College offers money-back guarantee on tuition
Community colleges have long provided an opportunity for both young and older adults to learn new job skills, often by attending part time.
Prospective students are turning away from some schools, however, in favour of more affordable options, forcing many colleges to work harder to justify their price of admission.
For instance, rather than imposing an across-the-board tuition increase, B.C.’s Okanagan College is targeting program areas where its tuition is below the average for similar size institutions.
But how about offering a money-back guarantee instead?
That's the pitch Lansing Community College, one of the largest colleges in Michigan, has been making to its prospective students.
Beginning next month, students who take six-week courses in certain subjects will be guaranteed a job within a year or their tuition money, which averages about $2,400, will be refunded.
The guarantee focuses on four technical jobs: call-centre specialists, pharmacy technicians, quality inspectors and computer machinists.
What’s the catch? Well, the offer is only open to a total of 61 students. Those accepted can't miss any classes or assignments and, once they do graduate, have to prove that they're actively applying for jobs.
Will it work? Not likely, says one college dean on his blog, largely because the college hasn't made any arrangements with any local employers to actually guarantee spots. In other words, it’s either bluffing or praying.
For any college to have to issue a pile of refunds at exactly the moment when it's least economically able to do so seems dangerous, if not crazy, he maintains.
Would an arrangement like this influence your decision? Have you heard of any similar offers where you live?
By Gordon Powers, MSN Money
Posted by: Greg | Apr 16, 2021 10:00:11 AM
All colleges and universities should offer money-back guarantees! There was a time when a degree meant a ticket to easy street, but most graduates now seem to be waiting tables. Higher education is no longer valuable, since employers care only about experience.
Posted by: Craig | Apr 16, 2021 10:27:48 AM
there's a degree for "call-center specialists"?
Posted by: don | Apr 16, 2021 11:40:29 AM
Maybe part of the problem is there is a degree for call center specialists. lol
I dont agree that employers want only experience but the simple fact is some of these degrees
dont give you any more than someone with a year or two experience and the expereince is actually doing the work...which would you choose if you had to hire someone? Why are they offering these kinds of courses? If you want to spend your money taking classes that really provide no specialized skills then OK but dont expect employement just because you have a degree.
The next thing will be a degree for washroom attendant. The system itself is devaluing a degree.
Not every job in this world should requires a degree but that seems to be where the colleges want to go...employers are not buying into it becasue so many feel they are entitled to large dollarswhen they start working simply because they have a degree. Keep degrees to employment that actually require specialized training and it will stop the slide of degrees being devalued in society.
Posted by: Lisa | Apr 16, 2021 12:25:45 PM
Way to go Lansing! I have a degree that didn't do me any good at all...and if someone would have told me BEFORE my post-secondary education that the degree would do no good...I would never have wasted the money. Yes, I believe all post-secondary education facilities should guarantee a job afterwards...and the "conditions" set out by the college in question shouldn't be a problem either.
This is a great idea.
Posted by: don | Apr 16, 2021 12:47:35 PM
How are they supposed to gurantee a job? Are we going to strongarm the employers into hiring everyone regardless of marks, attitde etc...etc..etc.. Ridiculous
Posted by: Steve | Apr 16, 2021 1:52:57 PM
A great idea. Better yet why not have all colleges funded by a percentage their graduates income? Therefore colleges that offer advanced classes in watching paint dry (Media Studies) would quickly go bust & universities that can get idiots like GWB good jobs would be well funded.
Posted by: Dustin | Apr 16, 2021 6:02:33 PM
FYI people,
I realize this may be a moot point but the article doesn't make any mention about degrees. The call centre specialist program is more than likely a 1-year certificate.
Posted by: Danielle | Apr 16, 2021 8:30:11 PM
Actually, it specifically states that these are "6 week courses".
Posted by: Lisa | Apr 16, 2021 9:05:22 PM
Couldn't you stretch your imagination and possibly have the same ideas in all universities and colleges, as in Lansing?? Secondly, to "don"...you would not agree to the "conditions" set forth by the instition if your marks or attitude were not in line, would you? Therefore, there is good reason for the "conditions."
Posted by: Connor | Apr 19, 2021 1:12:56 AM
This is nothing new. The University of Regina has a similar guarantee. I'm sure there are other schools yet; this just happens to be the first college I've heard about.
Posted by: Sam | Apr 19, 2021 3:43:15 AM
Seeing how Canada is an Oil Producing Nation, education should be free. Most Oil producing nations around the world do provide free education, and seeing how Canada has the 2nd largest reserves of Oil, we should not differ.
Posted by: Canada Rocks EH ! | Apr 19, 2021 8:54:40 AM
Education does NOT matter as much as experience. I know many people with B.com or B.Ed etc etc. They are waiting tables or are into sales positions as advertising reps. To be a ad rep you need personality and common sense, not a B Comm. I know several people who do not have the formal education but has has grown great companies. An example would be www.homeassistcanada.ca . Check this one out. It is one of the best run companies ever. They are growing in leaps and bounds. All because of common sense. Remember... www.homeassistcanada.ca the one to watch.
Posted by: don | Apr 19, 2021 3:57:17 PM
I see nothing wrong with conditions I just think a guarantee on something you have no control over (having employers hire) will drive up costs in the long run. Many colleges have placement programs and I do think they are a good idea but a guarantee is something else.
Posted by: Emma | Apr 19, 2021 5:23:57 PM
There is a private college in Canada that offers a guarantee that you will get a job in the field within a year, but they don't offer money back. Instead they offer another program from the college for free. They seem to do a lot around job placement for students, so I suspect very few people qualify for the free course.
Posted by: me | Apr 21, 2021 6:31:14 PM
here you go
Posted by: me | Apr 21, 2021 6:32:25 PM
here
Posted by: sammy | Apr 21, 2021 8:46:37 PM
i feel like dick cheney when he was a wal-mart greeter