Calbright College connects adult learners with work-based learning in high-growth tech and HR careers.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (June 18, 2025) — Calbright College—California’s only fully online statewide community college focused exclusively on adult learners working through a unique competency-based education model—today announced the launch of the Calbright Career Bridge Program, a new pilot initiative that integrates paid work-based learning experiences into its career support offerings for program completers. 

In collaboration with Riipen, the developer of a popular marketplace platform that enables college students to connect with real-world projects from companies, the college will provide 75 Calbright students with flexible, paid project-based microinternships across the state. Projects will focus on fast-growing career fields such as cybersecurity and data analysis, giving students the chance to build their resumes with real-world experience aligned to workforce needs in the state.

“Our students are working-age adults from across California’s 58 counties, and many of them are balancing jobs, family responsibilities, and financial constraints,” said Ajita Talwalker Menon, president and CEO of Calbright College. “By breaking down barriers to career-relevant experience and tightly aligning our coursework with real-world projects, we’re advancing a competency-based learning model that meets learners where they are, prepares them for in-demand jobs, and delivers value to California employers.”

A report from the Strada Institute for the Future of Work and the Burning Glass Institute found that more than half of recent college graduates are now underemployed—meaning they are working in roles that either don’t require a degree, don’t fully utilize their skills and training, or fail to meet their financial needs. At the same time, a growing number of corporate executives view college graduates as unprepared for real-world problem-solving. Meanwhile, a lack of access to tangible paid work-based learning experiences might actually widen economic disparities because wealthier and better-connected students are more likely to hold paid internships.

Calbright’s pilot program with Riipen directly addresses these challenges by connecting program completers with short-term, paid microinternships aligned with their career fields of study. Students will gain access to live employer projects that provide hands-on experience in two fast-growing fields—cybersecurity and data analytics—building professional networks, and demonstrating their skills to potential employers.

“By giving students the chance to show both in-demand technical and practical skills gained in our programs—like adaptability, communication, and problem-solving— and apply them in real-world situations, we’re creating a triple win,” said Shannon McCarty, vice president of learning and instruction at Calbright College. “Students get a high-quality, flexible education that helps them move up. Employers gain workers who are ready to contribute. And California benefits from a stronger, more inclusive economy and workforce.”

Riipen’s unique platform connects learners with short-term, real-world projects from employers across industries. Companies of all kinds—from small community-based nonprofits like the YMCA to large corporations like IBM—use the platform to connect with students who can contribute to projects and assignments, build their talent pipelines, and strengthen their brand among students and young professionals.

“We’re working to break down barriers between higher education and industry so that more students—especially those historically underserved—can access the kind of project-based, real-world experience that changes career trajectories,” said Dana Stephenson, founder and CEO of Riipen. “This is about more than just learning by doing. It’s about enabling institutions to embed applied learning into the fabric of their curriculum, giving employers a new way to engage with emerging talent, and helping students build the skills, confidence, and connections that lead to long-term success.”

Calbright’s student body reflects the realities of adult learners across the state: 91% are over age 25, with a median age approaching 40; 40% are unemployed; and 32% are parents or caregivers. Many are first-time college students or have limited college experience and are pursuing higher education and job skills training to improve their economic prospects.

“Too many learners are shut out of meaningful career opportunities simply because they haven’t had the chance to apply their skills in real-world settings,” said Dave Savory, co-founder of Riipen. “This is about changing that through creating accessible, scalable pathways for learners to demonstrate their value to employers and gain the confidence they need to succeed, advance, and grow in their careers. 

For more information about Calbright College, visit calbright.edu.

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About Calbright College: Calbright College is California’s first statewide, online community college focused on providing free, flexible, and job-relevant education to adult learners seeking to upskill, reskill, and pursue better careers. With a unique competency-based education model, Calbright enables students to move at their own pace, earn credentials with real-world value, and pursue economic mobility—on their terms.

About Riipen: Riipen is enabling transformative opportunities for companies to collaborate with post-secondary students on real-time, real-world challenges that are embedded directly into coursework. To date, Riipen has enabled over 272,000 learners at 700+ post-secondary schools to complete 18.4 million hours of applied learning with 44,000 companies. Their mission: to help students of all backgrounds and geographies to boost their skills, gain career clarity, network, and find jobs they love. For more information about Riipen’s work-based learning platform, please visit riipen.com.

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