Latest news with #StudentDebt
Forbes
08-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
5 Free AI Certifications That Pay $100,000+ Without A Degree
AI certificates can help you build high-income skills without the burden of debt getty Can you imagine what it would be like to make more than $100,000 a year, and not have to worry about student loan repayments sucking the lifeblood out of your salary? The average American professional is in a student loan repayment crisis. And that's precisely where free AI certifications close the financial gap, because you can boost your income without needing to undergo expensive, four-year courses. To paint the vivid picture of what everyday workers are facing in the United States, here are some quick stats that will have you reeling in horror and disbelief: Nearly 43 million Americans are engulfed in student debt, per a Best Colleges report Federal student debt isn't shrinking, it's actually tripled in the 18 years since 2007 About a third of all U.S. adults have taken out a student loan at some point In 2020, the NCSL (National Conference of State Legislatures) noted that 'with over $1.6 trillion in outstanding debt, student loan borrowing has eclipsed both credit card debt and auto loans as the second-highest source of consumer debt, trailing only home mortgages." The highest burden of student debt rests on those with a veterinary degree, as well as graduates from specialized schools such as: Dental school ($296,500) Medical school ($212,341) Pharmacy school ($170,956) Law school ($132,740) Graduate degree-holders, who are typically associated with six-figure salaries, are also plunged in six-figure debt. Quite a bleak financial picture for the U.S. workforce, right? Well, along comes AI, and it transforms everything. Legacy job titles and career paths are swiftly entering extinction, and will be entirely obsolete by 2030. New job titles that we hadn't previously heard of, are now gaining in popularity. And existing roles are being reinvented to now require AI savviness. That's why you need to study AI certifications. AI certifications are the perfect solution because: Many of them are free or extremely affordable You can complete them at your own pace, no pressure on your schedule Most AI certifications are suitable for beginners They can boost your salary by as much as 47%, according to Indeed Here are a few to put on your radar right now: Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals (IBM SkillsBuild) Google Prompting Essentials Specialization (offered via Coursera for free for their initial trial period; this can be completed if you have the week off work for PTO) Free Online Certificate in Artificial Intelligence and Career Empowerment (Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland) The Rise of Multi-Agent Systems (IBM SkillsBuild) Learn the OpenAI API Playground (Codeacademy) How Can I Use AI To Make $100,000 Without A Degree? Each of these courses and certificates, when completed and added to your resume/LinkedIn profile, has the potential to lead you to making $100,000 in income. Here's how: You can use your newfound AI skills to launch an AI-powered business related to your expertise You can start an AI consultancy (some projects pay in excess of $150,000) You can skill stack and boost your value in the job market by as much as 47% (so for the U.S. professional making $80,000 on average, you'd earn as much as $117,000 as a result of undertaking these free AI certifications) You could also use Gen AI tools like ChatGPT to self-tutor and learn high-income skills AI can help you boost your earning potential, but you need to be smart about it. Don't just study any course for the sake of it. Completing a free AI course can boost your salary up to 47% getty Find the AI certifications and courses that resonate with your long-term career goals and complement the niche/industry you already work in. The AI courses you study should complement your existing work, so you can witness almost immediate value as you apply the principles and techniques you've been taught. Which free certification will you enrol on today?
CBS News
26-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Princeton Review's ranking of "Best Value Colleges" includes 10 New York schools
There's a new Princeton Review ranking that spotlights the "Best Value Colleges" across the U.S., and several New York schools appear on the list. The publication said it looked at academics, tuition prices, financial aid and career prospects for graduates to determine which colleges offer students the most bang for their buck. Take a look below at the New York institutions that made the "Top 50" rankings for public and private colleges. Best value public colleges in New York SUNY and CUNY are both represented in the Princeton Review's ranking of the Top 50 "best value" public colleges. SUNY Binghamton is 16th on the list. The estimated cost of attendance, including tuition and housing, is just over $30,000 a year for New York residents and almost $52,000 for out-of-state students. "As a public institution, Binghamton provides students with a rigorous education and the ability to graduate with less debt than the national average, allowing them to more easily begin a career or attend graduate school after earning their bachelor's degrees," the school's website states. Baruch College, which was ranked the top value of any university nationwide by The Wall Street Journal in 2023, is 19th on the list. Coming in at 26th is Stony Brook University, followed by Hunter College at No. 44. Best value private colleges in New York When it comes to private colleges, Columbia University is sixth on the nationwide list. The cost of tuition is high at more than $71,000 annually, and some students even held a tuition strike a few years back. However, students from families making less than $150,000 a year are eligible to get free tuition at Columbia. Another Ivy League school in New York, Cornell University, ranks 12th among private colleges. The "sticker price" tuition there is also more than $71,000 a year, rising to nearly $93,000 annually with housing and fees included. Cornell says it will cover tuition for most families that make up to $125,000 a year, and cover all costs for families making under $75,000 annually. The other private schools in New York appearing on the list are The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art at No. 20, Colgate University at No. 32, Union College at No. 39 and Barnard College at No. 49.
