There are over a million credentials – from certifications to bootcamps to professional courses. The overwhelming volume makes it hard to know which options will actually move your career forward—and which are unlikely to pay off. That’s why the Burning Glass Institute built the Credential Value Index (CVI)—a first-of-its-kind index and navigation tool that sheds light on the real-world outcomes of virtually every certification in America, as well as more than 20,000 other non-degree credentials. Whether you're aiming to advance in your current field, transition to a new field, or increase your earnings, the CVI can guide you by drawing on the career histories of millions of workers to show what actually happens after completing a program. That helps you answer the question: Is this credential right for me?
Start Exploring Credential Outcomes Using the CVI Navigator
To get started, enter keywords related to job titles, credentials, or providers. The results will display relevant programs alongside key outcome data such as wage gain, job growth, and in-demand skills. Explore various data points for each program and even select up to three to compare side-by-side.
Danielle is a driven mid-career professional eager to take the next step. With ten years of experience and a strong performance record, she's eyeing a leadership role—but she knows she'll need to expand her skill set to get there. Whether it's learning data analytics, exploring product strategy, or sharpening her project management skills, she's looking for a credentialthat will position her for promotion—and increase her earning power.
What Danielle Needs:
• A clear path to advancement within her field
• Confidence that any investment in upskilling will pay off
• Data on which credentials actually lead to higher-paying, leadership roles
How the Credential Value Index Helps: The CVI helps Danielle identify targeted programs—like leadership certificates or project management bootcamps—that have helped other mid-career professionals in similar roles make the jump to senior positions. By showing real outcomes, CVI gives Danielle the clarity and confidence to take the next step in her career.
After years in retail management, Marcus is ready for a change. He’s seen first-hand how unstable the industry can be and wants to transition into a more resilient field—like healthcare administration or IT support. He’s motivated to retrain, but with limited time and budget, he must be strategic about where he invests.
What Marcus Needs:
• A fast, affordable pathway into a new career
• Assurance that the credential will lead to real job opportunities
• Support navigating unfamiliar territory
How the Credential Value Index Helps: For Marcus, time and budget are critical. The CVI helps him identify fast, affordable pathways into resilient fields like health care administration or IT support. By showcasing career progressions of individuals who have successfully made similar transitions, and by providing data on the skills and qualifications employers are seeking, the CVI helps Marcus navigate this unfamiliar territory with greater confidence, reducing the risk associated with switching fields mid-career.
Jasmine is the first in her family to attend college. She’s working part-time while studying business administration, and she’s determined to build a future with more financial security. But with so many education options—and student debt to consider—she wants to be sure she’s making smart decisions that will lead to good jobs, not just credentials that look good on paper but don’t deliver real value.
What Jasmine Needs:
• Clarity on which programs deliver real returns
• Guidance on the value of certificates, associate degrees, or transferring to a four-year school
• Confidence that her hard work will pay off
How the CVI Helps: The CVI offers Jasmine a clear view of pathways associated with different educational choices, from short-term certificates to associates degrees and beyond. By showcasing data on job placement and earning potential for graduates of various programs, the CVI helps Jasmine understand which options are most likely to provide a real return on her time and financial investment, giving her the confidence to choose a path that leads to greater financial security and sets her up for longer-term career growth.
Rita works at a local workforce development agency, helping jobseekers navigate education, training, and employment pathways. Many of her clients are adults balancing work, family, and financial pressures. Rita is passionate about helping them succeed—but with so many new credential programs on the market, it’s increasingly difficult to know which ones truly deliver results.
What Rita Needs:
• Reliable data on the career impact of specific credentials
• Tools to analyze and compare the effectiveness of programs across various industries and education levels
• A way to guide clients with clarity and confidence
How the Credential Value Index Helps: The CVI provides Rita with reliable, data-driven insights she needs to effectively guide her clients. By offering real-world outcome data on a vast array of credentials across a broad spectrum of industries and education levels, the CVI allows Rita to steer her clients toward programs that are most likely to lead to sustainable employment and improved financial stability, increasing her effectiveness in helping them navigate their career journeys successfully.
Matt built a strong technical foundation early in his career—earning a master’s degree, landing a competitive role, and steadily moving up the ranks. But now, after nearly a decade in the field, his progress has plateaued. The technical work still excites him, but promotions keep going to colleagues with more leadership experience or broader business skills. He’s not looking to start over—he’s looking to level up. Matt knows that to break into the next tier, he’ll need to build skills in areas like project management, stakeholder communication, and team leadership. What he doesn’t know is which programs will actually give him that edge.
What Matt Needs:
• Direction on which leadership or management credentials are respected in his field
• Evidence that an investment will lead to better roles or a higher salary
• A way to differentiate himself without stepping away from his technical strengths
How the Credential Value Index Helps: The CVI allows Matt identify leadership and management-focused programs that are recognized and valued within the data science and technology field. It provides data on how professionals with strong technical backgrounds, like his, have successfully leveraged credentials to advance into senior roles—empowering Matt to make informed decisions about his upskilling journey.
greater wage gains
more likely to help you move up in your field
more likely to help you move into aligned careers
A data laboratory advancing mobility, opportunity, and prosperity at the intersection of the future of work and learning. Explore more about how the Burning Glass Institute is shaping the future of work here.
