Important stats on colleges | Complete data and trends

Key takeaways

Recent important stats on colleges from 2009-2010 to 2019-2020 show that the number of bachelor’s degrees earned/conferred rose from approximately 1.6 million to 2.0 million.
Women earned 58% of the bachelor’s degrees awarded in 2019-2020.
Over 73% of college enrollments in 2023 were in public institutions, a substantial rise from 50% in the 1960s.
California is in the lead with the highest number of college enrollments.
Meanwhile, college enrollments, while Florida, New York, and Texas also have over a million enrollments each.
Hispanic students’ representation in bachelor’s degrees increased from 8% in 2009-2010 to 15% in 2019-2020.
In June 2023, the US Supreme Court ruled against race-conscious admissions, ensuring that there are more inclusivity efforts by educational institutes.
About one-third of higher education students take at least 1 online course, stats on colleges tell. This trend is driven by technological advancements such as AI.

Over the years, higher education like undergraduate bachelor degrees has evolved. Trends and common practices have changed, and there is a significant change in how college degrees help students survive in the job market.

The increase in bachelor’s degrees awarded, along with the growing representation of women and ethnic minorities, highlights the progress towards a more inclusive and diverse educational environment. Public colleges and universities have become the predominant choice for students, while online education has emerged as a viable and popular alternative.

For your college planning, you may choose to evaluate colleges by state or colleges by programs. In either case, you will be dealing with a lot of questions and queries. Having access to reliable information, stats on college, market data, and college trends will allow you to make the right choice for yourself.

Whether you are fit for a conventional on-campus program or an online degree, or you wish to pursue a business major or a liberal arts subject – everything depends on some important data. Don’t miss out on the wealth of information you can get from stats on colleges and expert advice at All Bachelor Degrees.

Ten-year trends and stats on colleges in the USA

Between 2009 and 2010 and from 2019 to 2020, the number of bachelor’s degrees earned increased substantially, from approximately 1.6 million to 2.0 million. Of these degrees earned from 2019 to 2020, females made up 58% of the degree holders, while 42% of the degrees earned were by males.

In fact, some sources suggest that the number of female enrollment in colleges or bachelor programs has doubled since the 1970s.

Over the years, enrollment in public colleges and universities has seen a steady increase. In 2023, more than 73% of college enrollments were in public institutions, compared to the 50% enrollment in the 1960s.

Stats on college enrollment by state

Every state has a unique set of colleges and institutions to offer to its residents and out-of-state students. Based on the enrollment trends and the variety of options available, you can explore colleges by state and make an informed decision.

Here are the colleges stats you need to know while looking for colleges by state:

California has the highest number of college enrollments for bachelor’s or undergraduate degrees. However, only 10.73% of the students are non-state residents.
Florida, New York, and Texas have more than a million enrollments in colleges for undergrad programs. These are the only states to have so.
Owing to its area by size and population, Alaska has the smallest number of college enrollments. You will find a limited number of colleges in Alaska. However, you can explore states nearby to get better colleges and degree options. California, Hawaii, and Texas are some of the states you can explore.
Utah and Louisiana have the highest percentage of female enrollments, marking well over 59% of the students enrolled in colleges.

Diversity in USA colleges and Universities

While there has been a mix and a steady balance of male and female representation in bachelor degrees earned during the past 10 years, ethnic diversity and representation saw some changes. Earlier, from 2009 to 2010, Hispanics made up only 8% of the degree holders. However, from 2019 to 2020, the percentage increased to 15% and is projected to grow even higher in the future.

On the other hand, the number of degrees earned by blacks and Asians did not see much change. Overall, the enrollment of non-white students has increased significantly from 1976, up to 125% according to sources.

Meanwhile, there have been active efforts toward increasing ethnic diversity and representation in bachelor’s degree programs. For example, in June 2023, an impactful ruling by the US Supreme Court strictly corrected and refrained colleges from granting race-conscious admissions. Such stats on college allow us to see a bright future for diversity and inclusion in higher education.

Stats on college degrees and their popularity

Choosing the best college degree for the future is perhaps the most important decision students take. The major you select is going to dictate the next 4 years of your college life, as well as shape your career prospects and job opportunities.

To help you narrow down your options, here are the most common bachelor degrees and what changes and trends have been recorded in recent years:

Business & Management

Here are the trends for business and management:

Steady growth of 7%, however, less than other fields like computer and IT.
Makes up the largest portion of graduation classes from 2011 to 2021.
Offers skills like leadership, people management, ideation, marketing, communication, and more.
Specializations include human resources and recruitment, marketing, supply chain and logistics, and accounting.

Nursing and healthcare

Here are the trends for nursing and healthcare-related majors:

Fastest growing college degree, with an 84% increase in enrollments from 2011 to 2021.
An increase of 87% was reported for undergraduate degrees in healthcare fields.
According to NCES, 139,952 nursing bachelor degrees were granted from 2018 to 2019.
Specializations and career opportunities may include, but not limited to, clinical mental health, women’s reproductive health, post-op care, and medical-surgical nursing.

Psychology and social sciences

Here are the trends for psychology and sociology majors:

Psychology enrollments grew by 24% from 2011 to 2021.
Sources show that 78% of psychology graduates were female from 2019 to 2020.
Hispanic and ethnic minority diversity has grown in social sciences majors.
Specializations and job opportunities are in a variety of areas such as nonprofit organizations, policymaking, law enforcement, and criminal justice.

Computer sciences and IT

Here are the trends for computer and technology majors:

From 2020 to 2021, there were over 100,000 computers and IT graduates.
There has been a significant increase of about 144% in computer and IT enrollments from 2011 to 2021.
Ethnic diversity and gender representation are gaps in computer and technology-related majors.
Computer and technology graduates can find jobs in industries such as healthcare, finance, start ups, digital marketing, and software solutions.

Trends for online bachelor degrees

Gen Z and Millennials are more inherently comfortable using all types of technological devices, particularly screens like laptops and mobile phones. Since they use these devices in most aspects of their lives, studies show that online learning and virtual classes are also quite popular among them.

According to a study, online education is the fastest-growing trend in the USA. In fact, a third of the students enrolled in higher education are opting for at least 1 class or course online. Factors like merging new technologies and higher internet speeds like 5G are making it even more feasible.

Additionally, online learning also proves to be a much more practical option for students who are also working full-time jobs. Furthermore, it is more affordable for most students, as it cuts down campus costs, commute, and campus housing expenses.

Particularly, online education in colleges is extremely popular amongst out-of-state students, owing to the lower tuition fees. So, if you wish to pursue one of the degrees in demand, but don’t have many options in-state, then e-learning is your best choice.

According to Polaris Market Research, the online learning market is projected to grow by 20% by 2030. Therefore, students looking for college advice and planning should definitely explore the option of e-learning, as it’s cheaper and more flexible.

Start your college journey with expert guidance!

Over the past decade, the landscape of bachelor degrees in the USA has gone through a significant transformation, as seen in the above stats on colleges. Between the years 2009-2010 and 2019-2020, the number of bachelor’s degrees earned rose from approximately 1.6 million to 2.0 million. This period has seen substantial demographic shifts, changes in enrollment patterns, and the growing popularity of certain fields of study.

Moreover, from ethnic diversity to gender-neutral enrollments, the overall representation in higher education has come a long way. This does not mean that there is no longer room for improvement, as there are still gaps to fill. Additionally, college enrollments by state see a huge discrepancy.

Only 3 states, including Texas and Florida, have a college enrollment that goes beyond 1 million. Other states like Alaska and Utah are far behind. Therefore, more efforts and plans to fill the gap in college education by state is needed.

The representation of women in higher education has increased, with females making up 58% of degree holders from 2019 to 2020. Additionally, public colleges and universities have experienced a steady rise in enrollments, now accounting for over 73% of all college enrollments.

With the future looking bright with these stats on college education and an increasing shift in job market trends and demands, it is only fair that you explore your options thoroughly. Find expert advice and credible academic resources that can help you come to a better decision about your college journey. Choose an undergraduate degree that not only meets your interests but aligns with the current market trends and is future-proof.

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