06 November 2026 | News
Image Courtesy: Public Domain
Last Mile Education Fund announced that Intel Corporation has joined the Semiconductor Pathways Fund, a national industry coalition investing in future engineers and technicians who are close to graduation but face financial barriers that could prevent them from finishing. Intel's participation adds to a shared effort to strengthen the U.S. semiconductor workforce by investing in students who are already close to entering it.
Launched in November 2025 with founding partner Applied Materials and inaugural investments from Lam Research, KLA Foundation, and Cadence Design Systems, the fund has since welcomed the AMD Foundation and Intel Corporation. Together, the coalition of six semiconductor industry leaders is working toward a $20 million goal to keep 6,700 students on track to graduation by 2028.
"US technical leadership relies on a steady pipeline of semiconductor talent. Much of that talent is already in classrooms today, but far too many students don't make it to the finish line" said Ruthe Farmer, founder and CEO of Last Mile Education Fund. "Intel's participation strengthens a shared commitment to ensure solvable financial setbacks don't cost a student their degree or the industry a future engineer or technician."
A student ready to enter the semiconductor workforce can still be stopped by an unpaid tuition balance, a car repair, or a housing emergency. The Semiconductor Pathways Fund provides rapid, flexible financial awards, averaging less than $3,000, to help students clear those barriers and complete their education.
A strong semiconductor industry starts with a strong talent pipeline, and helping more students complete their degrees is something we can tackle together," said Madison West, Senior Director of Corporate Responsibility, Head of Sustainability and President of the Intel Foundation. "Through the Semiconductor Pathways Fund, Intel is contributing to a collective effort to help more students succeed and build the workforce our industry needs."
The fund supports students pursuing fields vital to the semiconductor ecosystem, including electrical, materials, manufacturing, mechanical, and computer engineering, as well as technician pathways. Its nationwide model reaches students in their final stretch, when timely support can make the difference between an unfinished credential and a graduate ready to pursue a career.
The need is substantial. A Semiconductor Industry Association and Oxford Economics study projected that the U.S. semiconductor industry will add nearly 115,000 jobs by 2030, with 67,000 of those jobs at risk of going unfilled at current rates. The Semiconductor Pathways Fund addresses one part of that challenge: retaining students who have already invested years in preparation for technical careers.
"Building the workforce takes more than opening new pathways," Farmer said. "We also have to make sure students who are nearly there can finish."
Students within four semesters of graduation pursuing disciplines central to semiconductor innovation—electrical, mechanical, and chemical engineering; robotics; materials science; and semiconductor manufacturing—may be eligible for support.
