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.
Episode 218 of the Future U Podcast - The Pulse of Higher Ed podcast, hosted by Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn, titled "Will a Flood of Credentials Threaten the Four-Year Degree?" was published on February 17, 2026 and runs 42 minutes.
February 17, 2026 ·42m · Future U Podcast - The Pulse of Higher Ed
Summary
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.
Episode Description
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.
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