Career transitions can be expensive. While you may not need to complete an entirely new college degree, you will likely need to invest in an education program aimed at building the skills you need to qualify for an entry-level position in your desired field. The price tags on these programs can range from the hundreds to thousands, depending on the skills you need to develop, but there are several ways you can either offset program costs or pay in more manageable installments. Below are the 5 common ways our students fund their career transition programs.
We Offer Career Transition Programs In Cybersecurity, Software Development, Project Management & More!
Programs start at $3,295
1. Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Funding
According to the Department of Labor website, “WIOA is landmark legislation that is designed to strengthen and improve our nation’s public workforce system and help get Americans, including youth and those with significant barriers to employment, into high-quality jobs and careers and help employers hire and retain skilled workers.”
While WIOA is a federal program, access to the funds is managed at the state level. For unemployed or underemployed Marylanders, many of our programs have been pre-approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) for WIOA funding. This program is administered through One Stop Centers located throughout the state.
Students outside the state of Maryland can still apply for WIOA funds toward our programs but they will have to go through the process at their state program offices.
2. GI Bill®*
Veterans can use their Post 9/11 GI Bill® to fund their career transition programs. The following programs are pre-approved for GI Bill® funding:
Cybersecurity and Information Technology
- Certificate in Cyber Foundations
- Certificate in Red Hat System Administration
- Certified Cybersecurity Analyst Program
- Software Developer Foundations
Project Management & Human Resources
- Project Management Fundamentals
- Project Management Professional (PMP®) Exam Preparation
- SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP®) / SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP®)
Sonography
3. Employer Sponsored
In some cases, employer benefits include funding toward educational expenses. It is always worth checking with your current employer to see if and how they help offset educational expenses.
4. Sallie Mae Student Loan
Sallie Mae offers their Career Training Smart Option Student Loan® which can be used on professional training and trade certifications through non-degree granting schools. These loans are based on credit-worthiness and are subject to interest.
5. UMBC Training Centers Payment Plans
This is the most popular option among our students who aren’t able to offset the costs of their career transition program through WIOA or GI Bill®, and our Admissions team will give you a few tips on how to make it work best for you.
As an alternative to school loans, UMBC Training Centers offers a unique installment plan program to enable students to finance their education and training. Students registering for eligible programs may use the installment plan. Eligible programs include:
Please contact an admissions advisor at admissions@umbctraining.com to see if an installment plan will work for you.
Ready To Discuss Our Career Transition Programs?
Attend an upcoming information session to learn more about our workforce programs, funding options and speak with a member of our admissions team!
*GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.