Skip to main content

SNHU Partners with Salesforce to Bring College Credit to Trailhead

A woman working on a laptop and tablet computer on Trailhead's free online learning platform.

Southern New Hampshire University’s ongoing commitment to expanding access to affordable education extends well beyond traditional and online learning. SNHU is focused on meeting learners where they are, and quite often that’s within the workforce where ever-changing organizational needs require continuous learning. The university has partnered with cloud-based software dynamo, Salesforce, an organization equally committed to empowering future generations with the skills necessary to start and grow their careers in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

In 2014, Salesforce launched Trailhead, a free online learning platform, which the organization reports has become a game changer for more than 1.5 million Trailblazers who want to develop new skills and broaden work opportunities and advancement.

In its partnership with SNHU, Trailhead will create pathways for Trailblazers to earn college credit by completing admin and developer badges, all while gaining critical skills needed in today’s workforce and well into the future.

In a conversation between Sarah Franklin, EVP and GM of Platform, Trailhead and Developers at Salesforce and SNHU President Dr. Paul LeBlanc, the former took note of the DNA match in the shared passion between Trailhead and SNHU for putting students at the center of a new kind of learning experience. “This partnership is about empowerment at scale,” Franklin said. “We’re joining forces to pioneer new ways of engaging students with online, experiential learning.”

According to LeBlanc, any Trailhead learner can apply to enroll in an SNHU degree program and have their Trailhead badges evaluated towards of over 100 undergraduate degree programs. “Any collection of 100+ Trailhead modules completed for either the admin or developer role, along with a Superbadge, will count as a 3-credit experiential learning course at SNHU,” he said. That credit can then be applied as a major elective for applicable IT-related programs or a free elective for any undergraduate degree program.

Experiential learning augments degree programs by allowing students to gain direct experience to use in their work and strengthen their career path by employing the application of learning through doing, one of the most reliable ways to ensure that learning happens and sticks.

Read Salesforce’s full conversation with Franklin and LeBlanc for more information about this partnership and its benefits to learners.

Pamme Boutselis ‘15, ‘17G is a staff writer and senior content director in higher education. Follow her on Twitter @pammeb or connect on LinkedIn.

Explore more content like this article

A group of 13 Global Days of Service volunteers, including SNHU President Lisa Marsh Ryerson, center, who supported the New Hampshire Food Bank.

Serving with Purpose the SNHU Way: Parks, People and the Planet

This past spring, SNHU alumni, students and employees commemorated the 10th annual Global Days of Service (GDS). From large-scale conservation projects to a microcosm of volunteers crafting for good, the SNHU community came together for the shared purpose of making a difference.
Confetti falling over graduates at the SNHU 2025 Spring Commencement

Becoming More: Celebrating SNHU’s Spring Class of 2025

This weekend on May 3 and 4, Manchester, New Hampshire, was abuzz with excitement for more than 5,000 new Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) degree holders. The SNHU Arena welcomed more than 27,000 supporters over four ceremonies this weekend to celebrate SNHU's class of 2025.
An illustration of a diverse group of women.

What is International Women's Day?

International Women’s Day (IWD) takes place each year on March 8, during Women’s History Month. It's a holiday observed across the globe that encourages you to reflect on women's history, celebrate women's achievements and take action to support gender equality.

About Southern New Hampshire University

Two students walking in front of Monadnock Hall

SNHU is a nonprofit, accredited university with a mission to make high-quality education more accessible and affordable for everyone.

Founded in 1932, and online since 1995, we’ve helped countless students reach their goals with flexible, career-focused programs. Our 300-acre campus in Manchester, NH is home to over 3,000 students, and we serve over 135,000 students online. Visit our about SNHU page to learn more about our mission, accreditations, leadership team, national recognitions and awards.