In the digital age, identity management faces critical challenges due to centralized systems that offer limited control to users and increased vulnerability to security breaches. Self-sovereign Identity (SSI), leveraging blockchain technology, has emerged as a decentralized alternative, empowering users with full control over their digital identities. This paper explores the application of SSI models in managing student credentials within educational institutions. By decentralizing identity verification through blockchain, SSI enables secure, transparent, and efficient management of academic records such as transcripts, certificates and others. A comparative analysis of blockchain-based SSI models, including EverID, LifeID, Sora, and SelfKey, highlights the varying degrees of data privacy, scalability, and governance structures. Public and permissioned blockchain frameworks are examined for their potential to address issues such as document fraud, verification delays, and student autonomy. The paper identifies LifeID, Hyperledger Indy, and Sovrin as strong candidates for managing academic credentials, offering superior privacy and interoperability. With the growing importance of digital identity management, blockchain-based SSI models present a transformative solution for secure, user-centric credential management in education and others.