Higher education institutions have a rich history of shaping how students think and learn. Learning as a process creates opportunities for conceptualization and insights. However, learning as theory, without the experience of doing, often leaves students less prepared to apply their knowledge to real world problems. The measure of success for liberal arts, four year universities and colleges have been graduation rates. As the cost of obtaining four year degrees rises, students are challenging the education community to rethink and deliver a better balance of conceptual and applied learning approaches that ensure students are prepared for the workplace. Many students that would normally pursue a liberal arts degree are migrating to two year technical schools. These schools tend to be more affordable and offer career tracks to jobs that are in demand. Students can complete their training half the time at a much lower cost, and move directly into a specific career, when compared to a bachelor’s degree.