10 Types of Credentials You Can Earn Online

Pick the Right Credential

When it comes to online learning, students should choose a credential that fulfills their goals while providing flexibility -- whether it's a single course certificate or a full degree.

"There's such a wide range of offerings to them at economical prices that allow them to target their education specifically to their career plan," says Ray Schroeder, associate vice chancellor for online learning at the University of Illinois--Springfield.

Here are 10 different credentials students can earn online.

1. MOOC Verified Certificates

Providers of massive open online courses, or MOOCs -- online courses generally available at no charge to anybody worldwide with internet -- have options for users to pay to earn certificates of completion that highlight specific skills.

Usually costing between $30 and $150, verified certificates involve ID validation via webcam and require students to pass a class by meeting exam and assignment requirements.

2. MOOC Series Certificates

Students considering paying for MOOCs can sign up for what main MOOC providers edX and Coursera, which partner with colleges and universities to launch online courses, refer to as multi-course "XSeries" and "specializations," respectively.

After completing multiple MOOCs and earning certificates for each, students build up to a final certificate highlighting mastery of job-related skills. Examples include edX's four-course Marketing Analytics XSeries and Coursera's 10-course Data Science specialization.

3. Postsecondary Degrees

Whether students want to pursue their associate degree or Ph.D., there are plenty of options online. Many reputable universities now offer online and blended, or partially online, programs across disciplines -- from the liberal arts to nursing to engineering. Still, some fields, such as medicine and law, have been slow to embrace online education.

The quality of different online degree programs varies widely, so students should research thoroughly beforehand, experts say, considering factors such as accreditation, flexibility, convenience and cost.

4. Undergraduate and Graduate Certificates

Online certificates allow students to gain a specific skill or further knowledge in an area, experts say. That contrasts with online degrees, which are often broader in scope and take longer. ASU Online at Arizona State University, for example, has online graduate certificates in everything from health care innovation to sustainable tourism.

"In general, they are interested in a quick promotion or getting another job," Robert Hansen, CEO of the University Professional and Continuing Education Association, told U.S. News in 2014.

5. Postbaccalaureate Certificates

Graduates pursuing a career path who don't hold a related bachelor's degree might pursue a postbaccalaureate certificate online to obtain certification or fulfill grad school prerequisites.

That's the case for disciplines such as teaching, and even some surprising fields: George Washington University has an online postbac certificate in medical laboratory science, though it has a clinical component, and LSU Online at Louisiana State University--Baton Rouge offers one in construction management.

6. "Stackable" Credentials

In some online programs, students can earn several smaller credentials, like graduate certificates, for quick career boosts, and then build their way up to a degree -- or stop there. The University of Kansas, for instance, has an online MBA program split into three certificate programs.

"Those smaller or more stackable credentials allow them to advance inside the organization they're already in and start going on a longer path," Traci Lepicki, associate director of Ohio State University--Columbus' Center on Education and Training for Employment, recently told U.S. News.

7. MOOC-Based Degrees

Students in certain programs can complete portions of graduate degrees through MOOCs and then apply to pursue the full degree at a lower cost. Students may first audit MOOCs for free and decide whether to continue.

The University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign, for instance, offers a Master of Computer Science in Data Science where students can first earn a MOOC specialization certificate and then apply to earn a degree for less than $20,000. EdX also recently announced 19 MOOC-based MicroMasters programs exploring in-demand fields.

8. Digital Badges

Some faculty incorporate digital badges into courses -- whether MOOCs or for credit. These credentials, experts say, allow students to showcase certain milestones or skills they developed in online courses and post them on social media or online portfolios.

When clicked on, badges often redirect to information on how and when they were earned. Still, the concept of badges is relatively new, and many professors are still figuring out the best ways to use them, experts say.

9. Nanodegrees

Online education company Udacity, in partnership with companies such as AT&T, offers "nanodegree" programs in information technology. Students select a subject area such as web development, pay about $200 a month and complete several projects to illustrate skills and earn their credential.

"It's basically saying to an employer, here's a core set of courses that you know this person has that makes them very viable for your job," Stuart Butler, a senior fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institution, a nonprofit public policy research organization in the District of Columbia, told U.S. News in 2016.

10. Coding Boot Camp Certifications

Coding boot camps focus on developing job-specific skills over at least a few months -- unlike degrees, which generally take a few years and explore disciplines in their entirety.

Many online coding boot camps offer both full-time and flexible options -- the former more closely mimicking the face-to-face classroom experience, and the latter allowing students to work at their own pace. A Thinkful boot camp certificate, for example, costs $9,000 for those who finish in six months compared with $14,000 for full-time students who have a set daily schedule.

More About Online Education

Find more tips on choosing a best-fit online program on the Online Learning Lessons blog, and get our complete rankings of the Best Online Programs.

For additional advice and information on how to navigate online program admissions, connect with U.S. News Education on Twitter and Facebook.

Jordan Friedman is an online education editor at U.S. News. You can follow him on Twitter or email him at jfriedman@usnews.com.