The New Playbook for College ROI: Podium Education’s Scalable Model for Real-World Learning
The ROI of a four-year college degree is under scrutiny as tuition rises and employers question traditional credentials. Podium Education offers a scalable model that embeds experiential and project-based learning into college curricula to improve career readiness. The article examines how this approach can help institutions demonstrate tangible value to students and employers.
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Key takeaways
Employer skepticism about traditional degrees is driving demand for career-relevant, experiential learning in higher education.
Podium Education's model embeds work-based and project-based learning directly into existing college curricula at scale.
Scalable experiential learning partnerships offer institutions a path to improve graduate outcomes and justify college ROI.
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The debate around the return on investment (ROI) of a four-year degree has reached a fever pitch. As tuition costs rise and employers question the value of traditional credentials, higher education leaders are rethinking how to make college more career-relevant. Experiential learning—work-based and project-based education embedded within curricula—is emerging as one of the most promising answers. Yet scaling it to serve millions of students has remained a challenge.
So, how can universities offer every student meaningful, career-tethered learning experiences that drive both employment outcomes and persistence toward graduation?
signals in higher ed host Darin Francis welcomes Christopher Parrish, Co-Founder and President of Podium Education, for a deep dive into how Podium is transforming experiential learning into a scalable model for universities. Together, they discuss the evolution of Podium’s model, the growing institutional momentum behind high-impact practices, and how partnerships with global employers are shaping a new generation of student experiences.
Key takeaways from the conversation…
Bridging the College-to-Career Competency Gap: Parrish explains that Podium was founded in 2019 to close the gap between academic learning and workplace readiness—by productizing career-connected experiences that fit inside undergraduate programs for credit.
High-Impact Practices at Scale: Podium’s immersive, video-driven projects and live labs connect students to global brands like L’Oréal, Intel, and Charity Water, offering authentic exposure to the workplace regardless of geography or background.
Retention, Equity, and Early Impact: Institutions are finding that embedding experiential learning as early as the first year improves student engagement and persistence—helping close equity gaps for first-generation and underserved learners.
Christopher Parrish is the Co-Founder and President of Podium Education, where he leads the development of scalable experiential learning programs that enhance undergraduate education and workforce readiness. Previously, he held senior leadership roles at 2U, overseeing university partnerships, program strategy, and growth initiatives in online higher education. With a background in management consulting and strategic operations, Parrish brings deep expertise in academic innovation, partnership development, and building high-performing teams in the education technology sector.
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About the author
With 20 years of experience at the intersection of higher education and edtech, Darin Francis brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep passion for driving meaningful change in the sector. Having led teams, crafted go-to-market (GTM) strategies, and worked closely with institutions, Darin is uniquely positioned to help edtech companies navigate the complexities of U.S. and Canadian higher education. Darin Francis, based in Detroit, MI, US, is currently a Managing Partner and CEO at Harbinger Lane Consulting.
