How many unique credentials are offered in the US?

educationdive | September 25, 2019

In the U.S., more than 738,000 unique credentials are offered, according to a new report from Credential Engine, a nonprofit that tracks the marketplace. Its count includes traditional degrees as well as badges, certificates, boot camps and other short-term credential types. Credential Engine has doubled its count from 2018, when it estimated there were about 350,000 unique credentials. The larger number this year is primarily due to the researchers' inclusion of certificates and badges.
Postsecondary institutions account for about 370,000 unique credentials, while nonacademic organizations offer 315,000. MOOC providers and secondary schools account for the rest. The credential marketplace is vast and growing, yet not much is known about their impact on social mobility or whether they're effective in closing skills gaps. "What we still don't know is whether we have enough — or too many — credentials for a country of our size or if we have the right mix of programs to meet employer demand," former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and former U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan wrote in the foreword of the report.

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The B2B buyer journey has always been complex. And today, with the ever-changing demands of the modern industry buyer, it has become even more necessary to rethink the buyer journey, creating a future-ready digital experience

Spotlight

The B2B buyer journey has always been complex. And today, with the ever-changing demands of the modern industry buyer, it has become even more necessary to rethink the buyer journey, creating a future-ready digital experience

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