is once they complete their program.” Read more from Inside Higher Ed: https://lnkd.in/e34wvuq8

Register for American Council on Education’s ACE Experience 2026 #ACEx2026, a transformative convening where higher education leaders come together to confront the sector’s most urgent and complex challenges through shared exploration, policy insight, and a commitment to driving institutional and societal progress. 📅 February 25 - 28, 2026  📍 Washington, D.C.   🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/ezErYJ6P https://lnkd.in/exYcSrUz

Congratulations to CAEL for all it has accomplished over the last five decades, including the last nearly eight years as an affiliate of Strada. In the last three years alone, CAEL has tripled its membership, partnering with hundreds of colleges and universities and dozens of workforce organizations to serve adult learners. We’re grateful for CAEL’s commitment to learners, reputation in the field, and impact. Please join me in congratulating CAEL on all of its accomplishments and wishing Earl Buford and the CAEL team well as they launch into their next chapter as an independent nonprofit on January 1. We look forward to cheering them on in their next phase of development and to seeking additional ways to collaborate in the future.

Last month, more than 300 education and industry leaders from 36 U.S. states came together to learn from one another about how states are connecting education after high school with economic opportunity. At the daylong event, leaders explored data from the recently released 2025 State Opportunity Index and learned about promising approaches in other states. The event highlighted progress in five research-backed focus areas: Clear Outcomes, Quality Coaching, Affordability, Work-Based Learning, and Employer Alignment. Additionally, leaders from four states — Virginia, Minnesota, Washington, and Mississippi — shared how their organizations and teams are connecting education with opportunity, thanks to the State Opportunity Index.