A recent investigation by the Washington Post has uncovered a phenomenon known as “degree hacking,” where students rapidly complete accredited online bachelor’s and master’s programs in a matter of weeks instead of years. This trend is exemplified by individuals like a woman who earned both degrees in 2024 for just over $4,000 and another who finished 16 college courses in just 22 days. The rise of this practice has led to the emergence of a cottage industry, with YouTube coaches and consulting packages costing up to $1,500, designed to help students navigate and exploit the system. This situation highlights the flaws in the current credential system, where the value of degrees is increasingly questioned, and the traditional educational timeline is being challenged.
QUESTION: How might the trend of “degree hacking” impact the perceived value of higher education degrees in the future?
For years, employers treated degrees as a proxy for competence. Technology just called their bluff
