“When the ecosystem works together, apprentices are far more likely to succeed:" Dr. Mallory Dwinal-Palisch on Apprenticeship Completion Grants

As the American workforce evolves, apprenticeships are an increasingly vital—and effective—way to prepare people for stable, well-paying careers without incurring student loan debt. The results speak for themselves: 93% of apprentices who complete their programs are retained as employees, and their average starting salary is $86,000.

However, all too many people who start apprenticeship programs aren’t able to complete them. The Department of Labor reported that in 2024, just 47% of apprentices completed their programs; other studies have shown that just over half of apprentices finish within five years, similar to the five-year graduation rate at community colleges.

Apprenticeship spots are in high demand; when apprentices leave their program, it impacts their career prospects and contributes to the continued skills gap in vital industries, from skilled trades to teaching, healthcare and technology.

We need to make every apprenticeship spot count. As we mark National Apprenticeship Week, we sat down with Dr. Mallory Dwinal-Palisch, President of Craft Education at Western Governors University (WGU), to discuss how we can help do so. Craft Education is a nonprofit that builds the tools and systems apprenticeship programs need to run smoothly and track student progress. Dr. Dwinal-Palisch has spent her career making work-based learning work for real people—starting as a Teach for America teacher and going on to co-found Reach University, the first accredited university to offer full degrees through apprenticeship.

Dr. Dwinal-Palisch spoke with our Chief Growth Officer Abigail Seldin about what apprenticeships actually are, why so many people don’t finish, and how something as small as a flat tire or an unexpected medical bill can knock a hardworking apprentice off track for good.

Tell us about Craft Education and your work at WGU. What does your team do to support apprentices?

At Craft Education, we build the infrastructure that makes apprenticeship work at scale. Our platform helps programs manage compliance, track apprentice progress, and translate on-the-job learning into real credentials. At WGU, we’re focused on ensuring apprentices can move seamlessly from work to degree pathways. Ultimately, we help programs run efficiently so apprentices can focus on learning and earning without unnecessary friction.

A lot of people think apprenticeship is just for construction workers. Who else is doing apprenticeships today, and why should more people consider this path?

Apprenticeship is expanding rapidly beyond the trades into fields like teaching, healthcare, IT, and advanced manufacturing. These are careers with real wage growth and long-term stability. More people should consider apprenticeship because it allows you to earn a paycheck while gaining skills and credentials, without taking on debt. It’s one of the most practical and proven pathways into the middle class.

We know that only about half of apprentices finish their program within five years—about the same rate as community college students. What gets in the way?

The biggest barriers aren’t academic, they’re life-related. Apprentices tend to be working adults, often supporting families, and even small disruptions can derail progress. Transportation issues, childcare gaps, or unexpected expenses can force someone to pause or drop out. The system hasn’t been designed to absorb these shocks, so completion suffers even when motivation is high.

When an apprentice drops out because of a financial emergency, what does that mean for them personally? And what does it mean for the industries that need these workers?

For the individual, it often means lost momentum, stalled wages, and fewer long-term opportunities. For employers and industries, it’s a missed investment—time, training, and resources that don’t result in a fully skilled worker. At scale, this contributes to persistent talent shortages in critical sectors like healthcare and education.

What is an apprenticeship completion grant, and how is it different from a regular scholarship?

A completion grant is a small, targeted financial intervention designed to help an apprentice stay enrolled through an unexpected disruption. Unlike traditional scholarships, which fund tuition upfront, completion grants are flexible and responsive, used to solve immediate, real-world problems that threaten persistence. They’re about finishing, not just starting.

Can you walk us through what a financial emergency actually looks like for an apprentice? What kinds of costs push people out?

It’s often something small but urgent: a car repair, a missed rent payment, a medical bill, or childcare coverage falling through. These costs might be a few hundred dollars, but without savings or safety nets, they can force someone to choose between work, family, and their program. That’s when people step off the path.

For a donor or business that wants to support apprentices, why is funding a completion grant such a high-impact way to give?

Completion grants are highly leveraged because they address the precise moment when someone is at risk of dropping out. A relatively small investment can protect a much larger investment in training and wages. It’s one of the most direct ways to improve completion rates and ensure that apprentices—and employers—realize the full value of the program.

Beyond money, what else can employers, community organizations, and program sponsors do to help apprentices stay on track?

Flexibility is key. Employers can offer predictable schedules and support during life disruptions. Programs can build stronger advising and early-warning systems to identify risk. Community organizations can provide wraparound services like childcare and transportation support. When the ecosystem works together, apprentices are far more likely to persist and succeed.

About the Speakers

Dr. Mallory Dwinal-Palisch is the President of Craft Education, a nonprofit division of Western Governors University (WGU). Craft Education builds the data tools and ecosystem infrastructure that help apprenticeship programs grow, track learner progress, and convert on-the-job training into recognized credentials. Dr. Dwinal-Palisch co-founded Reach University, the first regionally accredited university to offer full degrees through apprenticeship-based learning—helping hundreds of school districts grow their own teachers from within. She began her career as a Spanish teacher with Teach for America and later co-founded Oxford Day Academy, a public charter school in East Palo Alto, California. A Rhodes Scholar, she holds a B.A. in Economics, Spanish, and International Studies from Northwestern University; an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School; and a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Oxford.

Abigail Seldin is Chief Growth Officer at Scholarship America, the leading administrator of private scholarships in the United States, where she leads revenue, partnerships, external affairs, and go-to-market execution. Last year, Scholarship America delivered 338M+ to students through 1,350+ unique programs for half of today’s Fortune 500, in addition to federal agencies, local governments, small businesses, sports teams, community foundations, and individual philanthropists.

A Rhodes Scholar who studied at Oxford and a Henry Luce Scholar, Seldin co-founded and served as CEO of two organizations from inception through acquisition—College Abacus, an edtech company acquired by ECMC Group in 2014, and the Civic Mapping Initiative, a nonprofit acquired by the National League of Cities in 2023. Appointed by Governor Ayotte in 2025, she serves as the public member on the New Hampshire Board of Nursing.