Stop Chasing Degrees. Start Stacking Certifications.

Every job fair, I get the same questions about degrees. Here's the answer I give every time.

Every job fair, I get the same questions.

Should I go back to school? Do I need a degree to compete? Will a certification actually get me hired?

My answer is the same every time: a well-chosen certification will do more for your career right now than another two to four years of tuition debt. Let me show you why, with actual numbers.

THE DEGREE MYTH IS CRACKING

The data is shifting fast. As of early 2024, fewer than 1 in 5 job postings on Indeed required a four-year degree, and the majority, 52 percent, listed no formal education requirement at all. That number has been climbing every year since 2019. Project management jobs saw the single largest drop in degree requirements of any occupation, down more than 9 percentage points in just five years.

1 in 4 employers say they are actively eliminating degree requirements from their postings. 7 out of 10 hiring managers say relevant experience now outweighs a bachelor’s degree when they are making decisions. 84 percent of companies that dropped degree requirements say it has been a successful move.

These are not fringe companies. Apple, Walmart, IBM, General Motors, and even state governments are all part of this shift. IBM alone removed degree requirements from more than half of its U.S. job postings.

NOW LET’S TALK MONEY

Here is where certifications stop being a talking point and start being a financial strategy.

PMP (Project Management Professional)

Non-certified project managers earn a median salary of around $93,000. PMP-certified professionals earn $120,000 to $122,000. That is a 33 percent premium, or roughly $27,000 to $29,000 more per year, according to PMI’s own salary survey data across 21 countries. At the senior level, certified professionals average $145,000 versus $116,000 for their non-certified peers.

Now compare the investment. A PMP certification costs between $2,555 and $3,305 and takes roughly three months to prepare for. An MBA starts at $60,000 and takes 18 to 24 months. PMI’s own data found that professionals with a master’s degree and those with a PMP certification earned salaries that differed by less than $1,000. Read that again.

SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP (Human Resources)

SHRM itself reports that credential holders earn 14 to 15 percent more than non-certified HR peers. The SHRM-SCP pushes that range to 15 to 25 percent depending on the role. The SPHR can go well above that at the executive level. For a veteran transitioning into HR, federal civilian human capital roles, or contractor workforce management, these credentials are direct door-openers.

CompTIA Security+

The average salary for Security+ holders in 2025 runs between $90,000 and $105,000 depending on role and location. For those in DoD-adjacent positions, Security+ is not just preferred, it is often a baseline requirement under DoD 8570/8140. Veterans coming off an IT, signals, or intelligence MOS are already halfway there in terms of applicable experience.

THE REAL QUESTION

Nobody at that job fair is asking you whether you enjoyed your college experience. They are asking whether you can do the job on day one. A certification answers that question directly. A degree says you sat in a classroom. A certification says you passed a standardized, industry-recognized assessment of current skills.

For veterans, this is actually an advantage. You already have years of real-world execution, leadership, and problem-solving. You do not need four more years of theory. You need credentials that translate what you already know into language the civilian hiring market recognizes.

WHERE TO START

Here are three certifications worth your attention depending on where you are headed:

If you are targeting program or project management roles: PMP. Requires 36 months of project leadership experience (or 60 if you do not have a degree). Cost is under $3,500. Return on investment begins the first year.

If you are going into HR, civilian personnel, or workforce management: SHRM-CP. No degree required for this credential. Demonstrates strategic HR competency immediately.

If you are targeting IT, cybersecurity, or DoD contractor roles: CompTIA Security+. Widely recognized, DoD baseline compliant, and attainable in 60 to 90 days of focused study.

Stop waiting for the right degree. Start building the right credentials.

That is the passdown.