By 
Quick answer: Skills or degree: what matters more?
- Experience — still the strongest signal.
- Degree — opens doors; higher average pay.
- Skills — increasingly tested directly.
- Certifications — fastest proof of specific skills.
- Reality — degree-requirement removal changed <1 in 700 hires.
Key takeaways
- Experience is still the strongest hiring signal.
- Degrees still correlate with higher pay and lower unemployment (BLS).
- Many employers removed degree requirements, but hiring practice changed slowly.
- Certificates (course completion) and certifications (assessed) are not the same.
- Combine skills proof, experience and credentials for the best result.
Skills vs degree vs experience
| Skills (certifications, portfolio) | Degree | Experience | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time to get | Weeks–months | 3–4 years | Years |
| Cost | Free–hundreds | High | Paid to gain it |
| Signal | Specific, current skills | Broad foundation, persistence | Proven performance |
| Best for | Career changers, tech roles | Regulated professions, many graduate roles | Senior roles |
What the data shows
A 2024 report by the Burning Glass Institute and Harvard Business School tracked companies that removed degree requirements and found that the change affected fewer than 1 in 700 hires: many firms dropped the requirement on paper but kept hiring graduates1. Meanwhile, BLS data shows higher median earnings and lower unemployment at each higher level of education2. Degrees still matter; skills-based hiring is growing but gradual.
Are certificates and certifications the same?
No. A certificate usually shows you completed a course or program. A certification shows you passed an assessment against a standard, often with renewal (AWS, PMP, Security+). Both can help; certifications carry more weight with employers.
Certification vs experience
Experience wins when both are present: employers trust what you've done. But certifications help you get the interviews that lead to experience, and help experienced people prove new skills (e.g. a manager adding AI or cloud).
Prove it free: the tests that match this guide
Prove skills directly, whatever your degree or experience. (Disclosure: Science of Apps publishes these tests.)
Skills vs degree: group discussion points
- For skills: faster, cheaper, more current, more inclusive.
- For degrees: broad foundations, critical thinking, networks, required for regulated roles.
- Balanced view: degrees and skills complement each other; lifelong certification keeps skills current.
The best strategy
Whatever your starting point, add proof of skills: a recognized certification, a portfolio project and verifiable credentials. Read more in skills-based hiring.
Frequently asked questions
Is a degree or skills more important?
Both matter: experience is the strongest signal, degrees still open many doors, and verified skills increasingly decide hiring, especially in tech.
Are certificates and certifications the same?
No. A certificate shows course completion; a certification shows you passed an assessment against a standard.
Is certification better than experience?
Experience usually carries more weight, but certifications help you get interviews and prove new skills.
Did skills-based hiring replace degrees?
Not yet. A 2024 Burning Glass Institute and HBS study found removing degree requirements changed fewer than 1 in 700 hires.
Has skills-based hiring actually replaced degree requirements?
A 2024 report by the Burning Glass Institute and Harvard Business School tracked companies that removed degree requirements and found that the change affected fewer than 1 in 700 hires: many firms dropped the requirement on paper but kept hiring graduates. Meanwhile, BLS data shows higher median earnings and lower unemployment at each higher level of education. Degrees still matter; skills-based hiring is growing but gradual.
Sources
- Burning Glass Institute & Harvard Business School: Skills-Based Hiring (2024)
- BLS: Education pays
- U.S. OPM: skills-based hiring
- Science of Apps: free online certifications
- Checked November 11, 2026. Figures that change — fees, salaries, prices — are reviewed every six months; if something is out of date, tell us.
Where to go from here
- Calculate training ROI — how to calculate training roi with a simple formula and a free calculator, plus
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- Build an upskilling program — how to build an employee upskilling and reskilling program with certifications,
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- CertificationsAI in educationHow AI is transforming education and online certification, from AI tutors to adaptive exams and skills verification.
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