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A photo of Merit America alumni and staff.

Quick answer: Yes—Merit America is a legitimate nonprofit job-training program. It combines industry-recognized technical training with career coaching and job-search support, publishes outcomes and costs transparently, and is designed specifically for working adults changing careers without four-year degrees.

If you’re asking “Is Merit America legit?” you’re not being cynical—you’re being responsible.

When you’re thinking about changing careers—especially if money is tight or your schedule is already full—the stakes are high. The internet is crowded with ads, opinions, and promises. Some are helpful. Some… not so much.

If you’ve found yourself searching “Is Merit America legit?”, “Is Merit America a scam?”, or scrolling threads trying to separate real opportunity from hype, you’re exactly who this guide is for.

Below, we’ll walk through what Merit America is, how it works, what it costs, what outcomes look like, and—most importantly—whether it’s actually worth your time and trust.

1. What is Merit America?

What is Merit America?

Merit America is a national nonprofit organization that helps adults without four-year degrees transition into family-sustaining, skills-based careers.

But that description only scratches the surface.

Merit America exists for people who are working hard — often in low-wage jobs — and who know they’re capable of more, but haven’t had access to a clear, affordable path forward. Many of our learners are parents. Many are caregivers. Many haven’t been in a classroom for years. Some were laid off. Others hit a ceiling they didn’t know how to break through.

Since launching in 2018, Merit America has served nearly 15,000 learners nationwide, supporting adults from backgrounds like retail, food service, warehouse work, rideshare driving, healthcare support, and administrative roles.

Our goal is simple but ambitious: make economic mobility possible without requiring a four-year degree. We do that through structured job training paired with coaching and support across in-demand Career Tracks, including:

These are not theoretical pathways. They’re roles employers are actively hiring for — and where skills, readiness, and follow-through matter more than pedigree.

Merit America Outcomes

According to our 2024 Alumni Wage Analysis, alumni who reported outcomes experienced:

  • An average annual wage gain of nearly $21,000 within three months of completing the program
  • Average pre-program wages rising from $27,800 to $48,500
  • A 75% success rate, meaning nearly three out of four alumni with outcome data reported a positive career change and/or earnings above the defined threshold

Longer-term data reinforces this impact. Alumni surveyed three or more years after completion reported average annual wage gains of more than $30,000, showing that these changes aren’t short-lived.

2. How Much is Merit America?

How Much Is Merit America?

Cost is often the first barrier people run into — and understandably so.

When an online bachelor’s degree can cost $50,000 or more, and bootcamps regularly charge five figures upfront, hesitation makes sense.

Merit America is designed as a college alternative — one that lowers financial risk while still delivering real outcomes.

Program Cost

Merit America programs cost $5,700.

The first four weeks of the Foundations phase are free, giving you time to experience the program before committing. You also have five weeks to cancel with no penalty, which means you’re not locked in before you’ve had a chance to assess fit.

Ways to Pay

There are four ways learners typically cover the cost:

  1. Employer sponsorship (for example, Amazon Career Choice)
  2. Paying upfront in full
  3. $0 down with Ascent Funding’s Zero Percent Loan
  4. Opportunity for All, Merit America’s need-based tuition coverage

If you choose the Ascent Zero Percent Loan, here’s what that looks like:

  • $0 upfront
  • No payments until three months after completing or exiting the program
  • 0% interest for the life of the loan
  • Payments pause if you become unemployed

If you’re not eligible for employer sponsorship, don’t qualify for the loan, and can’t pay upfront, Merit America reserves a limited number of spots for Opportunity for All, which covers 100% of tuition.

📌 Related: How Much Does Merit America Cost and What’s Included?

3. Time Commitment

Can You Do Merit America While Working?

Yes. Merit America is built for people who are already working, caregiving, or juggling multiple responsibilities — not for those who can drop everything to go back to school.

Most learners complete the program while working full-time, typically spending about 10–15 hours per week, depending on their Career Track and personal pace.

That time is intentionally flexible and split across a few core areas:

  • Self-paced technical coursework you complete on your own schedule
  • Live, topic-based workshops you choose based on what you need most
  • 1:1 career coaching for guidance, accountability, and job search strategy

Instead of fixed weekly meetings or mandatory sessions, Merit America offers topic-based workshops focused on practical areas like resumes, LinkedIn, transferable skills, interviewing, and networking. Multiple sessions are offered each week, and learners decide which workshops to attend and when, based on their availability.

Learners also choose their coach as part of enrollment, with coaching options that include evenings and weekends. This makes it easier to get support without rearranging work schedules or family responsibilities.

There are no rigid attendance requirements. Live support is strongly encouraged because engagement correlates with better outcomes — but the program is designed around flexibility, not enforcement. The goal is to make progress realistic and sustainable, not overwhelming.

New learners start every two weeks, so you don’t have to wait months for a single cohort start date. You can begin when it makes sense for your life.

In short: Merit America provides structure where it matters — and flexibility where it counts.

4. Is Merit America Worth It?

Is Merit America Worth It?

For people stuck in low-paying or physically demanding work and looking for a faster, more flexible path into a higher-wage career, Merit America can be worth it. That said, skepticism is normal — especially in a job-training landscape crowded with ads, bootcamps, and bold promises.

Many learners don’t come to Merit America feeling confident. They come feeling cautious — about cost, time, and whether a career change without a degree is actually realistic.

That’s why the clearest answer to “Is Merit America worth it?” comes from alumni themselves.

Amy was working a physically demanding warehouse job while raising her family as a single mom. She knew the work wasn’t sustainable — but quitting her job or taking on four-year college debt wasn’t an option. Through Merit America’s IT Support program, Amy trained while balancing her responsibilities and later reported a $60,000 wage increase after transitioning into tech.

Her experience reflects a common pattern: learners aren’t looking for shortcuts — they’re looking for a path that fits real life.

Brandon came to Merit America while working gig jobs as a driver, unsure how to break into tech without sacrificing income or stability. With flexible coursework, career coaching, and job-search support, he earned his Google IT Support Certificate and went on to become a Service Desk Supervisor.

“There’s a lot of work you have to put in,” Brandon shared. “But the right learning environment can make all the difference.”

Maritza entered the program after years in retail with no technical background and serious doubts about whether she belonged in tech. Just nine weeks into the program — before even completing it — she landed a Help Desk Specialist role and later reported a $45,000 salary increase.

“I had zero tech experience,” Maritza shared. “But I used the skills I already had — curiosity, communication, and confidence — and that’s what helped me get hired.”

These aren’t one-off success stories. They reflect what often happens when career changers pair industry-recognized training with structured coaching, accountability, and job-search support, rather than trying to navigate the transition alone.

And if you want longer, honest conversations (not highlight reels), Merit America also produces Promoted — a podcast where alumni share what the transition actually looked like, in conversation with their career coach:

For additional episodes, check out Promoted:
https://meritamerica.org/promoted-podcast/

4. FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

You have questions. We have answers. Here are our most asked questions, plus a few questions you didn’t know you should ask.

Is Merit America legit?

Yes — Merit America is legit.

But legitimacy isn’t about slogans or marketing claims. It’s about transparency, independently verified outcomes, and whether real people experience measurable change.

Merit America is:

  • A registered national nonprofit focused on economic mobility
  • Independently evaluated through a wage outcomes analysis conducted by the University of Virginia
  • Third-party certified on outcomes reporting, ensuring data accuracy and methodological rigor
  • Supported by more than 15,000 alumni nationwide who have completed programs across multiple career tracks

That independent evaluation matters. Merit America does not self-grade its success — outcomes are reviewed using external research standards focused on real wage movement over time, not short-term placement claims. At the same time, Merit America partners with industry-recognized training providers like Google and Coursera, combining best-in-class technical coursework with coaching, accountability, and job-search support so learners aren’t just accessing content, but are supported through completion and into the workforce. If you’re researching carefully, that instinct is working in your favor — and Merit America is built to stand up to that level of scrutiny.

Why couldn’t I just use Coursera?

Coursera is a powerful learning platform, and for some people, self-paced learning works. But completion data tells an important story:

  • Only 10% of learners finish a typical MOOC (Duke research)
  • Only 14% of people complete a professional certificate on their own in the U.S.

Merit America combines industry-standard coursework (often via Coursera) with something most people need but rarely get: structure, accountability, and coaching.

Career coaches help with resumes, interviews, and job strategy. Technical advisors help learners work through difficult material. Alumni networks open doors to referrals and encouragement.

Self-learning isn’t wrong,  but support dramatically increases follow-through.

Wait, is Merit America just career coaching?

No. You’ll get career support plus structured tools to help you apply what you learn, including live workshops and job search resources. Here’s what you can expect:

Is Merit America accredited?

No. Merit America is not accredited because we are not a college or university.

Accreditation matters for traditional academic paths (like medical school or graduate degrees). But many skills-based careers—including IT support, project management, data analytics, and UX design—are hired based on practical skills and job readiness, not institutional accreditation.

Merit America is built for those outcomes. We combine industry-recognized technical training with coaching and job-search support to help learners move from coursework to the workforce—a gap that traditional higher education often doesn’t address. The goal isn’t just to help someone land a job, but to support the start of a new, sustainable career.

📌 Related Reading: Is Merit America Accredited?

Do you get a certificate of completion after finishing Merit America?

Merit America itself does not issue a proprietary certificate.

However, depending on your Career Track, you’ll earn industry-recognized credentials, such as Google Career Certificates, which are widely used by employers as proof of job-ready skills. If you need documentation for an employer or application, Merit America can also provide a letter of completion.

More importantly, learners don’t leave with just a credential. By the end of the program, you’ll have:

  • An industry-recognized certificate
  • A portfolio or proof-of-work that shows what you can actually do
  • An updated resume, LinkedIn profile, and cover letters
  • Interview preparation and job-search strategy
  • A network of peers, coaches, and alumni who can offer guidance, referrals, and recommendations as you move forward

The goal isn’t just to finish a program — it’s to leave ready to compete for real roles and continue growing in your new career.

📌 Related Reading: Certificate vs. Certification: What’s the Difference?

Does Merit America have a job guarantee?

Merit America does not guarantee a specific job or a job by a specific date. What we do offer is an earnings-based guarantee, designed to reduce the financial risk of career change.

If you:

  • Complete the program and meet participation requirements, and
  • Do not earn at least $40,000 per year within two years of the Immersion end date of your Merit America program

—you may be eligible for a full refund or cancellation of your Zero Percent Loan, depending on how you paid and whether all eligibility criteria are met.

It’s important to note that eligibility is based on annual earnings, not job titles, and that earning more than $3,333.33 in any single month during the two-year post-Immersion period makes you ineligible for the Guarantee.

The Guarantee exists because Merit America’s mission is to drive real wage gains—not just program completion. It’s our way of standing behind the outcomes we work toward with learners, while still being clear that results require participation, effort, and time.

Is Merit America Good for Career Changers With No Experience?

Yes. In fact, our programs are designed for career changers.

Many learners come in with experience from retail, warehouses, hospitality, caregiving, or frontline roles. The challenge usually isn’t ability — it’s knowing how to translate and present skills like communication, organization, problem-solving, reliability, and leadership in a new field.

Merit America is built specifically for adults changing careers without prior industry experience. Our programs help learners:

  • Identify and translate transferable skills
  • Build role-specific technical skills through industry-recognized coursework
  • Create proof of work, resumes, and other job-ready materials
  • Navigate the job search with 1:1 career coaching and structured support

Career change without experience is increasingly common. In fact, 59% of U.S. professionals report actively looking for a new job according to Glassdoor, and many successful transitions happen with targeted reskilling and the right guidance.

📌 Related reading: How to Make a Career Change With No Experience in 2026

Who Merit America Is (and Isn’t) For

Merit America is a strong fit if you:

  • Want structure and accountability
  • Need flexibility around work and family
  • Prefer practical, job-aligned training
  • Value coaching and community support

It may not be the right fit if you:

  • Want a fully self-paced, hands-off experience
  • Need a guaranteed job by a specific date
  • Can’t commit weekly time right now
A career changer outlining how to utilize transferable skills in the job search.

Advance your career with Merit America

So — is Merit America legit?

Yes. But legitimacy isn’t just about credentials or claims. It’s about whether a program understands the reality of career change: balancing work, family, finances, and uncertainty — and still giving people a real shot at something better.

Merit America was built for people who don’t have the luxury of guessing. People who need structure, support, and a clear path from learning to work — without quitting their job or taking on unsustainable debt. The results matter, but so does how you get there.

If you’re exploring a career change and want a path that’s practical, transparent, and designed for real life, Merit America gives you a place to start — and people to walk with you through it.

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