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2021 Tables and Figures | All Years of Tables and Figures | Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest |
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Table 318.40. | Degrees/certificates conferred by postsecondary institutions, by control of institution and level of degree/certificate: 1970-71 through 2019-20 |
Year | Public institutions | Private institutions | |||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | Nonprofit | For-profit | |||||||||||||||||||
Certifi- cates below the asso- ciate's | Asso-ciate's degrees | Bache- lor's degrees | Mas- ter's degrees | Doctor's degrees1 | Certifi- cates below the asso- ciate's | Asso-ciate's degrees | Bache- lor's degrees | Mas- ter's degrees | Doctor's degrees1 | Certifi- cates below the asso- ciate's | Asso-ciate's degrees | Bache- lor's degrees | Mas- ter's degrees | Doctor's degrees1 | Certifi- cates below the asso- ciate's | Asso-ciate's degrees | Bache- lor's degrees | Mas- ter's degrees | Doctor's degrees1 | ||
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | |
1970-71 | --- | 215,645 | 557,996 | 151,603 | 36,927 | --- | 36,666 | 281,734 | 83,961 | 28,071 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | |
1971-72 | --- | 255,218 | 599,615 | 167,075 | 40,297 | --- | 36,796 | 287,658 | 90,126 | 30,909 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | |
1972-73 | --- | 278,132 | 630,899 | 174,405 | 44,229 | --- | 38,042 | 291,463 | 94,249 | 35,283 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | |
1973-74 | --- | 303,188 | 651,544 | 184,632 | 45,018 | --- | 40,736 | 294,232 | 97,442 | 37,573 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | |
1974-75 | --- | 318,474 | 634,785 | 193,804 | 45,788 | --- | 41,697 | 288,148 | 103,741 | 39,116 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | |
1975-76 |
--- | 345,006 | 635,161 | 206,298 | 47,517 | --- | 46,448 | 290,585 | 111,179 | 43,490 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | |
1976-77 | --- | 355,650 | 630,463 | 208,901 | 47,573 | --- | 50,727 | 289,086 | 114,124 | 44,157 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | |
1977-78 | --- | 358,874 | 627,903 | 202,099 | 47,553 | --- | 53,372 | 293,301 | 115,888 | 44,792 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | |
1978-79 | --- | 346,808 | 621,666 | 192,016 | 48,602 | --- | 55,894 | 299,724 | 115,670 | 46,369 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | |
1979-80 | --- | 344,536 | 624,084 | 187,499 | 48,550 | --- | 56,374 | 305,333 | 117,697 | 47,081 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | |
1980-81 |
--- | 352,391 | 626,452 | 184,384 | 50,023 | --- | 63,986 | 2 | 308,688 | 118,253 | 47,993 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
1981-82 | --- | 366,732 | 636,475 | 182,295 | 50,500 | --- | 67,794 | 2 | 316,523 | 120,152 | 47,338 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
1982-83 | --- | 377,817 | 646,317 | 176,246 | 50,943 | --- | 71,803 | 2 | 323,193 | 120,169 | 48,392 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
1983-84 | --- | 379,249 | 646,013 | 170,693 | 50,727 | --- | 72,991 | 328,296 | 120,448 | 50,072 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | |
1984-85 | --- | 377,625 | 652,246 | 170,000 | 51,489 | --- | 77,087 | 327,231 | 123,472 | 49,296 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | |
1985-86 |
--- | 369,052 | 658,586 | 169,903 | 51,001 | --- | 76,995 | 329,237 | 125,947 | 49,279 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | |
1986-87 | --- | 358,811 | 659,260 | 167,797 | 51,216 | --- | 77,493 | 332,004 | 128,733 | 47,261 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | |
1987-88 | --- | 354,180 | 658,491 | 173,778 | 51,641 | --- | 80,905 | 336,338 | 132,005 | 47,498 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | |
1988-89 | --- | 357,001 | 675,675 | 179,109 | 51,963 | --- | 79,763 | 343,080 | 137,517 | 48,608 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | |
1989-90 | --- | 375,635 | 700,015 | 186,104 | 53,451 | --- | 79,467 | 351,329 | 144,048 | 50,057 | --- | 42,497 | 344,569 | 142,681 | 49,655 | --- | 36,970 | 6,760 | 1,367 | 402 | |
1990-91 |
--- | 398,055 | 724,062 | 193,057 | 55,235 | --- | 83,665 | 370,476 | 149,806 | 50,312 | --- | 45,821 | 360,634 | 146,161 | 49,841 | --- | 37,844 | 9,842 | 3,645 | 471 | |
1991-92 | --- | 420,265 | 759,475 | 203,398 | 56,186 | --- | 83,966 | 377,078 | 154,691 | 53,368 | --- | 45,700 | 370,718 | 153,291 | 52,830 | --- | 38,266 | 6,360 | 1,400 | 538 | |
1992-93 | --- | 430,321 | 785,112 | 213,843 | 57,020 | --- | 84,435 | 380,066 | 161,189 | 55,052 | --- | 47,713 | 373,346 | 159,562 | 54,399 | --- | 36,722 | 6,720 | 1,627 | 653 | |
1993-94 | --- | 444,373 | 789,148 | 221,428 | 58,366 | --- | 86,259 | 380,127 | 171,609 | 54,270 | --- | 48,493 | 371,561 | 168,718 | 53,502 | --- | 37,766 | 8,566 | 2,891 | 768 | |
1994-95 | --- | 451,539 | 776,670 | 224,152 | 58,788 | --- | 88,152 | 383,464 | 179,457 | 55,478 | --- | 48,643 | 373,454 | 176,485 | 54,675 | --- | 39,509 | 10,010 | 2,972 | 803 | |
1995-96 |
307,358 | 454,291 | 774,070 | 227,179 | 59,398 | 313,311 | 100,925 | 390,722 | 185,001 | 56,109 | 34,259 | 50,678 | 379,916 | 181,142 | 55,506 | 279,052 | 50,247 | 10,806 | 3,859 | 603 | |
1996-97 | 326,687 | 465,494 | 776,677 | 233,237 | 61,081 | 272,237 | 105,732 | 396,202 | 192,023 | 57,666 | 35,560 | 49,168 | 384,086 | 186,963 | 56,864 | 236,677 | 56,564 | 12,116 | 5,060 | 802 | |
1997-98 | 305,910 | 455,084 | 784,296 | 235,922 | 60,948 | 246,571 | 103,471 | 400,110 | 200,115 | 57,787 | 32,166 | 47,625 | 386,455 | 194,048 | 57,089 | 214,405 | 55,846 | 13,655 | 6,067 | 698 | |
1998-99 | 304,294 | 452,616 | 792,392 | 238,954 | 60,028 | 251,589 | 112,368 | 409,847 | 207,084 | 56,672 | 29,402 | 47,757 | 394,749 | 198,481 | 55,663 | 222,187 | 64,611 | 15,098 | 8,603 | 1,009 | |
1999-2000 | 294,912 | 448,446 | 810,855 | 243,157 | 60,655 | 263,217 | 116,487 | 427,020 | 220,028 | 58,081 | 28,580 | 46,337 | 406,958 | 209,720 | 56,972 | 234,637 | 70,150 | 20,062 | 10,308 | 1,109 | |
2000-01 |
309,624 | 456,487 | 812,438 | 246,054 | 60,820 | 242,879 | 122,378 | 431,733 | 227,448 | 58,765 | 29,336 | 45,711 | 408,701 | 215,815 | 57,722 | 213,543 | 76,667 | 23,032 | 11,633 | 1,043 | |
2001-02 | 319,291 | 471,660 | 841,180 | 249,820 | 61,061 | 264,957 | 123,473 | 450,720 | 237,493 | 58,602 | 32,904 | 45,761 | 424,322 | 223,229 | 57,707 | 232,053 | 77,712 | 26,398 | 14,264 | 895 | |
2002-03 | 355,727 | 498,279 | 875,596 | 265,643 | 61,611 | 290,698 | 135,737 | 473,215 | 253,056 | 59,968 | 36,926 | 46,183 | 442,060 | 238,069 | 58,894 | 253,772 | 89,554 | 31,155 | 14,987 | 1,074 | |
2003-04 | 363,563 | 525,656 | 905,818 | 285,180 | 64,208 | 323,566 | 140,289 | 493,942 | 279,426 | 62,117 | 35,316 | 45,724 | 451,721 | 251,186 | 60,682 | 288,250 | 94,565 | 42,221 | 28,240 | 1,435 | |
2004-05 | 370,770 | 547,576 | 932,951 | 291,683 | 67,517 | 339,577 | 149,510 | 506,897 | 288,879 | 66,754 | 36,075 | 45,346 | 458,039 | 253,797 | 65,156 | 303,502 | 104,164 | 48,858 | 35,082 | 1,598 | |
2005-06 |
370,570 | 557,366 | 955,370 | 293,535 | 70,036 | 344,220 | 155,949 | 529,734 | 306,327 | 68,020 | 35,909 | 46,459 | 467,697 | 261,203 | 66,066 | 308,311 | 109,490 | 62,037 | 45,124 | 1,954 | |
2006-07 | 389,244 | 566,219 | 975,903 | 292,073 | 73,087 | 339,071 | 161,397 | 548,826 | 318,630 | 71,607 | 34,195 | 43,790 | 478,053 | 267,694 | 69,241 | 304,876 | 117,607 | 70,773 | 50,936 | 2,366 | |
2007-08 | 399,741 | 578,661 | 996,769 | 300,019 | 75,551 | 348,613 | 171,505 | 566,965 | 330,825 | 73,639 | 33,915 | 45,014 | 491,016 | 275,971 | 70,473 | 314,698 | 126,491 | 75,949 | 54,854 | 3,166 | |
2008-09 | 428,849 | 596,391 | 1,020,521 | 308,215 | 77,270 | 375,771 | 190,852 | 580,878 | 353,867 | 77,294 | 31,939 | 46,930 | 496,353 | 290,401 | 73,583 | 343,832 | 143,922 | 84,525 | 63,466 | 3,711 | |
2009-10 | 472,428 | 640,265 | 1,049,179 | 322,389 | 78,805 | 463,291 | 208,591 | 600,740 | 370,924 | 79,785 | 35,652 | 46,673 | 503,264 | 300,053 | 75,172 | 427,639 | 161,918 | 97,476 | 70,871 | 4,613 | |
2010-11 |
519,711 | 696,884 | 1,088,722 | 339,420 | 82,013 | 510,766 | 246,622 | 627,331 | 391,502 | 81,814 | 36,534 | 51,967 | 512,821 | 313,317 | 76,595 | 474,232 | 194,655 | 114,510 | 78,185 | 5,219 | |
2011-12 | 525,264 | 756,484 | 1,131,885 | 349,349 | 84,730 | 463,797 | 265,234 | 660,278 | 406,618 | 85,487 | 32,856 | 54,347 | 526,022 | 325,175 | 79,498 | 430,941 | 210,887 | 134,256 | 81,443 | 5,989 | |
2012-13 | 545,446 | 772,978 | 1,163,616 | 346,751 | 86,411 | 421,768 | 234,449 | 676,765 | 404,967 | 88,615 | 30,913 | 55,651 | 535,958 | 327,013 | 81,543 | 390,855 | 178,798 | 140,807 | 77,954 | 7,072 | |
2013-14 | 576,468 | 794,925 | 1,186,742 | 346,238 | 88,911 | 392,810 | 210,230 | 683,408 | 408,344 | 88,676 | 30,738 | 53,127 | 544,253 | 333,539 | 80,894 | 362,072 | 157,103 | 139,155 | 74,805 | 7,782 | |
2014-15 | 602,904 | 822,218 | 1,209,464 | 351,216 | 90,252 | 358,242 | 192,123 | 685,505 | 407,588 | 88,296 | 46,090 | 58,613 | 553,543 | 336,181 | 80,093 | 312,152 | 133,510 | 131,962 | 71,407 | 8,203 | |
2015-16 |
615,137 | 848,081 | 1,240,423 | 364,619 | 90,030 | 324,154 | 160,147 | 680,327 | 421,138 | 88,104 | 40,010 | 56,595 | 560,834 | 350,790 | 80,067 | 284,144 | 103,552 | 119,493 | 70,348 | 8,037 | |
2016-17 | 631,076 | 861,970 | 1,275,610 | 374,160 | 91,532 | 314,947 | 143,717 | 680,504 | 430,382 | 89,825 | 35,281 | 56,487 | 566,607 | 360,437 | 81,550 | 279,666 | 87,230 | 113,897 | 69,945 | 8,275 | |
2017-18 | 671,851 | 885,962 | 1,310,980 | 383,964 | 92,689 | 283,662 | 125,734 | 669,685 | 436,278 | 91,045 | 25,844 | 56,236 | 571,105 | 372,178 | 83,714 | 257,818 | 69,498 | 98,580 | 64,100 | 7,331 | |
2018-19 | 716,357 | 915,013 | 1,340,302 | 386,202 | 94,565 | 286,170 | 121,627 | 672,784 | 447,590 | 93,012 | 25,858 | 54,432 | 575,776 | 380,962 | 85,713 | 260,312 | 67,195 | 97,008 | 66,628 | 7,299 | |
2019-20 | 698,056 | 902,776 | 1,362,775 | 392,752 | 95,533 | 265,274 | 115,457 | 675,656 | 450,697 | 94,645 | 24,895 | 51,694 | 578,911 | 383,917 | 86,188 | 240,379 | 63,763 | 96,745 | 66,780 | 8,457 |
---Not available. | |||||||||||||||||||||
1 Includes Ph.D., Ed.D., and comparable degrees at the doctoral level. Includes most degrees that were classified as first-professional prior to 2010-11, such as M.D., D.D.S., and law degrees. | |||||||||||||||||||||
2 Part of the increase is due to the addition of schools accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology. | |||||||||||||||||||||
NOTE: Data in this table represent the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Data are for postsecondary institutions participating in Title IV federal financial aid programs. Degree counts are limited to degree-granting institutions; certificate counts include both degree- and non-degree-granting institutions. Some data have been revised from previously published figures. | |||||||||||||||||||||
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Higher Education General Information Survey (HEGIS), "Degrees and Other Formal Awards Conferred" surveys, 1970-71 through 1985-86; Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), "Completions Survey" (IPEDS-C:87-99); and IPEDS Fall 2000 through Fall 2020, Completions component. (This table was prepared September 2021.) |