Which post-secondary programs pay off fastest? These diplomas, popular at Mohawk College, win out

Programs training electricians and early-childhood educators — both popular at Mohawk College — are among the fastest to pay off, according to a recent national ranking.

These and other nondegree programs — like firefighting, automotive and nursing — offer students the quickest paths to a financial return, outpacing degree programs in high-earning STEM fields in the short term, according to CourseCompare’s Return on Education Index, which ranks top college and university programs.

It’s a longtime trend that doesn’t surprise Mohawk president Paul Armstrong. But the fact that many of the popular diploma and certificate programs on the list are offered at the Hamilton Mountain institution is “reassuring,” he said.

“All these graduates tend to do really, really well,” he added.

The index, released last month, compares early-career financial returns across 21 popular programs — both two and five years after graduation — “by balancing upfront costs against earning trajectories and labour-market dynamics,” CourseCompare says.

Read the full story in The Hamilton Spectator (October 15): Which post-secondary programs pay off fastest? These diplomas, popular at Mohawk College, win out

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