Our State Policy & Research Director, Stephanie Murphy, provides a 2025 update, our most comprehensive update to date, to HCM’s typology and policy landscape analysis of state investments in short-term credential pathways (originally published in 2023 and updated previously in 2024). Her latest analysis shows that overall state investments now cumulatively total at least $8.1 billion.

HCM’s State Policy & Research Director, Stephanie Murphy, delves into the latest update to HCM Strategists’ 2023 typology and policy landscape analysis of recent state investments in short-term credential initiatives across the United States. States continue to embrace skills-based education as a key component of workforce development, with growing bipartisan support. As of November 2024, states have invested more than $5.6 billion in short-term credential pathways.

As we close out 2024, our Partner Martha Snyder and Director Jessica Collis argue that it’s time for a transformation of our higher education system that leans into value, affordability, supports, and accountability to restore the public trust. Read their latest Insight blog for more.

Our State Policy & Research Director, Stephanie Murphy, provides a 2024 update of her 2023 typology and policy landscape analysis of state investments in short-term credential pathways. Her latest analysis shows that over the past year, eight states have established 10 new initiatives. Overall state investments now total $5.6 billion.

In her latest blog, our director of state policy and research examines the latest state legislation for funding of short-term credential pathways.

The first of its kind typology and policy landscape analysis of short-term credentials programs by Stephanie M. Murphy, Ph.D.