With support from the $100 million Google Career Certificates Fund, Social Finance is managing an innovative investment program that aims to empower more than 20,000 learners to realize over $1 billion in aggregate wage gains over the next decade.
Supported by nonprofit training providers, learners upskill and earn Google Career Certificates—industry-recognized credentials that equip people with the job-ready skills needed to enter high-growth fields such as data analytics, digital marketing and e-commerce, IT support, project management, and user experience design. The program focuses on helping people from underserved communities access well-paying, in-demand jobs.
By increasing access to skills-based training and supportive services, Google, Social Finance, and our training providers are working to create a more equitable and inclusive job market and fill talent gaps across the country.
How It Works
Learners enroll with one of our training providers at no upfront cost and repay the loan with no interest only if they land a job earning a minimum amount, such as $40,000 a year. Benefits include:
Job-ready skills training
Through Google Career Certificates, learners develop skills designed to prepare them for high-growth fieldswith proven success—70% of certificate graduates report a positive career impact within six months of completion, such as a raise, promotion, or new job.1
Student-friendly financing
Guided by a Student Bill of Rights, learnersrepay via flat monthly payments for a set term, as long as their income remains above the minimum threshold. For example, learnerswho secure jobs earning $40,000 would pay approximately $100 a month. Learners who earn less than $40,000 pay nothing. Repayment terms, such as minimum earnings amount and monthly payment amounts, will vary by training provider. Social Finance will reinvest repayments received back into the program for several years to enable future learners to benefit.
Wraparound support
Learners receive career and professional development services that may include coaching, interview prep, job placement support, as well as a zero-percent loanthat can be used to cover tuition costs orexpenses like rent transportation, childcare, and emergencies that may arise during training.
Get Started with Merit America
The Google Career Certificates Fund is proud to work with Merit America, a nonprofit that works with major employers to build new pathways to jobs in high-growth fields for Americans without college degrees. Apply today.
Get Started with San Diego Workforce Partnership
The Google Career Certificates Fund is proud to work with San Diego Workforce Partnership (SDWP), a California-based workforce development nonprofit which offers the Google Career Certificates in a 15-month program where students also earn a core certificate from UC San Diego Extended Studies. The program is aimed at helping students launch their career in technology. Apply today.
We are proud to work with Social Finance, the recipient of our largest economic opportunity investment to date. They have met the challenge head-on, designing a first-of-its-kind loan fund to provide workforce training and support.
Hector Mujica
Head of Economic Opportunity, Americas, Google.org
A Living Expense Loan Put Tori on the Path to a Tech Career
Tori was working as a security guard and professional DJ when she decided she wanted to change to a career in tech. Lacking the necessary certifications to secure a tech job, Tori learned about the short, free Per Scholas IT Support course, and enrolled. She benefitted from the Zero Percent Loan program, which helped her to cover living expenses while she focused on her training. “It gave me a cushion so I didn’t have to work constantly to make ends meet,” Tori reflected.
With a Google Data Analytics Certificate, Laura Has Career Options and Room to Grow
Laura was working in an administrative role at a small tech company when she learned about Merit America on TikTok. Through an investment program supported by theGoogle Career Certificates Fund, Laura was able to enroll in training at no upfront cost and with minimal financial risk. “It sounded too good to be true, but it was truly the golden ticket for me. The ability to pay after earning a new job was my biggest deciding factor,” said Laura.
For Arthur, Short-Term Training Unlocked a Meaningful Career Path
Arthur, a young man living in Delaware, was delivering packages and looking for the right next step in his career. He liked the idea of a short-term training program, but he wasn’t ready to take the financial risk of leaving his job and paying for tuition.That’s when Arthur learned about Merit America. He enrolled in their 14-week IT Support program. With help from the Google Career Certificates Fund, he financed his training through a zero-percent loan.
Additional qualified training providers will join the program over the course of this 10-year fund. If you’re interested in becoming a training provider, please fill out this form.
Ada Developers Academy is working directly with learners as a training provider of Social Finance.
MDRC is the independent nonprofit evaluator assessing the initiative’s outcomes for Social Finance.
Ascent Funding is the loan origination and servicing partner for all loans in the Google Career Certificates Fund.
AdeptID is implementing their AI talent matching solution into the IT infrastructures of Social Finance’s training providers to support learner job placement outcomes.
UnidosUS is serving as a referral partner for Social Finance’s training providers.
Website Notices
This Website displays information about Social Finance’s program supported by the Google Career Certificates Fund. All information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute, and should not be construed or used as an offer to sell, or a solicitation of any offer to buy, interest or shares in the fund described above. No offer or solicitation may be made prior to the delivery offering documents, which will contain additional information including disclosures relating to risk factors and conflicts of interest. If you have any questions, please contact Social Finance at info@socialfinance.org.
1. Google Internal Data, 2024.
Header photo courtesy of Google (Karrim Omer, Google Career Certificates Graduate, Data Analytics). All other photos courtesy of Merit America and Year Up United.
![A closeup of a Karrim smiling as he scrolls on his computer at his desk.](https://socialfinance.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/082421_Karrim-e1637355946260-2-e1669760792647-1000x684.png")
![A woman with dreadlocks sitting at a desk with a laptop.](https://socialfinance.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Merit-America-learner-500x334.png")
![Two men standing in front of a laptop.](https://socialfinance.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Merit-America-learners-500x339.jpeg")
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![Person wearing a light blue collared shirt with dark braids, smiling, and posed against a plain background.](https://socialfinance.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/tori-per-scholas.png")
![Laura, a participant in Merit America's Google Career Certificates program, stands in front of a computer](https://socialfinance.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Untitled-design-2-1000x1000.png")
![A black and white photo of a man with glasses.](https://socialfinance.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Mac-Arthur-Sawyala.jpg")
