New data reveals a 75% success rate and sustained impact as the program scales, with alumni wage gains continuing to grow over time
A new analysis from the national workforce development nonprofit Merit America shows that Americans stuck in low-wage jobs are finding real economic mobility through alternative career pathways.
According to its 2024 alumni analysis—which draws from surveys, offer letters, and paystubs—Merit America alumni with outcome data reported an average annual wage increase of nearly $21,000 three or more months after program completion. On average, pre-program salaries rose from $27,800 to $48,500 after completing the program.
With more than 53 million Americans in low-wage jobs, these findings underscore how Merit America’s model is helping workers transition into family-sustaining careers.
The analysis also found that Merit America alumni surveyed three or more years after program completion reported an average annual wage gain of more than $30,000, reinforcing the long-term impact of the program.
This new data reflects what labor economists have documented for decades: low-wage workers face persistent barriers to upward mobility, with significant wage gaps despite a growing economy. Yet through alternative pathways like Merit America, many Americans are successfully launching higher-paying careers—without the time or cost of a traditional college degree.
“Merit America transformed my career, opening doors I didn’t think were accessible to me,” said Alicia MacHale, a Merit America alum who now works as a Senior Business Analyst. “Over the past five years, I’ve advanced in ways I never thought possible without a college degree—and I now have the confidence to keep growing and to advocate for others to pursue paths like mine.”
In addition to strong wage gains, Merit America’s success rate stands at nearly 75%—meaning almost three out of four alumni with outcome data report a positive career change and/or a salary above the defined threshold, measured three or more months after program completion. Outcome data was available for the majority of program completers, and nearly 80% of alumni three or more years post-program.
“At Merit America, we believe scaling should not mean sacrificing impact,” said Merit America Co-Founders and Co-CEOs Rebecca Taber Staehelin and Connor Diemand-Yauman. “Our latest alumni analysis shows that even as we’ve grown from our first 15 learner pilot in 2018 to nearly 15,000 learners by the end of 2024, we’ve maintained a strong success rate and wage gains. This is further proof that alternative pathways can deliver real economic mobility.”
Merit America’s program currently offers career tracks in IT Support, Data Analytics, UX Design, Cybersecurity, Project Management, and Human Resources. The program combines industry-recognized third-party technical training with career coaching and peer support to deliver accessible, career-focused, and affordable online learning—offered with no upfront cost to learners.
Read more about Merit America’s program here.
About Merit America
Merit America is a national nonprofit preparing workers stuck in low-wage roles for family-sustaining careers at scale. Named by the New York Times as "the hybrid future of training programs for the disadvantaged," Merit America offers fast and flexible education and job success programs that work for working adults, and are aligned to the most in-demand roles in the fastest-growing sectors of the U.S. economy. Founded in 2018, Merit America has served more than 15,000 learners across the country, and has driven an estimated $1 billion in cumulative wage gains. For more information, visit https://meritamerica.org/about/.
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Contacts
Media Contact: meritamerica@inkhouse.com