When it comes to career advancement, the biggest question on most students’ minds is simple: Is the investment in further education worth it?
A new study published in the Journal of Public Economics provides a resounding “yes” for students pursuing short-term, noncredit community college programs. The research offers concrete proof that earning an industry-recognized credential is one of the fastest, most reliable ways to boost your income and switch into a higher-paying career.
Here, we’ll dive into the data-driven impact of these programs and how FastForward helps Virginians achieve these exact results.
Earnings Boosts Driven by Credentials
The study highlights that the financial benefits of noncredit training are heavily tied to actually crossing the finish line and securing your certification. For students who attain an industry-recognized credential, the payoff is immediate:
- Earning a credential increases quarterly earnings by an average of $818 compared to pre-enrollment pay, marking a nearly 10% gain over pre-enrollment earnings.
- The data shows that a credential acts as a key for industry mobility, allowing workers to successfully transition out of stagnant fields and into the state’s highest-paying career tracks.
Remarkable Return on Investment
The new research demonstrates just how fast these programs pay for themselves.
On average, the earnings gains from securing an industry credential exceed the total cost of the training program in just over half a year. This noteworthy turnaround time significantly outperforms most traditional, credit-bearing workforce programs, making it a low-risk, high-reward option for busy adults.
FastForward Your Path to Success
These findings mirror what students and graduates see every day across Virginia’s Community Colleges. FastForward programs are specifically engineered around this high-ROI model.
By focusing on the specific industry-recognized credentials that local employers value, FastForward allows you to gain high-demand certifications in fields like healthcare, information technology, and skilled trades in just six to 12 weeks. Participants reap the benefits of the financial returns, without the burden of long-term tuition debt.
See how a short-term credential can transform your earning power. Learn more about FastForward training programs here.