Most Students Pay Out of Pocket for Nondegree Credentials - Sara Weissman, Inside Higher Ed

A new report finds nondegree credentials are booming but questions whether students are shouldering too much of the cost. s Americans earn nondegree credentials in droves, many are paying for these programs out of pocket, according to a new report from the Pew Charitable Trusts. The report, released Thursday, analyzed 2022 data from a new national survey of over 15,000 American adults fielded by the U.S. Census Bureau, called the National Training, Education and Workforce Survey. The data included individuals who earned vocational certificates at a higher ed institution, such as a community college or trade school, as well as active industry licenses or personal certifications, like a teaching license.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/tech-innovation/alternative-credentials/2025/10/23/most-students-pay-out-pocket-nondegree