Dive Brief:

• According to University Business, millennials enjoy the competitive aspect of earning badges, but also appreciate the ability to bolster their exposure to companies and industries seeking qualified entry-level employees. 
• Business, technology, education and healthcare are the nation's top programs awarding undergraduate badges and credentials.
• Some observers say that schools with heavy science and tech curriculum are best suited for badging programs, rather than liberal arts schools which have fewer industrial certification options. 

Dive Insight:

Badging programs are, seemingly, a win for institutions and students. Students are able to showcase their initiative in earning certifications while pursuing a degree and better position themselves for work which will aid in paying back student loans and finding professional fulfillment early in their careers. 

And for institutions, badging programs encourage on-time degree completion, retention and through the aforementioned benefits to students, increased endorsement as institutions with positive outcomes for college seekers and their families. While there are challenges in identifying which badges translate into legitimate work-ready knowledge, the programs are a positive step in helping students to help ready themselves for employment, and to show colleges as more than training-grounds for theory-based instruction.