Short-Term Programs in the Shadows: What Data Show About Program Length, Cost, and Payoff

This report selects state- and system-level data on short-term programs under consideration for expanded Pell Grant eligibility. The analysis finds a diverse landscape of short-term programs focused on a wide range of fields with different program costs and a range of success rates for students. Methodological challenges encountered underscore the need for better data and improved data systems capable of assessing the quality and payoff of short-term workforce training programs not currently eligible for the Pell Grant.