Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Morehouse College offered fewer than nine online courses. But as the virus forced learning online, the private, historically Black college quickly changed course—and now has entire degrees online, including a full-time option and classes for those who dropped out and want to finish. 

Digital alternatives at residential colleges and other new ways of delivering education have exploded since the pandemic forced schools to shut down in March 2020, forcing a reckoning in a sector already reeling from enrollment declines, rising tuition, and unmanageable student debt.

Micro-credentials—programs certifying specific competencies that can stand alone or be applied toward a larger degree—are gaining momentum as more learners need to reskill and compete in an evolving workforce. 

On this podcast, Betty Vandenbosch of Coursera discusses the state of online education, the future of the traditional four-year degree, and what colleges and universities should be doing to keep up with alternative credential pathways.