Non-degree credentials are growing year after year. Whether they're paying off is a harder question to answer.

Certificate enrollment at community colleges recently grew more than 12% year over year, making non-degree programs the fastest-growing corner of higher education. But popularity isn't proof — and few credential issuers have the data to show stakeholders what their programs are actually worth..

That gap anchored the recent webinar "Show Me the Money: How are colleges communicating the value of non-degree credentials in a crowded market?"  Moderated by former U.S. Acting Labor Secretary Seth Harris, the discussion brought together CredLens CEO Stacy Caldwell, Maria Toyoda (President and CEO, WSCUC), and Binh Thuy Do (VP of Research and Development, Calbright College) to dig into a question the whole sector is grappling with.

A few threads ran through the discussion:

Data can help turn instinct into evidence. Leaders know their programs and their populations — the right data lets them prove it to funders, employers, and policymakers with confidence.

The numbers most often tracked often can’t tell the whole story. The impact that often matters most to learners — like securing a job with benefits, or where you feel valued — often lives beyond the headline metrics. 

No single player can answer the value question alone. Issuers know their programs, accreditors verify quality, employers signal demand — but without the right data, those signals lack the evidence to back them up.

Watch the full conversation below: