What Are Microcredentials and Are They Worth Your Money?

Q: Can microcredentials count toward a degree?

Yes, depending on the institution. If your microcredential program is offered by an accredited institution, your microcredentials can often stack as for-credit courses in larger programs.

Q: Are microcredentials accredited?

While microcredentials themselves are not accredited programs, they can be offered by accredited institutions and sometimes be used as college credit. However, some microcredentials can be offered by widely respected certificate organizations, such as cybersecurity microcredentials from the SANS Institute.

Q: Do microcredentials expire?

That depends on where you earn your microcredential and if your program leads to a certificate. These can vary, so it’s important to verify with your institution. Oftentimes, you’ll continually upskill and stack your microcredentials as new competencies and methods in your field develop. If your program leads to a certification, you may have to renew it after a certain period.

Updated on April 15, 2026

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Microcredentials Defined
Types of Microcredentials
Are They Worth It?
FAQ

Stackable credentials show employers you’re proficient in a skill. See what they are and if they’re worth it for you in our guide.

Key Takeaways

Microcredentials demonstrate your practical proficiency in specific areas.
Employers are increasingly valuing microcredentials through skills-based hiring methods instead of degree-based hiring.
Microcredential programs take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to complete. We take out the guesswork and provide clarity on these programs.

You may have heard of microcredentials, but you may not know what they are. For the right learner, they are worth pursuing as they offer a path to proficiency in specific areas that could benefit your career.

Learn more about what microcredentials are, how they differ from certificates and college degrees, and who they’re best suited for.

What Are Microcredentials?

A microcredential is a short credential that demonstrates your practical expertise in a given field or skill set. They take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to complete. Colleges and universities increasingly offer these as both for-credit and noncredit classes, as well as through reputable professional organizations that provide certifications.

Microcredentials are often “stackable,” meaning you can build on each microcredential to keep upskilling, progress toward higher levels of expertise, and demonstrate your practical knowledge to employers.

How Are Microcredentials Different From Certificates or Degrees?

While college degrees are fully accredited by federally recognized accreditation organizations, microcredentials are not. However, they can still be offered by accredited institutions as well as employer-recognized professional companies.

If you’re looking to upskill within your job, these programs can be a short, sweet, and well-recognized way to demonstrate your expertise. Some employers may even help you pay for your education in a relevant field.

If you’ve decided college may not be for you but you’d like to gain experience, stackable microcredentials may work best for you in applied fields like cybersecurity and computer science, since you can become an expert in your field without paying for the full cost of a college degree.

For example, a bachelor’s degree requires 120 credit hours. It requires you to take general education courses and electives to give you a holistic education. A microcredential is just your desired field with no extra course requirements, typically ranging from 9-12 credits or the rough equivalent of one semester.

There is some risk, however. Some employers may require at least a bachelor’s degree for an entry-level position, even as they increasingly favor skills-based hiring.

Common Types of Microcredentials

Cybersecurity
Business
Computer science
Human resources
Educational Instruction
Management
Finance
Media, communications, and entertainment

Are Microcredentials Worth the Investment?

Microcredentials cost less than a bachelor’s degree. Employers value them but may still require a bachelor’s degree for entry-level jobs. Some students also still consider them too expensive.

Cost vs. Return on Investment

One of the most common skills-based hiring fields, information security analytics (i.e., cybersecurity) paid $124,910 per year as of 2024, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

ISC2, a reputable cybersecurity certification organization, found that of the 929 employers surveyed in 2025, 90% said they’d consider only those with prior IT experience, while 89% said they’d consider only those with a cybersecurity certification.

According to a 2023 EdResearcher survey, microcredentials cost an average of $1,500, with a range of $200-$4,700. In contrast, the average cost of a bachelor’s degree per year at public in-state colleges was $20,800 after financial aid.

A 2023 IBM and Morning Consult report found that while most students agreed that stackable credentials were somewhat or very helpful in achieving their career goals, 60% said their programs were too expensive.

One return on investment that students overwhelmingly benefited from is learning something new. Only 27.7% expected to learn something new, but 96.4% reported doing so, according to the EdResearcher report.

Who Microcredentials May Not Be For

Microcredentials may not be worth it for some fields unless you also earn a college degree. Some fields, like teaching and counseling, require bachelor’s degrees, field experience, and licensure — prerequisites that microcredentials alone will not provide.

Also, if you’re currently within a field that has microcredentialing opportunities available, ask your employer or manager if these programs can help you grow in your career and salary potential. If not, taking these programs may not be worth it in the long run.

Frequently Asked Questions About Microcredentials

Are microcredentials recognized by employers?

Yes, employers are increasingly valuing demonstrable skills over a bachelor’s degree. According to a survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 70% of employers used skill-based hiring practices for entry-level positions.