North Idaho College announced the “NIC Guarantee,” a new outcomes-based support plan tied to applied science program graduates. Starting with the Class of 2028, students who are not employed within six months of earning an associate of applied science degree can receive additional free career-preparation services, including job-placement assistance, coaching, employer referrals, and further workforce training options. The program also includes additional guarantees: credit for relevant trade or military experience, and guaranteed fulfillment of transfer requirements for eligible associate of arts or associate of science graduates into partner universities. The college framed the guarantee as a response to employers’ skills gap and a way to formalize commitments beyond tuition collection. For the higher education sector, the move adds momentum to the “outcomes promise” model and raises questions about how community colleges measure placement success and manage costs when employment outcomes miss benchmarks.