For millions of American families, the college question has become terrifying: How do we afford it?
The average student loan debt for Class of 2024 graduates hit $28,950 per person. Four-year universities now cost upward of $100,000 total. And student debt is crushing an entire generation’s ability to buy homes, start families, and build wealth.
New Jersey just made a move to change that equation—and it could have major impacts for teenagers preparing for life after high school and their families.
The state Senate Labor Committee advanced legislation that would establish the “New Jersey Earn and Learn Program.”
The groundbreaking alternative to traditional college lets high school graduates earn money while learning a trade, build real skills, and transition directly into permanent, good-paying jobs.
No student debt required. At all.
How It Works
The Earn and Learn Program creates a structured path for post-high school workers. Apprenticeships and paid internships will lead directly to full-time employment. Instead of spending four years in a classroom racking up debt for a degree they might not even use, students instead work directly with employers, earn a paycheck, learn on the job, and graduate into actual, flourishing careers.
Employers participating in the program receive tax credits—up to $3,000 per apprentice or intern per year for up to three years. The state is also offering additional credits for small businesses, minority-owned businesses, and companies that successfully convert interns into full-time employees.
For students, the math is simple: You earn while you learn, graduate debt-free, and step directly into a career.
For businesses: Earn tax relief while supporting the future of your industry.
Why This Matters Now
Student debt has become a defining financial crisis for young Americans. The average graduate owes nearly $30,000 before ever earning their first paycheck. Many owe far more than that, especially in New Jersey. That debt has direct consequences. Fewer young workers are purchasing homes and starting families. Many young professionals have to make career choices on salary alone just to get by.
The Earn and Learn Program offers a genuine alternative for students who aren’t interested in a traditional four-year degree, or for those who can’t afford it even with the help of student loans.
“For too many New Jerseyans, the path to a good-paying job should not require taking on significant student debt,” said Senator Troy Singleton, who sponsored the legislation. “The Earn and Learn Program is about creating real alternatives to traditional higher education by supporting structured apprenticeships and paid internships that allow workers to gain skills, earn a paycheck, and transition into long-term careers.”
What Qualifies
The program targets structured apprenticeships and paid internships that meet specific standards:
- The work is hands-on, skill-building training
- Participants earn a paycheck
- The program leads to eventual employment
- Employers commit to hiring successful participants into permanent roles
- Salaries are comparable to other similarly qualified workers in the field
Starting in 2027, eligible employers can claim tax credits and get to hiring. The credits are capped at $500,000 per year per business, ensuring the benefit spreads across multiple companies rather than concentrating within a few large, in-state corporations.
Who Benefits Most
This program is designed to reach students who might otherwise feel locked out of good careers:
- High school graduates who can’t afford college
- Those interested in trades (electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, construction, manufacturing)
- Young people from low-income families
- First-generation workers seeking alternatives to the traditional college path
- Students in underrepresented fields
The state is also offering bonus credits for businesses that hire from protected classes underrepresented in specific industries. The program looks to incentivize employers to expand opportunities to historically excluded workers.
What Happens Next
The bill advanced out of the Senate Labor Committee on March 2. It still needs to pass the full Senate and Assembly before heading to Governor Sherril’s desk to become law. If approved, the program would launch in 2027.
For decades, the narrative has been straightforward: Go to college or fall behind. For high school students and their families wrestling with that decision, the Earn and Learn Program represents an alternative pathway. One that lands you a good job, hands-on education, and security for the future.
All without a cent of student debt.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.