Students face many difficulties when attempting to complete a 4-year college degree. Without a college degree, upward mobility is less likely for members of disadvantaged communities. There is little understanding among post-secondary educators about the role of certifications as an alternative to a bachelor's degree in obtaining upward economic mobility. This study focused on the perception among information technology (IT) certificate holders about the role of their certification regarding upward mobility. Ten participants were recruited for this qualitative case study. The instruments used to collect data were a phone interview and one online survey comprised of two surveys and additional demographic questions. Thematic saturation was used to analyze the data. The results revealed that all participants perceived IT certification as instrumental for upward economic mobility. Considering the variety of certifications available, the implications of this study point to the need to provide and vet more programs that offer IT certifications to people without a 4-year college degree. Further research is recommended to provide more insights into the issues raised by this study. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]