Applications for Metropolitan State University of Denver’s fall Earn and Learn Cohort are now available for undergraduate and graduate students, with a first-round deadline of April 3. Students can also apply for the second round of of applications by May 1.
The Earn and Learn program was designed to address equity barriers within experiential learning. The program provides funding to undergraduate and graduate students who need financial assistance to participate in unpaid off-campus internships.
Identified as a high-impact practice and a “Stuff That Works” initiative, Earn and Learn helps to level the playing field of experiential learning so students can engage in career-shaping opportunities. As of last spring, participants had a year-to-year retention rate of over 80% and up to 96% into the next semester. Students who participate also graduate in four years, on average.
The Earn and Learn program is also a great fit for Pell Grant-eligible students, students of color and first-generation students, as over half of participating students fit at least one of these demographics.
Program benefits
- Students receive payment equal to (or greater than) the Denver minimum wage for every hour worked at an unpaid internship, up to 150 hours per semester (as of FA23):
- Undergraduate: $17.29 per hour
- Graduate: $18 per hour
- Students can gain invaluable experience through field work that will set them apart and prepare them for a career.
- Participants can grow professionally and personally through networking and on-the-job experiences.
- Participants can connect with exceptional career-readiness resources to give them an edge in the professional world.
- The program reduces financial stress and allows students to focus more on learning experiences.
More information, eligibility requirements and student testimonials can be found on the Earn and Learn website.