Quick college credentials: Student outcomes and accountability policy for short-term programs - Stephanie Riegg Cellini and Kathryn J. Blanchard, Brookings Institution

Asmall, though important, set of postsecondary programs have largely escaped the notice of policymakers and researchers: short-term vocational programs lasting between 300-599 clockhours. These short programs are not currently eligible for Pell Grants, but can access federal student loans under the Higher Education Act. These programs are understudied in the literature and are not separately identifiable in most public government datasets. In this report, we document the size and scope of these programs, discuss current policies designed to ensure program quality, and explore the implications of alternative accountability policies that regulators might consider.

https://www.brookings.edu/research/quick-college-credentials-student-outcomes-and-accountability-policy-for-short-term-programs/