Higher education and job training

Today more than ever, getting a good job depends on obtaining necessary skills and training after high school.

Every Minnesotan should have access to an affordable two or four-year college degree, apprenticeship, or job-training certificate that prepares them for jobs of the future. This isn’t just good for individuals; it’s good for businesses, it’s good for our communities—and it will help grow Minnesota’s economy.

– Dean Phillips

Dean’s plan

Minnesota’s renowned public education system and varied post-secondary options make our state an ideal place to earn a living, raise a family and start a business. It’s time we build on that legacy by ensuring our higher education system is prepared to train and equip our young people with the skills they’ll need to compete in a global economy. That includes affordable four-year options, but also greater awareness of the many opportunities afforded by a two-year degree. Here’s Dean’s plan:

Ensure a range of high-quality education options after high school

Almost two-thirds of new jobs will require some education and training after high school, but a traditional four-year college degree is not the only path to a successful career. Many “new collar” jobs pay well and don’t require a BA, and increasingly, many Americans will require continuing education throughout their working lives. That’s why Dean supports federal pilot funding for innovative ideas like three-year degrees that combine high school and college, competency-based education, and “last mile” training so that states and localities can explore options that are best for their communities.

Make college more affordable for more families

For those seeking four-year degrees, Dean supports expanded federal student aid (including student loans and Pell Grants, which have not kept up with inflation) and allowing refinancing of existing student loan debt at lower interest rates. It’s unfair that college debt is generally subject to higher interest rates than automobile and other consumer loans. Dean also believes we should look to the states for best practices on providing free or reduced tuition at two-year schools and community colleges. Lastly, Dean is an advocate for loan-forgiveness programs for those entering high-impact but low-paying fields.

Help students and families make informed choices

Our federal student-aid system is needlessly complex. Education and training after high school are one of the best investments an individual and family can make—if they choose the right course of study and program. Many 21st-century jobs did not exist a few years ago, and others—like manufacturing jobs—are radically different than in years past. Dean will work to make career and financial-aid counseling available to Minnesota students beginning in middle school, and work to close the “exposure gap” by supporting high school internship programs and apprenticeships to help every young person find and pursue the best education and career path for them.

Ensure higher education teaches in-demand knowledge and skills

Obtaining higher education and training after high school is costly—in time and dollars. Dean will support policies that foster partnerships between higher-education institutions and employers to create smooth pathways to good first jobs in growing sectors of our economy. And he is exploring the possibility of giving schools and other training providers more “skin in the game” by tying a portion of their federal funding to their students’ employment outcomes.

Let’s create change—together.

Join the DeanTeam—a diverse, committed team of neighbors who are creating change in communities across Minnesota’s Third District.

Whether you’d like to volunteer at an upcoming campaign event or lend a hand from home, there are always opportunities to make a meaningful difference.