The Millennial Mindset: 6 Things to Know About Stackable Credentials

Some students use stackable credentials — a series of supplemental certificates and college coursework — to design their own curricula. Graduates might add stackable credentials en route to their degrees to extend their skillsets and build their résumés. They can explore several different subjects to gain a broader range of skills, and they might continue stacking their credentials to obtain a degree.

Not only can learners use stackable credentials alone or as part of a larger educational program, but they can also help millennials stay competitive. According to a 2016 Pew Research Center survey, most workers today realize that developing new skills and receiving ongoing training throughout their working years are two essential ways to keep up with workplace changes.

For millennials, using stackable credentials is almost a natural progression. As Michelle Bradford, National Faculty Chair at DeVry University notes, “Millennials like to progress rapidly and are digital natives. Technology has been a part of their entire lives, so having the opportunity to achieve a marketable level of skills in a technological field is a win/win.”

Another win/win is the flexibility of stacking credentials in different ways to suit differing goals and aspirations. There are three main ways to stack credentials:

No matter how they’re stacking their credentials, more millennials are using them to design unique career paths. Many students want to avoid student loan debt, while others simply want to get to work faster. Enter stackable credentials.

“I would say it is one way to market themselves with a focus on their passion or career goal,” Bradford says.

“Students like the short-term credential. Students can complete a certificate or associate’s degree in 10–20 months depending on course load, which provides the foundation of knowledge to put on their résumés.”

This is particularly important for students interested in the vertical stacking framework. It’s also notable for anyone looking for more flexibility in their schooling. Perhaps right now they want to add a skill or two. Down the road, that same student might want to pursue a degree.

It comes down to each student’s goals. One person might be the architect of their own education, foregoing a traditional degree in favor of a strong portfolio of skills. Another might use stackable credentials to work toward a degree, while yet another person might use stackable credentials to add marketable skills to their existing education.

Bradford notes that “DeVry’s stackable programs stand out because our certificates allow students to transfer credits earned to a next-level degree at DeVry in the same field.”

Learn more about DeVry’s degree programs.