New reports show a rise in nondegree credentials funded primarily out-of-pocket by students alongside research indicating many public-college graduates still see weak returns on their investment. A sector study found most students pay for certificates themselves, raising affordability and equity concerns as institutions expand short-term, stackable credentials. Separately, Strada Education Foundation analysis showed about 30% of recent public college graduates did not earn a positive ROI within 10 years, tied to program mix, weak employer alignment and uneven career supports. Researchers and advocates urged five institutional priorities to improve outcomes—clear outcomes and data, quality career coaching, affordability, work-based learning, and employer alignment—warning that scaling credentialing without those supports risks saddling learners with cost and limited labor-market value.