--- title: 3 Alternatives to a Traditional College Education for Today’s Learners description: Today’s job market offers more technical, skills-based jobs than ever, giving young adults reason to wonder if college is worth the money. Thinking beyond a traditional college education, there are new avenues for learners to explore for pursue their career goals. image: https://blog.benchprep.com/hubfs/Blog%20Posts%20Featured%20Images/alternatives-to-traditional-college-education-for-learners.jpg --- [![header-svg](https://blog.benchprep.com/hubfs/header-svg.svg "header-svg")](https://www.benchprep.com/) - Solutions - [Solutions Overview](https://www.benchprep.com/benchprep-solutions-overview) - [Credentialing & Exam Prep](https://www.benchprep.com/credentialing-test-prep) - [Practice Exams](https://www.benchprep.com/practice-tests) - [Software Certification Training](https://www.benchprep.com/software-cert-training) - [Continuing Education](https://www.benchprep.com/continuing-education) - Product - [Product Overview](https://www.benchprep.com/product-overview) - [Learning Technology](https://www.benchprep.com/learning-technology) - [Administrative Tools](https://www.benchprep.com/administrative-tools) - [Reporting & Data](https://www.benchprep.com/reporting-data) - [Content Management](https://www.benchprep.com/content-management) - [Professional Services](https://www.benchprep.com/professional-services) - [Integrations](https://www.benchprep.com/integration) - [Customers](https://www.benchprep.com/customer-stories) - Resources - [Webinars and Events](https://www.benchprep.com/events) - [Featured Resources](https://www.benchprep.com/resources) - [All Digital Resources](https://info.benchprep.com/digital-learning-resources) - [Blog](https://blog.benchprep.com) - Company - [About BenchPrep](https://www.benchprep.com/about-benchprep) - [Life at BenchPrep](https://www.benchprep.com/life-at-benchprep) - [Newsroom](https://www.benchprep.com/news-room) - [Contact Us](https://www.benchprep.com/contact-us) - [Request for Proposal](https://www.benchprep.com/request-for-proposal) - [Pricing](https://www.benchprep.com/pricing) [![](https://blog.benchprep.com/hubfs/login-icon.svg) Log In](https://benchprep.com/login) [![Request a Demo](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3653985/203374ef-ce38-4361-bf38-4157da2daeac.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3653985/203374ef-ce38-4361-bf38-4157da2daeac) ![header-svg](https://blog.benchprep.com/hubfs/header-svg.svg "header-svg") - Solutions - [Solutions Overview](https://www.benchprep.com/benchprep-solutions-overview) - [Credentialing & Exam Prep](https://www.benchprep.com/credentialing-test-prep) - [Practice Exams](https://www.benchprep.com/practice-tests) - [Software Certification Training](https://www.benchprep.com/software-cert-training) - [Continuing Education](https://www.benchprep.com/continuing-education) - Product - [Product Overview](https://www.benchprep.com/product-overview) - [Learning Technology](https://www.benchprep.com/learning-technology) - [Administrative Tools](https://www.benchprep.com/administrative-tools) - [Reporting & Data](https://www.benchprep.com/reporting-data) - [Content Management](https://www.benchprep.com/content-management) - [Professional Services](https://www.benchprep.com/professional-services) - [Integrations](https://www.benchprep.com/integration) - [Customers](https://www.benchprep.com/customer-stories) - Resources - [Webinars and Events](https://www.benchprep.com/events) - [Featured Resources](https://www.benchprep.com/resources) - [All Digital Resources](https://info.benchprep.com/digital-learning-resources) - [Blog](https://blog.benchprep.com) - Company - [About BenchPrep](https://www.benchprep.com/about-benchprep) - [Life at BenchPrep](https://www.benchprep.com/life-at-benchprep) - [Newsroom](https://www.benchprep.com/news-room) - [Contact Us](https://www.benchprep.com/contact-us) - [Request for Proposal](https://www.benchprep.com/request-for-proposal) - [Pricing](https://www.benchprep.com/pricing) - [Log In](https://benchprep.com/login) - [Get a Demo](https://www.benchprep.com/get-started) ![3 Alternatives to a Traditional College Education for Today’s Learners](https://blog.benchprep.com/hubfs/Blog%20Posts%20Featured%20Images/alternatives-to-traditional-college-education-for-learners.jpg) ![Blog Feature](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/298890/blog-files/blog--cards-feature.png) ![BenchPrep Team](https://blog.benchprep.com/hubfs/bench-prep-logo.png "BenchPrep Team") [BenchPrep Team](https://blog.benchprep.com/author/benchprep-team) # 3 Alternatives to a Traditional College Education for Today’s Learners School is out for summer. For high school graduates, the question of whether or not to continue on with higher education or to enter the workforce is becoming an increasingly prevalent decision.  Today’s strong and appealing job market offers more technical, skills-based jobs than ever, giving young adults reason to wonder if college is worth the money. [New data from the federal government](https://www.thirdway.org/memo/new-data-further-cements-completion-crisis-in-higher-education) shows that college completion rates are falling due to high costs, part-time programs, and certificate-granting programs.   In an evolving market, many experts agree that alternative credentialing programs will be much more commonplace and widely accepted as workers are needed to fill competency-based roles.  According to a [2017 LinkedIn Learning’s Insider Survey](https://learning.linkedin.com/blog/learning-thought-leadership/what_s-next-in-l-d--experts-reveal-predictions-for-2017), 60% of insiders believe that more employers will move to skills-based hiring by choosing candidates based on their demonstrated performance capacities vs. the subject matter they studied in school to earn a college degree.  This trend will also apply to those who already have college degrees, as a shift to gain additional credentials beyond a traditional education increases for many roles. By 2020, it is predicted that [65% of jobs in the U.S. will require some form of post-secondary education or training.](https://getmespark.com/wp-content/uploads/NewEdParadigm.pdf)   Thinking beyond a traditional college education, there are new avenues for learners to explore when considering the best option to pursue their learning needs and to meet their career goals. ### **Competency-based programs:** [Competency-based education (CBE)](https://getmespark.com/wp-content/uploads/NewEdParadigm.pdf) programs are designed to ensure that a learner has mastered a desired or required skill upon completion of a program. Self-paced, learner-centric models allow learners to drive the pace of their course, eliminating restrictions around how many classes or the number of hours that are needed to complete a course.   ### **Online learning programs:  ** Many of the competency-based skills workers are looking to gain can be learned through boot camps, MOOCs, and other [online learning programs](https://benchprep.com).  Even colleges are experimenting with [short-form online degrees](https://www.edsurge.com/news/2018-01-23-in-evolving-world-of-microcredentials-students-colleges-and-employers-want-different-things) to reach new audiences who are looking for lower cost, quick education options.   Badges and micro-degrees have gained popularity in helping workers learn new skills in an on-demand fashion, creating an efficient and convenient way for an individual to master a new skill that could accelerate their career. More than [57% of insiders](https://learning.linkedin.com/blog/learning-thought-leadership/what_s-next-in-l-d--experts-reveal-predictions-for-2017) agree that employers will place more value on non-traditional credentials, encouraging job seekers to consider new ways of building their resume.   ### **Professional training programs:  ** Learning and education continue to be on the list of top offerings for organizations and professional associations.  Whether a candidate has an education-heavy resume or competency-based background, BenchPrep believes more than ever that organizations should prioritize learning to meet the needs of [today’s learner](https://blog.benchprep.com/meeting-the-needs-of-professional-learners-infographic).  Understanding the benefits of placing a consistent focus on employee development will help in identifying, hiring, and retaining strong talent.   As competency-based education and online learning programs continue to grow, [sophisticated technology](https://blog.benchprep.com/scalable-learning-solution) is needed to ensure effective delivery, secure data, and scalable growth.  Learn how [BenchPrep’s platform](https://benchprep.com/why-learner-success-matters-beyond-lms) can support the needs of a changing learning landscape. 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