In our previous blog, Gainful Employment 2026: What Schools Can Actually Do to Get Ahead, what’s changing, and what it really means for schools. Here, we break down the five most practical, high-impact actions schools can take right now to strengthen outcomes, protect their programs, and thrive under the new GE and Financial Value Transparency (FVT) rules.
The goal isn’t dramatic reinvention, it’s refining, strengthening, and positioning your programs to clearly demonstrate return on investment.
1. Highlight Programs That Lead to Needed, AI-Resistant Jobs
Focus on fields where starting wages are already competitive, demand is steadily growing, and the risk of automation remains low. These programs naturally align with strong employment outcomes, making them well-positioned for both student ROI and Gainful Employment success. For example:
- Healthcare and allied health
- Skilled trades (HVAC, electrical, automotive)
- Personal service professions with self-employment potential (cosmetology, esthetics)
- Education support and early childhood roles
Update your program messaging accordingly: stress flexibility, self-employment, local demand, ROI.
2. Own Your Data Story Before the Public Sees It
With FVT, program-level data will be publicly viewable. Most institutions will wait until they have to pull data together. By then, it’s often rushed, incomplete, or missing the insights that could have driven better decisions earlier. Build a proactive rhythm now so nothing gets lost in the scramble later:
- Audit your outcomes: placement rates, starting wages, debt loads
- Present them clearly to prospective students
- Use data as marketing fuel where you lead, use it as improvement roadmap where outcomes are weak
3. Be Radically Transparent With Students and Staff
Salary transparency is becoming the norm (and legally required in many places). Many U.S. states have enacted or proposed legislation that mandates the disclosure of pay ranges and compensation policies. The Addison Group guide emphasises transparency around pay ranges as a differentiator. For example:
“Our Practical Nursing cohort is full because demand is high and placement has been strong. If you’re wait-listed, we can explore Medical Assisting which has similar ROI and gets you working faster.”
This builds trust and aligns your brand with a value-orientation (which is key to GE success).
4. Build Employer Pipelines That Make Gainful Employment Your Super-Power
Programs that deliver strong placements and earnings are the ones least at risk under GE metrics. Strengthened employer partnerships help deliver those outcomes. Action steps you can take include:
- Identify key local/employer partners (hospitals, trades firms, spas, salons, school districts)
- Formalize agreements (first access to grads, participation in curriculum advisory)
- Use placements and wage data from those partnerships as proof points
5. Support the Students You Actually Have in 2026
Today’s learners often come with more complexity: adult pivots, maturity gaps, mental-health stresses, economic pressure. There’s also a significant loss learning gap from Covid in K-12 and incoming students. To boost completion (which matters for GE), schools should:
- Provide embedded academic/retention support
- Offer flexible scheduling (evening/weekend/hybrid)
- Coach students on outcomes (placement, earnings, debt repayment)
- Build sense of belonging and purpose (so students stay, graduate, and get jobs)
So… Is Gainful Employment Good or Bad News?
It depends on your program and its outcomes. If your program carries high tuition, low wages, and weak completion, GE is a threat. BUT if your school:
- Trains for in-demand, hands-on fields
- Consistently places students into jobs that pay well
- Communicates clearly and supports students effectively
…then GE is less of a burden and more of a validation of your value. Students today aren’t just looking for credentials. They’re looking for stability, purpose, and skills that hold up in an unpredictable economy.
The Institutions That Will Thrive in 2026 and Beyond are the Ones that:
- Double down on high-value, human-centered programs
- Get proactive about transparency and data
- Build deep partnerships with employers
- Support learners with the realities they bring today
- Stay aligned with what students actually want; stability, purpose, and upward mobility
When you look at GE through that lens, it’s not a threat, it’s momentum. It’s the push that helps schools sharpen their value, elevate their programs, and stand out in a crowded, shifting market.
Schools that move early, communicate clearly, and invest in outcomes will not only meet the standard, they’ll become the standard.
If you want help assessing your GE readiness, strengthening your program story, or using your data to your advantage, our team can walk you through exactly where you stand, and where to strengthen next. Talk to our experts to get a tailored GE action plan for your school.