Skill Demand Index

College Degree — Demand & Depth Analysis

Based on 3 scored job postings out of 3,786 total. Depth levels reflect actual proficiency tiers, not just keyword presence.

0.1%

Demand Rate

L5

Median Depth

0%

Gap Rate

3

Jobs Analyzed

L5100% of postings

Expert

Most employers want College Degree at architect level, not just familiarity.

Overview

What is College Degree?

Market context for College Degree in the current job market

College Degree is required in 0.1% of scored job postings on ShouldApply, making it a growing skill in the current job market. Employers looking for College Degree typically want candidates who can demonstrate real proficiency, not just surface awareness.

What the data shows for College Degree:

  • Required in 0.1% of all scored postingsdemand is growing as more employers add it to requirements
  • Employers typically expect L5 deptharchitect-level, not just familiarity
  • Most demand comes from Data Analysis roles33% of all College Degree jobs

What L5 means in practice:

L5 (Expert) means the employer expects someone who can architect systems around College Degree, mentor teams, and make strategic decisions. This goes well beyond "I’ve used it before."

This means employers aren't looking for someone who has used College Degree once or twice. They want evidence of professional application — shipped work, measurable outcomes, and the ability to operate independently.

Common skill gaps:

The gap rate of 0% means most candidates have adequate College Degree proficiency. To stand out, aim for L4-L5 depth with concrete evidence.

Which roles need College Degree most:

Data Analysis positions drive 33% of demand. Software Engineering and Other also frequently list College Degree as a requirement. Skills commonly paired with College Degree include Data Analysis and Microsoft Excel.

Depth Level Distribution

Proficiency Distribution

How candidates match College Degree requirements across 3 scored evaluations

L0 — Missing
0% (0)
L1 — Minimal
0% (0)
L2 — Basic
0% (0)
L3 — Proficient
0% (0)
L4 — Advanced
0% (0)
L5 — Expert
100% (3)
DOMINANT

Average depth: L5.0·Median depth: L5.0

Salary Correlation

Pay Impact

How College Degree affects compensation based on postings with disclosed salary data

Without College Degree

$139K

Median $130K

978 jobs

Skill Demand Insight

College Degree appears in 0.1% of all scored jobs.”

From 3 scored job postings

Skill Pairings

Commonly Paired Skills

Other skills that frequently appear alongside College Degree

Role Breakdown

Top Role Categories

Job categories most likely to require College Degree

Gap Analysis

Gap Rate Explained

How often College Degree is identified as a skill gap (L0–L1) in scored applications

0%

Very low gap rate — candidates generally have this skill

When College Degree appears in a job's requirements, 0% of scored applicants received an L0 or L1 (missing or minimal).

A high gap rate signals strong hiring leverage for candidates who have it. A low gap rate means the skill is table stakes: not having it is a disqualifier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is College Degree in demand in 2026?

Yes. College Degree appears in 0.1% of scored job postings on ShouldApply, making it a growing skill in the current market. Based on 3 analyzed jobs, demand is steady across multiple role types.

What level of College Degree do most jobs require?

The median required depth is L5. Most employers want advanced proficiency — candidates who can lead projects and optimize processes.

Does knowing College Degree increase salary?

Salary data for College Degree is still accumulating.

What other skills pair with College Degree?

The most common pairings are Data Analysis, Microsoft Excel, SQL, Python Programming, Microsoft Power Query. Strengthening these alongside College Degree improves your fit across more positions.

What roles need College Degree the most?

Top roles: Data Analysis, Software Engineering, Other. Data Analysis positions have the highest demand at 33% of all College Degree jobs.

How do I improve my College Degree level?

L1→L2: online courses and personal projects. L2→L3: daily professional use and shipped work. L3→L4: mentoring others and optimizing processes. L4→L5: architecture decisions, open source contributions, or published work.

See how you stack up against College Degree job requirements

ShouldApply scores your profile against each skill at the depth level jobs actually need.

Analyze my College Degree gaps →

See how your depth compares to what employers actually require

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