North Idaho College is launching a “NIC Guarantee” that promises applied science graduates either job placement in Idaho within six months or additional career-preparation services at no cost. Starting with the Class of 2028, the college will offer career coaching, employer referrals, and access to up to nine additional workforce training units for graduates who are not employed within the timeframe. Eligibility requirements include earning an associate of applied science degree and maintaining a GPA of at least 2.5, while the college also offers additional promises that apply credit for prior work or certifications and guarantees transfer requirements for certain associate of arts and associate of science graduates. The program also includes a structured response for employers: if employers identify a skills gap in an NIC graduate during the first 90 days of employment, the college will provide targeted short-term training to close that gap. The model is explicitly framed as a correction to higher education’s limited ability to guarantee outcomes beyond enrollment and tuition collection. College leaders said the guarantee is intended to strengthen alignment between program curriculum and employer demand, a pressure point for community colleges as students increasingly demand proof of value.