BUSINESSTHE 74
Opinion: Faster, Cheaper, Job-Related: Students Demand Flexible Credentials After HS
Students and working adults increasingly prioritize faster, cheaper, and job-focused credentials over traditional four-year degrees. Data shows a rise in non-degree certificates in fields like healthcare and IT, with 3.4 million credentials awarded in 2024-25. A Washington Post example highlights a human resources executive earning a bachelor’s and master’s in months for under $4,000.
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- Your career needs a ‘gym membership’ to keep up with continuous AI advancements, says Campus founder Tade Oyerinde
- Master’s degrees hiring at one of its worst levels in 20 years: ‘Been a bit tough’
- Lucrative second careers that Americans over age 50 can walk into and earn up to $300,000: Ten roles that want life experience NOT education or specific qualifications
- Employers boosting entry-level hiring after years of decline, new study shows
- Debate around value of college degrees in focus