This credential landscape is vast, complex, and too often inequitable. With more than 1 million credentials and 50,000 providers in the United States alone, it is more important than ever to ensure that anyone, anytime, anyplace has access to the information they need to make the most informed decision about their education and career path.
A new report from Credential Engine examines secondary and postsecondary credentials in the United States. This year’s Count of U.S. Postsecondary and Secondary Credentials report identifies 1,076,358 credentials in 18 detailed credential categories across four broad types of credential providers.
It is the fourth time that Credential Engine has conducted a comprehensive analysis of today’s credential marketplace, with the goal of identifying the total number of credential providers in the United States. This report discusses each of the 18 credential categories in detail, describing the nature of each credential, sources and methods for developing the credential count, and advances since the 2021 report.
As in prior years, this year’s report demonstrates the nation’s need to dramatically improve transparency in the credential marketplace to promote economic growth and individual mobility.