Some public and private sector employers are eliminating college degree requirements for certain jobs at a time when many Americans are questioning the value of higher education, a new survey shows. The shift reflects that more hiring managers are prioritizing skills over education, evaluating candidates based on their abilities and practical experience, rather than the degrees they hold.
One in three U.S. companies removed bachelor’s degree requirements from some job postings this year, according to a new study. data A study by Intelligent, a college readiness company, shows that in June Intelligent surveyed 750 U.S. business leaders online about their views on college degrees. Another 25% of companies said they plan to remove college degree requirements from job postings by 2025, according to the survey.
This is partly because more employers are recognizing that many potential candidates choose not to go to college because it is unaffordable or because they believe they will gain more practical skills in the workforce, rather than in the classroom.
“Traditionally, many positions required a four-year college degree because it was more common to go to college. But now, because of rising costs, fewer people are opting for it and employers are starting to realize that there is a more diverse pool of applicants than just those who have a four-year college degree,” Huy Nguyen, senior education and career development advisor at Intelligent, told JOBsNews MoneyWatch. “And not having a college degree shouldn’t disqualify them from applying for a job they might be successful in.”
Additionally, having a college degree doesn’t necessarily translate to success in the workplace, Nguyen added, particularly in fast-moving fields like technology, where information and skills learned in school can quickly become outdated.
That’s one of the main areas where Nguyen says employers are starting to evaluate candidates based on other metrics, such as work experience or certifications that indicate one has mastered a skill like computer coding.
“We’ve seen big tech and software companies prioritize skills over degrees because of the speed at which the industry is evolving. Often, someone may have gone to college quite a while ago, so what they learned in college doesn’t necessarily translate into the skills the job market demands,” Nguyen said.
Shift towards skills-based hiring
Other industries where companies are relaxing degree requirements for job candidates include finance and insurance, health care and social services, education, and information and data services, according to the Intelligent report.
Removing college degree requirements can also help employers attract a more diverse pool of candidates, particularly when unemployment in the sector is low and companies are struggling to fill open positions.
Some states have even passed laws to open job opportunities to applicants without a college degree. In January, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed an executive order eliminating college degree requirements for more than 90% of state jobs.
“This executive order directs our administration to focus on applicants’ skills and experiences, rather than college credentials. It will expand our applicant pool and help us build a more inclusive and skilled workforce than ever before. Our administration is leading by example, and we encourage the business community to join us in adopting similar skills-based hiring practices,” Healey said in a statement at the time.
Learning on the job
Nearly 60% of business leaders said they have eliminated degree requirements for entry-level positions, while 54% said they have done so for mid-level positions and 18% said they have done so for senior-level positions, according to the survey.
Eliminating such requirements could allow early career candidates without college degrees, who might otherwise have been excluded from job opportunities, to learn on the job and gain practical skills that could prepare them for success later in their careers.
None of those surveyed said they would completely eliminate college degree requirements for all positions.
To be sure, neither Nguyen nor other experts dispute that a college degree can confer advantages on job seekers. College graduates typically command higher salaries and are less likely to experience unemployment than those with only high school diplomas. In 2024, the median salary of college graduates was 37% higher than the median salary of those without a bachelor’s degree, according to one study. analysis from the compensation company PayScale.
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