As a leader in the Adult Learning and Continuing Education space, we provide information on best and emerging practices within the field. We remain committed to keep our industry colleagues informed. While some content may be controversial, The Continuing Education Unit Accreditation Council is not affiliated or aligned with any political agenda.
Modern Adult Learning: The Largest Education Ecosystem in the Country
By Casandra Blassingame, MEd
CEUAC Connects, May 23, 2026
There is not one universally accepted number because “continuing education” includes a very broad ecosystem: workforce training, professional development, association learning, corporate learning, non-credit higher education, certifications, online learning, and informal adult education. But based on major national studies and participation trends, a strong evidence-based estimate is 70-100 million adult learners. This makes Modern Adult Learning one of the largest education ecosystems in the country.
The future of education is not confined to traditional degree pathways. The challenge before us is ensuring those learning experiences are credible, measurable, and trusted. CEUAC is not trying to replicate traditional higher education accreditation. We are addressing the credibility gap in this rapidly expanding non-degree learning economy.
CEUAC helps define the problem and shapes how adult and workforce learning is trusted and gains legitimacy in policy and practice. Creating a movement around quality and validity is our goal. How institutions gain the trust of learners, funders, and employers is the impact of the outcome. CEUAC Accreditation is a viable solution!
Midwest Urban Strategies Newsletter
March 1, 2026
Credit for prior learning is all about benefiting from workplace and other experiences that have occurred before students enter the classroom. But the benefits don’t stop there. CPL returns the favor to the workplace, not only by expediting work-relevant credential completion but also by strengthening the alignment between academic curricula and workforce needs.
Misalignment between college curricula and the latest workforce needs is a frequently bemoaned challenge underscoring the need for strategic coordination among workforce developers, private industry, and postsecondary education. Such dissonance sows doubt among students about education’s return on investment. It also forces employers to choose among college credentials, competency-based assessments, industry training, and other alternatives.
Meanwhile, surveys and other research continue to indicate that, over time, college degrees pay off. A Lumina Foundation-Gallup survey showed that most adults who haven’t completed a degree find them “extremely” or “very” valuable (55% for associate degrees, 70% for bachelor’s degrees). According to the U.S. Department of Labor, workers 25 and older who have a bachelor’s degree earn 66% more (18% for associate degree holders) than workers who didn’t attend college... continue
The ED UP Experience
Accreditation Insights
May 2026
CEUAC is a framework of legitimacy in the modern adult learning ecosystem. We live at the intersections of workforce development, credential quality, continuing education, adult learning, and accreditation.
One of the largest education ecosystems in America is operating without a universally recognized quality infrastructure designed specifically for it. This is becoming one of the most important conversations in education policy and workforce strategy.
I was delighted to have the opportunity to have this conversation with Laurie Shanderson, PhD, FACHE, Greg Pillar, PhD, and Leamor Kahanov on The EdUp Experience EdUp Accreditation Insights about how CEUAC is addressing the credibility gap in the rapidly expanding non-credit, non-degree sector of adult learning.
Click here to tune in and listen to the conversation: https://www.accreditationinsights.com/ceuac/