New research form the U.S. Department of Education provides insight into the labor market success of students who enroll in certificate programs. The results paint a picture of the completion rate of the programs, as well as the field of study and salary outcomes of those who enroll.
Certificate programs are training programs that are shorter than a two-year associate degree, but usually shorter than a year in length. They are typically designed for specific job-training purposes, unlike more broad higher education programs in liberal arts, humanities, or social sciences. This study from the Department of Education (Department) examined “the enrollment patterns, 3-year completion rates, and early labor market experiences of students” in certificate programs.
Of the students observed in this study, 64% of them enrolled in a certificate program at a for-profit college. The next highest concentration was in community colleges with 24% of students.