Workcred, in partnership with the Higher Learning Commission and the League for Innovation in the Community College, and joined by four community colleges—Community College of Aurora, Delta College, Kirkwood Community College, and Moraine Valley Community College, explored strategies to develop and launch new pathways that incorporated both associate degrees and certifications. This initiative provided an opportunity to examine how certification bodies and community colleges can more effectively work together and to identify strategies to expand these types of partnerships to more academic disciplines and institutions.
As the project on Certification + Degree (C+D) Pathways comes to a close, one thing is clear: removing the divide between academic degrees and industry certifications is a promising practice that leads to opportunity. Students, employers, and institutions alike benefit when the two are integrated. Over the course of this work, we have seen the potential of C+D pathways to transform student outcomes and strengthen employer partnerships. This reflection looks at what we learned, why it matters, and where we go from here.
What We Learned
The pilot revealed both successes and challenges, but the most important lesson is that C+D pathways expand the definition of student success and reshape how institutions engage with employers, faculty, and advisors. Below are the key takeaways.
Student success means more than completion. Program completion rates remain important, but they are not the only indicator of value. In these pathways, success also included the certifications earned, and the ability to enter the workforce earlier. These outcomes demonstrate that students do not have to choose between short-term job readiness and long-term mobility—they can achieve both.
Employer engagement is essential. Employers are more than stakeholders; they are partners in shaping curriculum and validating outcomes. Advisory boards, business and industry leadership teams, and employer spotlight events created opportunities for students to hear directly from industry leaders. Employers increasingly value students who are pursuing degrees while already holding certifications, signaling that these pathways meet real workforce needs.
Faculty and advisors are the glue. Without faculty and advisor engagement, these pathways risk being misunderstood or underutilized. Faculty played a key role in assuring quality and reframing certifications as complementary to degree programs. Advisors helped students navigate credit for prior learning (CPL) and understand how certifications could be applied to their academic goals. Ongoing training and clear communication with advisors were essential.
Data gaps hold us back. Reliable data on certification attainment and employment outcomes remain elusive. Many institutions lack systems to track certifications and certification bodies often do not release data to the institutions about curriculum that needs additional attention to pass the certification. States without robust workforce development systems struggle to capture employment data. And costs for certification exams and age restrictions for some credentials pose barriers to equitable student access.
Culture change takes leadership. Building C+D pathways often requires breaking down institutional silos. Continuing education, academic affairs, and industry partnerships often operate separately, but successful pilots showed that leadership support—particularly from presidents and workforce boards—can help unify efforts. Curriculum teams that met regularly provided consistency and focus, reinforcing that innovation must be an institution-wide effort.
Why It Matters
C+D pathways directly respond to the realities of today’s learners and workforce. Students need more affordable, accelerated routes to credentials that lead to good jobs. Employers need workers who bring both theoretical knowledge and practical, validated skills. Colleges need to demonstrate their relevance and align with accreditation standards that emphasize mission, integrity, learning, and continuous improvement.
By linking certifications with degrees, institutions create a bridge between immediate employability and long-term advancement. This alignment benefits students by giving them flexibility, benefits employers by supplying job-ready talent, and benefits colleges by strengthening partnerships and demonstrating innovation.
Accreditation Alignment and Quality Assurance
These pathways also provide a natural connection to accreditation requirements. They demonstrate how institutions serve contemporary missions (Criterion 1), maintain transparency (Criterion 2), strengthen teaching and learning (Criterion 3), and plan for continuous improvement (Criterion 4).
Quality assurance remains a central priority. Faculty involvement ensures academic rigor, while tools such as digital badging add transparency for students and employers. Collectively, these practices reinforce that C+D pathways are consistent with the standards of quality higher education.
Looking Ahead
This pilot is just the beginning. To scale and sustain these efforts, institutions will need practical resources and consistent structures. A playbook is in development to provide clear language, a glossary of terms, testing strategies, sample checklists, and guidance for documenting outcomes. Leadership involvement will be critical to embedding these pathways into long-term planning.
At the cultural level, innovation must move beyond continuing education silos and become integrated across the institution. C+D pathways should not be seen as side projects but as essential strategies for fulfilling institutional missions, expanding access, and increasing relevance in the eyes of students and employers.
Final Reflection
At the end of this project, our conclusion is clear: the debate is no longer whether certifications and degrees should be linked, but how. The strongest student outcomes come from pathways that connect the rigor of academic study with the immediacy of industry-recognized certifications. They also provide the best foundation for students to achieve both immediate employment and long-term career advancement. In short, certifications and degrees are not opposing choices—they are stronger together.