No to 90-Credit Degrees

Impact on Higher Education in Massachusetts

• Attack on liberal arts
  Thirty fewer credits means fewer electives, less general education and reduced majors, gutting the well-rounded degree that equips students for a rich civic and professional life. 
• A two-tiered system in the making
  The most financially vulnerable students may disproportionately opt for the weaker degree, creating deep inequities and widening the opportunity gap in our state. 
• Rising tuition despite fewer credits
  Cutting 30 credits does not reduce fixed costs of the institution, and may instead lead to higher tuition and fees per year. 
• Job losses and workload increase 
  A reduction in credits stands to eliminate educator positions and place a signifi cant burden on those who remain. 

Risks to Our Students

1. Fourth year opportunities disappear
   The most formative experiences – capstones, senior theses, research, double majors and minors, internships and co-ops – are at risk of being lost.
2. Employers want more, not less
   Recruiters want college graduates who “see the big picture,” who can lead diverse teams and adapt to rapid change. – 2024 UC-Davis Corporate Recruiters Survey
3. Graduate school out of reach 
   Many graduate programs will not accept students who lack the standard number of credits without additional coursework.
4. Professional licensing at risk
   Many professions have minimum credit requirements for licensure. Ninety credits may not be enough.
5. Additional out-of-pocket costs
   Pell Grants typically do not cover coursework after a degree is awarded. Students needing additional credits for graduate school or licensure may have to pay out of pocket or obtain loans.
6. Most at risk to be replaced by AI
   Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warns that “AI could eliminate up to 50% of entry-level, white-collar jobs within the next five years.” With less education, 90-credit graduates are especially vulnerable.
7. A credential that closes doors
   Employers may discount degrees with less than 120 credits, prioritizing candidates with full, 120-credit credentials.
8. The great unknown
   Most financially vulnerable students opting for the shorter degree won’t feel the impact until it’s too late, because the economic, professional and social risks of such degrees are unknown.