Certificates gaining popularity, but students struggle to pay back loans - Pat Donachie, Education Dive

Certificate programs have continued to see an expansion in enrollment. But, many students in these programs are still struggling to pay back education loans, with 44% of certificate students who borrowed in the 2003-04 school year having defaulted by 2015, according to the Wall Street Journal. Considering the default rate, many educators and policymakers have started to see the importance of addressing student ROI from certification programs, as it determines whether students may be able to repay loans from, according to a representative for the Center for American Progress. Some certification programs, like manufacturing have yielded positive results, but the success of others is still unclear. A report this year from Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce there is on average more than 30 million jobs with an annual salary around $55,000, which do not require a college degree — which highlights why that more students may be seeking alternative degree options through certificates. http://www.educationdive.com/news/certificates-gaining-popularity-but-students-struggle-to-pay-back-loans/506769/