I disagree. To me, certificate sounds like something tiny. I.e. you're a certified .NET developer. Traditionally, a degree can be very broad. For example, a CS

I disagree. To me, certificate sounds like something tiny. I.e. you're a certified .NET developer. Traditionally, a degree can be very broad. For example, a CS degree can cover a lot of classes in different areas of Computer Science in addition to other non-major classes. In contrast, a Nanodegree, sounds like a specialized degree to me. The Nano implies that it is small, but degree has that well known definition to most people. Together, it brings a sense of being a highly specialized program.