The Trump administration’s proposed budget allows student borrowers to use Pell Grants for short-term, non-traditional degree programs, such as vocational or technical schools.
Previously, federally funded Pell Grants could only be used toward defraying the cost of tuition at a two-to-four-year college or university.
Currently, community colleges report a 40 percent dropout rate and unemployment or underemployment for students who do graduate. Though job prospects have increased in the past few years, the cost of a community college degree versus that of a vocational training certificate is not commensurate to the benefits.
The budget acknowledges that “Pell Grants are the foundation of low-income students’ financial aid packages” and thus keeps the funding at the same level as that of prior years, with the maximum award being $5,920.
This award on its own, however, is only a small payment toward the ever-skyrocketing cost of tuition at America’s four-year colleges and universities. Conversely, its value does go a long way when considering the cost of short-term, non-traditional degree programs — which average about one-fifth the cost of four-year colleges and universities.
Trade school graduates leave their programs with more job security, on average, than community college graduates. This results in part from the hands-on apprenticeships that students do while completing their certification. Vocational and technical degrees also take fewer years to complete, allowing individuals to move into the workforce more quickly.
Moreover, experts have acknowledged that there is a growing need for skilled labor, especially in the technology sector. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the current need sits at 500,000 workers in the technology field alone, a figure which will only continue to grow as more companies move their production facilities back within U.S. borders.
The move to expand access to non-traditional degree programs is reflective of the current administration’s priorities for higher education, as both President Trump and Secretary DeVos have stated that non-traditional degree programs are important and should be considered as viable alternatives to a traditional two or four-year college education.
The current labor market’s desire for specialized workers certainly indicates the same, suggesting that the market demand for certain types of graduates is beginning to shape governmental policy priorities, rather than the other way around.
Kate Hardiman is pursuing a master’s in education from Notre Dame University and teaches English and religion at a high school in Chicago.
