Los Angeles, CA – UX/UI design and graphic design certificate programs—ranging from digital design bootcamps to short-term creative technology certificates—may face significant federal aid restrictions beginning in 2026. These programs, typically structured as accelerated workforce pathways, fall directly under the U.S. Department of Education’s updated performance and earnings criteria for certificate-level training.
According to federal guidance, design certificate programs that are unaccredited, non-credit, or below 150 instructional hours cannot receive Title IV funding. Programs between 150 and 600 hours must meet Workforce Pell standards, including a 70% completion rate, 70% job placement rate, and tuition that does not exceed graduates’ verified value-added earnings measured three years after they complete training.
Beginning July 1, 2026, UX/UI and graphic design certificates must also pass the federal “low earnings outcomes” test. Under this rule, programs will lose federal Direct Loan eligibility if graduates earn the same or less than adults with only a high school diploma for two of three measured years. Because many entry-level creative roles—especially freelance, contract, and junior designer positions—start at modest early-career wages, compliance may be challenging for programs in competitive or low-wage markets.
Schools warn that these restrictions may shrink access to digital design careers as demand for UX and multimedia content continues to grow.
