Merit America Cost: Pricing & $0 Upfront Payment Options

Program Cost

How much does it cost?

There are no upfront costs for any of our programs—ever, unless you choose to pay in full upfront. For $5,700, you can enroll in our IT Support, Data Analytics, UX Design, Project Management, Human Resources, or Cybersecurity programs. Whether you choose to pay upfront, take advantage of Ascent’s Zero Percent Loan, or secure employer sponsorship, the price remains the same.

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Under the Merit America Guarantee, if you don’t earn at least $40k within two years after you have completed the Immersion phase of your chosen Merit America program, you don’t have to pay.

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What’s Included

What’s included in the price?

You’ll earn a Google Career Certificate through Coursera to show employers your technical know-how. But a career is more than just technical skills, so Merit America is too.

1-on-1 Meetings: Regular sessions with a dedicated professional career coach to help you through your career journey.
Career Planning: Personalized guidance from experienced career coaches to help you navigate your career path successfully.
Hands-On Support: From resume reviews to interview practice, your dedicated career coach ensures you are fully prepared for the job market.

Strategic Job Searching: Learn how to search for jobs strategically and interact with recruiters.
LinkedIn Optimization: Enhance your LinkedIn profile to attract career-related opportunities.
Networking Plan: We’ll help you create a detailed plan to leverage LinkedIn for informational interviews and networking.
Job Board Profiles: Set up and optimize profiles on various job boards to increase your visibility.
Job Search Support: Discover how Merit America can support your job search while building your professional network.

Application Optimization: Receive personalized feedback on your cover letters and resumes.
Interview Practice: Learn how to nail your interviews, and participate in practice sessions.
Salary Research & Value Statements: Learn how to research salaries and articulate your value.
Reference List Creation: Compile and submit a professional reference list.

Industry Overview: Understand the landscape and opportunities in your chosen sector.
Career Pathing & Transferable Skills: Identify and leverage the skills you already have that can propel your career forward.
Effective Workplace Communication: Master the art of professional communication in the workplace.

Your Timeline

When do I have to decide?

1

Before You Begin

Finalize which payment option works best for you: $0 down with Ascent’s Zero Percent Loan, paying upfront in full, employer sponsorship, or applying for our Opportunity for All Program.

2

Week 1–5: Start Risk-Free

During the first 5 weeks, you’ll have full access to all coursework, tools, and support. Until the end of Week 5, you will be refunded if the program is not a good fit.

3

3 Months After Completion

Learners won’t pay anything until at least three months after they complete or exit their program. Learners can defer repayment every 3 months for up to 60 months until they are earning the equivalent of at least $40,000 per year.

4

After 2 Years: Merit America Guarantee

If you’re not earning at least $40,000 within two years of completing the Immersion phase, you can request a refund under our Merit America Guarantee.

Flexible Payment Options

Flexible options to cover your program costs

Ascent Funding offers a Zero Percent Loan that you can use to pay for Merit America. You can learn more about the $0 Down With a Zero Percent Loan from Ascent at Ascent Funding.

Some employers or organizations may partially or fully cover the program costs for eligible learners. Any remaining amount can be covered with self-pay or a Zero Percent Loan. Reach out to your employer to see if they can sponsor your program costs.

If you prefer to pay the entire program cost upfront, please send an email to success-sharing@meritamerica.org requesting to pay in full.

If you apply for an Ascent Zero Percent Loan and do not qualify, are not sponsored by your employer, and cannot pay in full upfront, you can apply for the Opportunity for All, which will cover 100% of the cost for Merit America. To learn more, reach out to our Admissions team for additional information, or learn more about Opportunity for All.

Join Us Risk-Free

At Merit America, we know that starting a new career is a big step, and we’re here to make it as smooth as possible. The Merit America Guarantee and the ability to defer the loan payments until you’re earning at least $40,000 a year make Merit America risk-free. We also know finalizing payment is a big step. Rest assured that you have 5 weeks to cancel with no penalty.

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Financial Accessibility

Opportunity for All

Merit America exists to support learners to transition out of low-wage work into careers they love. We believe that cost should not be a barrier to your career transition. We offer learner-friendly options to cover your cost, including upfront sponsorship, Ascent’s Zero Percent Loan, and direct payment.

If none of these options are available to you, Merit America has set aside a limited number of spaces for our Opportunity for All program. If you apply for an Ascent Zero Percent Loan and do not qualify, are not sponsored by your employer, and cannot pay in full upfront, you can apply for the Opportunity for All program. This program will cover 100% of the cost for Merit America.

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Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about paying for your Merit America program.

There are four ways you can pay for the program: pay in full upfront, pay with $0 upfront by taking advantage of Ascent Funding’s Zero Percent Loan, through employer or organization sponsorship, or through our Opportunity for All program which fully covers the cost of training for eligible learners. Please contact us to learn more about these options.

Ascent Funding independently evaluates eligibility for the Zero Percent Loan. Merit America has no influence over the decision-making about or administration of the Zero Percent Loan. According to Ascent’s website, there are two possible ways to qualify: on your own or with a cosigner. There is no minimum credit history or credit score required. To see if you pre-qualify, submit an application — the pre-qualification process involves a soft credit check with no impact to your credit score. For full eligibility details, visit Ascent’s website.

Learners should apply directly to Ascent Funding for the Zero Percent Loan. You will receive a personalized link during the Foundations phase of the program. You can find further information on Ascent’s website. Please note that Merit America does not administer or provide the loan, nor is Merit America involved in any determinations of eligibility or other decision-making for Ascent Funding’s Zero Percent Loan program.

No. You won’t make any payments while you’re in the program, regardless of how you choose to cover your costs:

Zero Percent Loan: You won’t pay anything until at least three months after you complete or exit your program.
Employer or organization sponsorship: Your sponsor covers the program cost, so there’s nothing for you to pay.
Opportunity for All: This program covers 100% of the cost, so there’s nothing for you to pay.
Pay in full upfront: Your payment is made before the program begins, so nothing further is due during the program.

For any questions specific to the Zero Percent Loan, please refer to Ascent’s website.

You have 5 weeks to explore the program and determine if it’s a good fit. If you decide to leave or are removed before the end of Week 5, you won’t be responsible for any program costs. If you paid directly, we’ll refund your payment; if you secured a Zero Percent Loan with Ascent, contact Ascent directly with any questions about your loan. If you leave or are removed after Week 5, you’ll be responsible for a portion of the program cost, and if you stay through Week 9 and then decide to leave or are removed, you’ll be responsible for the full amount. Refunds are processed monthly, based on the date you’re removed from the program.

If you don’t earn at least $40k within two years after you have completed the Immersion phase of your chosen Merit America program, you can request a full refund. Learn more at meritamerica.org/guarantee.