WASHINGTON (AP) – Graduates of career training programs at public colleges tend to land better paying jobs than those who attended for-profit schools, according to government data released Thursday.
The Education Department data show average earnings of those with certificates from public schools were nearly $9,000 higher than those with for-profit certificate programs.
The report also found nearly a third of for-profit students graduated from programs with median earnings below the federal minimum wage, which now stands at $7.25 an hour. That’s compared with only 14 percent in the public sector.
“College is the best investment a person can make in their long-term future,” Education Secretary John B. King Jr. said as the report was released. The earnings information “is an important thing for students to pay attention to as they decide what programs to pursue and where to pursue them.”
About 1.3 million students are enrolled in career college programs in a variety of fields from nursing, welding, and culinary arts to certificate programs for auto mechanics, pharmacy technicians and dental assistants.