Kamala Harris vows to end college degree requirements for federal jobs

Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris on Friday vowed to drop some of the college degree requirements for jobs in the federal government, stating that a college degree does not necessarily translate to skills. 

The promise, which was met with applause from the audience, occurred during a campaign stop in the swing state of Pennsylvania. Harris has made it a priority to court middle-class and working class voters. It also comes after Pennsylvania eliminated the four-year degree requirement for most state jobs last year.

Harris said she understood that a degree does not have to equate to a high skill level, and that people can develop skills that are necessary for certain jobs through other means, like specialized programs. 

“For far too long, our nation has encouraged only one path to success: a four-year college degree," Harris told the Wilkes-Barre audience. "Our nation needs to recognize the value of other paths, additional paths, such as apprenticeships and technical programs. ... As President, I will get rid of the unnecessary degree requirements for federal jobs to increase jobs for folks without a four-year degree, understanding that requiring a certain degree does not necessarily talk about one’s skills."

Harris did not indicate what federal jobs would no longer require a four-year college degree. However in Pennsylvania, 92% of state jobs do not require a college degree, but job postings do cite what experience is necessary in lieu of a degree.

The vice president also vowed to challenge the private sector to follow her footsteps on eradicating the need for college degrees in certain positions, and  highlighted her own background of growing up as a part of the middle class.

“I come from the middle class. I understand where I come from, and I’m never going to forget that, and I will always put middle class, working people first,” Harris said.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.