The Rise and Future of Microcredentials in Higher Education

The cost of a four-year degree is skyrocketing, while the median income for bachelor’s earners fails to keep pace. Master’s degrees, too, cost time and money. And graduate students can’t always access financial aid. Enter the concept of microcredentials: short, stackable, non-degree credits that help learners build competencies and show off their skills to employers.

Microcredentials are gaining popularity among employers — who need to rapidly train employees in emerging fields — and among career climbers who want to advance in the workforce in a timely and cost-effective way.

Keep reading to learn about the rising prevalence of microcredentials in higher education and their projected future.

Microcredentials are short learning modules — typically online — that teach and assess specific, practical skills. Often, students can stack, combine, or bundle microcredentials to demonstrate subject mastery.

Sometimes “microcredentials” go by other names, including digital credentials, digital badges, online certificates, and alternative credentials. However, you can’t really call any online course a “microcredential,” regardless of the quality of teaching or student outcomes. At least, you shouldn’t.

The European Commission has offered a clear definition for microcredentials, stating that they represent records of learning outcomes that a learner has acquired following a small volume of learning, which is assessed against transparent and clearly defined criteria.^{Note Reference [3]}

In other words, for a course of study to qualify as a microcredential, it must meet a certain quality standard and provide proof that students learned something.

According to the nonprofit credential registry Credential Engine, 1,603 microcredentials were available to learners in 2022. That’s nearly double the number of microcredentials offered in 2021 (820).^{Note Reference [1]}

This count only includes formal microcredentials issued via massive open online courses (MOOCs). MOOC providers offer programs on online platforms, often partnering with academic institutions and large employers. Credential Engine counted microcredentials offered by EdX, Coursera, Udacity, and other MOOC providers.

In addition to the over 1,600 microcredentials offered through MOOCs in 2022, learners participated in hundreds of thousands of certificates and non-credential offerings, including over 2,150 coding bootcamp courses and 430,000 digital badges.^{Note Reference [1]}

In 2024, BestColleges surveyed school administrators in our 2024 Online Education Trends Report

Employers are also noticing a rise in microcredentials and increasing acceptance of these non-degree credentials in the workplace.

In a 2022 survey of over 750 professionals, including nearly 600 individuals responsible for hiring or training for their organization, nearly 3 in 4 (74%) reported a rise in job applicants listing non-degree credentials on their resumes.^{Note Reference [4]}

According to Credential Engine, the occupation categories providing the most microcredentials in 2022 were:^{Note Reference [1]}

In 2023, UPCEA found that LinkedIn Learning was the top spot for employers to find training and professional development opportunities for their employees. Professional associations (e.g., the National Education Association) and four-year colleges and universities were runners-up.^{Note Reference [6]}

A couple of major factors point to a bright future for microcredentials. Costs associated with traditional degrees continue to rise, and digital technologies quickly advance, transforming the skills needed to compete in the workforce. Meanwhile, shorter, more affordable credentials can help provide much-needed training and upskilling.

At the same time, while microcredentials are no passing fad, they’re also not the norm — and the microcredential provider industry has some work to do, including: