According to the 2026 Return on Education Index from CourseCompare, shorter post-secondary credentials continue to generate stronger early financial returns than many degree programs.
The report compared 21 post-secondary programs using data including tuition costs, program length, student debt, graduate earnings and labour market outlooks. According to the report, automotive service technician training was among the programs delivering strong returns for graduates both two and five years after graduation.
According to the report, shorter credentials generally outperformed degree programs in return on investment during the first five years after graduation, reflecting lower education costs, shorter training periods and earlier entry into the workforce.
