I believe that eventually, instruction will be separate from certification. Instruction will be widely available and at low cost or free. Certification of knowledge will be the measure of a “degree”. By that I mean that you will go to a testing center and will take a test that if you pass, you will be certified as knowing that subject.
Complete the set of certifications for a HS Diploma, AS, or BS and you will be granted that “degree”.
CLEP