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The number of undergraduate students earning a certificate in the 2022-23 academic year decreased 2.8% compared to the previous year, a decrease of approximately 99,000 students. latest data From the National Student Information Center Research Center.
This decline represents the second consecutive year of decline. — a trend likely driven by declining student numbers during the coronavirus pandemic.
“As expected, the decline in enrollment due to the pandemic is now leading to a decline in the number of degree earners.” Doug Shapiro, executive director of the research center. said in a statement.
Below we look at three key trends in the new data.
The number of people obtaining certification has increased.
Year-over-Year Percentage Change in Number of Students Completing the Credential
The number of students earning a bachelor's degree decreased 3% in the 2022-23 academic year, resulting in about 59,000 fewer undergraduate students. The decline in associate degree recipients was even more dramatic, with completion rates down 7.3 percent from the previous year. This is approximately 65,000 fewer graduates than the previous year.
However, not all credential types have seen a decline.
The number of students completing certificate programs increased by 3.9%. This amounts to about 25,000 additional undergraduate students, but was not enough to offset the decline in overall completions.
There has been a surge in first-time qualifications among young students.
Year-over-year change in first-time completion rates by certificate type and graduate age for the 2022-23 school year
The research center compared completion rates for first-time certificants with those who had previously certified. Overall, fewer undergraduate students earned their first certification in the 2022-23 academic year compared to previous years.
This trend was concentrated in two- and four-year programs. Completion of bachelor's and associate's degrees among first-time certificants decreased for all adult age groups over the past school year.
However, the number of first-time certificate earners increased for most age groups, including undergraduates aged 18 to 20. In the 2022-23 school year, approximately 137,000 students in this age group obtained qualifications, which is an 11.3% increase from the previous year. before.
Likewise, approximately 96,000 undergraduate students aged 21 to 24 obtained their first certification, an increase of 5.5% compared to the previous year.
Licensed individuals flocked to the area for personal and culinary services.
Top 10 Areas for Certificate Completers in 2022-23
Approximately 34,000 undergraduate students earned certifications in personal and culinary services, a whopping 21.5% increase over the previous year. Likewise, approximately 55,000 undergraduate students earned credentials in liberal arts and related fields, a 15.4 percent increase over last year.
Other sectors that saw increases included precision manufacturing, construction, and mechanical and repair technologies.
However, not all certification areas saw an increase in completion rates last year. In the 2022-23 academic year, the number of students completing business, management, and related fields decreased by 6.1%.