Certification vs. Degree: Which is Right for You?

Between colleges and certification course programs, adults of all ages now have more options than ever before when it comes to pursuing higher education. It can be hard to decide which is the right direction to help you reach your goals. So, what’s really the difference between a degree and a certificate, and how do you know which is the better choice for you?

Time Commitment

College Degree

In the majority of cases, it takes roughly two years to earn an associate’s degree or four to five years for a bachelor’s degree as a full-time student. Post-graduate degree programs can tack on another two to four years depending on the degree level being pursued. Full-time students attend two semesters per year with at least four courses per semester. That breaks down to about three credit hours per course and approximately 12 hours in the classroom per week. You’ll also need time outside the classroom to complete assignments and prepare for exams.

Certification Course

Certification course durations vary depending on how many hours students are in the classroom and for how many days a week. These learning tracks are often very comprehensive and are much more accelerated than college degree programs. Many programs require 120 learning hours over a two- to four-month period. For example, a certification program may require students to attend three-hour classes four days a week for 10 weeks.

Cost

College Degree

According to recent data, the average cost per year of in-state public college tuition is $9,377. Private, nonprofit in-state students see an average of $37,641 in tuition costs and fees per year. Neither of those costs factor in expenses like room and board, books, and supplies, all of which significantly increase the costs students are responsible for. Scholarship opportunities can greatly lower these costs, but they tend to be competitive and require advanced planning to meet all requirements. That being said, a college degree still offers students considerable value. It will never expire post-graduation and signifies a student’s hard work across their time in higher education.

Certification Course

Compared to a college degree, certification courses and the exams that follow them are far less expensive overall. Still, these kinds of courses and programs can vary in cost. Course options can range between $1,000 to $3,000, while certification exams can cost anywhere from $100 to $450 depending on how advanced the materials covered are. Some certificate providers do offer scholarships to assist with course costs. While certifications do hold great merit with employers upon completion, these accreditations often expire after two to three years. Therefore, those who have certifications without a degree will need to retake exams to maintain their certification status.

Learning Focus

College Degree

College tech degree programs like computer science or even tech-adjacent programs like animation provide students with a well-rounded education beyond core technical fundamentals. Learners are required to complete general and elective courses outside of or adjacent to their major’s focus, meaning they might not get into key technical courses until nearly halfway through their education.

Since a college degree includes education on various subjects, learning theory and practicing those skills first-hand in the classroom varies by institution. College students should want to strike a balance of both, which is offered at schools like Villa Maria College. Villa’s animation program, a tech-adjacent major, prioritizes hands-on learning by teaching 2D, 3D, motion graphics, and animation design through technical applications and programs like Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere.

“My favorite courses were ones where I got to produce my own short animated films, including learning how to craft a story, design the visuals, and then actually create the film. It was an amazing opportunity to collaborate with a bunch of other creative people and to put my own work out into the world,” said Villa animation graduate Tien Nguyen.

Certification Course

Certification courses focus on educating learners on in-demand skills for a specific job role. Rather than studying outside subjects, everything learned in a certification course is relevant to the training and every application has a clear intended purpose. There’s also an emphasis on hands-on training and completing real-world applications on top of lecture time. A certificate validates that those who have passed their exams have the skills to excel once they enter the workforce.

Which Option Is Better?

Overall, both college degrees and certification courses have their own merits and disadvantages. One option isn’t necessarily better than the other. If you are looking for an entry-level or junior-level position, a certificate course is likely the faster, more affordable option. After all, many of these tech jobs only require applicants to have a high school diploma or GED. On the other hand, college graduates are often more likely to reach senior-level or management positions, though this doesn’t mean that those with only certifications are ineligible. In the end, both options can put you on a path to reach your career goals.

For Tien, his degree and technical experience in Villa’s animation program helped earn him a job as a motion graphics animator at a local advertising agency, Crowley Webb, in Buffalo. There, he makes memorable, engaging content for various audiences in collaboration with other team members.

“My role is to develop a wide range of animated video content for our clients by working with other animators, video editors, and cinematographers. Examples of my work include animated informational videos, social media ads, logo animations, and TV commercials. It’s very gratifying to see my work out in the world making an impact on people’s lives.”