Competency-Based Master’s and Bachelor’s Degrees: Should You Get One?

Competency-based education (CBE) is a flexible alternative to traditional classroom learning that focuses on your life skills and overall competency in a subject rather than your grades. In other words, this approach lets you earn college credit quickly by taking into account your relevant experience.

A competency-based degree generally entails less classroom time, more flexibility, a stronger emphasis on real-world applications, and individualized learning. It also includes an assessment of your skills.

Keep reading to learn whether a competency-based degree is right for you and what programs are available.

Rather than relying on traditional college credits, which can be pricey and time-consuming, a competency-based degree program assesses your existing skills and knowledge to award you credit toward your degree.

To put it simply, CBE recognizes the relevant, valuable experiences you’ve had outside the classroom.

You’ll move through the curriculum by proving what you already know. Many CBE students are adult learners with academic or professional experience in the subjects they’re studying.

One major benefit of CBE is that you can earn your degree more quickly than you can in a traditional degree program. This is because you can earn credit for relevant experiences.

CBE can also save you money, as you won’t need to pay for classes that teach skills you already have. Generally, the faster you earn your degree, the more money you can save and the quicker you can enter the job market.

Some competency-based degree programs charge a flat tuition rate as opposed to a set cost per credit. Think of this like a subscription model: The more you know, the faster you can progress through your program and the fewer terms you will have to pay for.

A competency-based bachelor’s degree generally caters to early-career professionals.

If you already have some training or experience in your industry and want a credential to prove your expertise, a competency-based bachelor’s degree could be a good fit for you.

Competency-based bachelor’s programs emphasize real-world skills over theories and philosophies. You should have a solid grasp of your field’s basic concepts going into this program so you can spend more time developing the skills you’re less confident in.

One common competency-based bachelor’s program is a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). Many BSN programs require you to have a registered nursing license and a few years of work experience before you can apply.

A competency-based master’s degree targets bachelor’s degree-holders who want to further their skills and deepen their expertise in the field they work in.

In addition to helping you qualify for higher-level positions, a master’s degree can help you earn a higher salary. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, those with a master’s degree earn around 16% more per year than those with just a bachelor’s degree.

A competency-based master’s degree is a good choice if you have years — or even decades — of experience in your field and want to leverage that experience to advance your career and give yourself a competitive edge.

Explore the table below to learn what schools offer CBE. You can find competency-based degrees in subjects like business, nursing, technology, and education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

For this table, we only chose accredited, nonprofit, four-year schools to ensure quality and a solid return on investment for students.

“Students with experience in their chosen field will benefit from competency-based degrees, particularly if they are already working in the field and wish to advance in their career,” says Norma Feriz-Gordon, a college and career success coach.

If you have no training or experience in the field you wish to study and work in, CBE is probably not the best choice for you.

That said, if you’re looking for a flexible, more affordable alternative to a traditional degree, you should look into CBE.

“The biggest downsides [of CBE] include not having the traditional college experience in which students can explore a variety of subjects and be exposed to various fields,” says Feriz-Gordon.

Take time to consider your educational and professional goals as well as your learning style to determine whether CBE is right for you.