In 2021, only a handful of nursing programs used a competency-based education (CBE) model. But in a 2025 survey of undergraduate and graduate nursing programs, 92 percent of respondents said they were adopting it or planning to adapt their curriculum to align with CBE models.

For example, the applied science in advanced manufacturing program at Hudson County Community College offers an earn-and-learn model. Students gain professional experience, earn their degree debt-free, and graduate with a guaranteed job at a local company.

Read “Two Colleges Rethink Work-Force Pathways With Competency-Based Education,” to discover how CBE programs are structured, why this model is becoming increasingly popular, and how it can rebuild trust between employers and higher education.