Will a Flood of Credentials Threaten the Four-Year Degree?

Colleges and other providers have flooded the market with non-degree credentials in the past decade. But a recent analysis shows that only one in three credentials bring meaningful returns for graduates. Jeff and Michael talk with Matt Sigelman, president of the Burning Glass Institute, who is working to provide data to consumers and policymakers about the ROI of non-degree credentials. Given many of the returns of credentials come to those with traditional degrees already, the future of the degree and credentials are inextricably tied together. This episode is supported exclusively by Ascendium Education Group. Chapters 0:00 - Intro 1:21 - Creating a Way to Measure Real-Time Labor Market Data 3:15 - Charting an Explosion of Non-Degree Credentials 7:14 - Helping Consumers Find Which Credentials Have Value 11:36 - What is the ROI of Non-Degree Credentials? 12:51 - How Could the Data on These Credentials Be Improved? 14:20 - The Challenge of Getting Data to Consumers 18:38 - Will Better Data Push Providers to Improve Degree Offerings? 20:52 - How Will Non-Degree Credentials Impact the Four-Year Degree? 24:25 - Sponsor Break 25:38 - Why Creating Measurement Tools Takes So Long 27:49 - New Credentials Could Increase the Value of the Four-Year Degree 30:02 - Providing Data Doesn’t Mean Students Will Use It 35:06 - Addressing the ‘AI Paralysis' in Hiring 39:53 - Lightning Round With Matt Sigelman Relevant Links “ Counting Credentials 2025 Report, ” by the nonprofit Credential Engine. Credential Value Index Navigator by The Burning Glass Institute. Education Quality Outcome Standards (EQOS), a collaboration of Jobs for the Future and The Burning Glass Institute. Connect with Michael Horn: Sign Up for the The Future of Education Newsletter Website LinkedIn X (Twitter) Threads Connect with Jeff Selingo: Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You Sign Up for the Next Newsletter Website X (Twitter) Threads LinkedIn Connect with Future U: Twitter YouTube Threads Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag! Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

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Will a Flood of Credentials Threaten the Four-Year Degree? is an episode from Future U Podcast by Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn.

This episode is 00:42:47 long.

This episode was published on Feb 17, 2026.

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