A Closer Look at Short-Term Programs

As our nation recovers from the pandemic, Americans will seek postsecondary programs that equip them with skills and employment opportunities to live stable and secure lives. That’s why any new funding for workforce development and higher education programs should be thoughtful and sustainable. Some have proposed using the Pell Grant program to finance very short-term training programs of 8 to 15 weeks. But what do we know about the quality of these programs and the outcomes and earnings of the students they enroll? Our latest video shows how not all short-term programs are created equal and why we should be hesitant to expand Pell eligibility without additional data.