By Dr. Becky Takeda-Tinker, CSU Global President
The World Economic Forum reports that 50% of the adult population will need to reskill and upskill by 2025, while the U.S. Bureau of Labor reports that in the U.S. alone, we currently have over 9.5 billion unfilled jobs with the working-age population continuing to shrink since 2007. Similarly aligned with those highlights on workforce dynamics, what we are seeing at my university, Colorado State University Global, is that students of today, particularly post-traditional adult learners, are less interested in longer term workforce education investments as they increasingly seek more targeted, short-form learning opportunities.
Some of those students may be looking to meet a specific professional school prerequisite, test out a school, or acquire a focused skill, without intending to pursue a full degree program. And what we find is that such students need educational solutions that are affordable and flexible, and that allow them to take one individual course at a time without intensive application processes and requirements.
The rise of non-degree credentials, such as certificates, certificates, licenses, and apprenticeships, has taken off in recent decades, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic and to the benefit of learners. As educational leaders, we understand that not everyone is able to commit to pursuing a degree and that many want to learn a skill on a pay-per-course basis and advance their professional prospects without putting their life on hold.
In fact, according to a study from the Lumina Foundation, non-degree credentials are associated with increased employment. Earning a non-degree credential of any kind has been associated with a 5%-to-15% increase in the likelihood of being employed. Further, non-degree credentials generate earnings benefits, as adults with a six-to-12-month credential increased earnings by an average of $2,600 per quarter.
As leaders of institutions of higher education, we need to remain open to adapting to changing demographic needs and continue to improve and create new programs that meet the evolving demands of today’s learners. At CSU Global, the nation’s first fully online, accredited state nonprofit campus as part of the Colorado State University System, non-degree seeking students have access to the full CSU Global Course Catalog of short 8-week courses, with convenient start dates every month. Our approach to non-degree-seeking education is both comprehensive and accessible, with several options for students interested in advancing their skills without having to spend hours completing a lengthy application or committing to a full degree program. By focusing on specific skill sets and knowledge areas of immediate workforce needs, students who may need to enhance their qualifications or pivot their careers without the time or financial commitment associated with traditional degrees and educational programs can do so.
Particularly over the last couple of years, we have seen a trend in increased non-degree seeking students at CSU Global, with the population making up 12% of our total new enrollments this year.
This trend towards non-degree pathways is not occurring in isolation. It is part of a broader shift in higher education driven by several factors. One significant influence is the complexity and evolving nature of financial aid processes. Recent changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) have introduced new challenges for students seeking financial support for traditional degree programs. A complicated application process and shifting eligibility criteria has potentially made it more difficult for students to navigate the processes for enrollment. The evolving updates to the FAFSA can be overwhelming, especially for those who are already balancing work and family responsibilities. As a result, some students may be discouraged from pursuing full degree programs due to the financial uncertainty and administrative hurdles and are instead turning to non-degree-seeking options, which often require less financial and time investment and offer more immediate benefits.
Institutions, particularly those that are fully online and largely cater to adult learners, may provide accessible options that align with the needs of today’s job market. In particular, CSU Global offers a streamlined enrollment process to its non-degree seeking students, with no need to send in transcripts, no GPA requirements, and no lengthy admissions process. Most importantly, courses are offered on a pay-as-you-go basis, one course at a time, meaning students do not need to take out massive loans or even deal with the FAFSA form to participate.
The rise in non-degree-seeking education reflects a wider trend towards personalized, practical learning, driven by both changings student preferences and external factors such as the complexities of the FAFSA process. It is critical that we as leaders in higher education respond to these shifts by providing processes, pathways, courses, and programs that are flexible, industry-relevant, accessible, and which provide a tangible return-on-investment. As students continue to seek educational opportunities that fit their individual needs and circumstances, non-degree pathways will likely become an even more prominent feature of the higher education landscape, and CSU Global with its innovative spirit will continue to provide new options and pathways that meet the ever-changing needs of the post-traditional students it was created to serve.
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