The Rise of Non-Degree Credentials in the United States: Examining Alternatives to an Academic Degree

• In Event: Contemporary Policy Issues at the Student and Institutional Levels

Abstract

A proliferation of bootcamps and micro-credentials have emerged in the past decade as an alternative to a traditional postsecondary degree. We describe the landscape of enrollment and certificate completion in the U.S. from 2005 to 2017, including how the characteristics and goals of students enrolling in non-degree programs have changed. Incorporating data from IPEDS along with data from external sources, including Course Report for data on coding bootcamps and Class Central for information on MOOCs, we compare micro-credential students to associate degree holders and to high school graduates to understand the differences and similarities in student populations over time.

Authors

• Angela Boatman, Boston College

• Ryan Creps