Indicator 24: Degrees Awarded
(Last Updated: February 2019)

The number of bachelor’s degrees awarded to Hispanic students more than tripled between 2000–01 and 2015–16. During the same period, the number of degrees awarded also increased for students who were Asian/Pacific Islander (by 75 percent), Black (by 75 percent), and White (by 29 percent).

In academic year 2015–16, postsecondary institutions conferred 939,000 certificates, 1.0 million associate’s degrees, 1.9 million bachelor’s degrees, 786,000 master’s degrees, and 178,000 doctor’s degrees. This indicator examines the number of degrees¹ awarded between academic years 2000–01 and 2015–16 across degree levels and racial/ethnic groups.

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Figure 24.1. Number of degrees conferred by postsecondary institutions, by level of degree: Academic years 2000–01 through 2015–16

¹ Includes less-than-1-year awards and 1- to less-than-4-year awards (excluding associate’s degrees).
² Includes Ph.D., Ed.D., and comparable degrees at the doctoral level. Includes most degrees formerly classified as first-professional, such as M.D., D.D.S., and law degrees.
NOTE: Includes nonresident aliens. Data are for postsecondary institutions participating in Title IV federal financial aid programs.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Fall 2001 through Fall 2016, Completions component. See Digest of Education Statistics 2017, tables 320.20, 321.20, 322.20, 323.20, and 324.20.

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Between academic years 2000–01 and 2015–16, the total number of postsecondary degrees awarded increased at all degree levels: certificates by 70 percent (from 553,000 to 939,000), associate’s degrees by 74 percent (from 579,000 to 1.0 million), bachelor’s degrees by 54 percent (from 1.2 million to 1.9 million), master’s degrees by 66 percent (from 474,000 to 786,000), and doctor’s degrees by 49 percent (from 120,000 to 178,000). Reflecting the overall increase in the number of postsecondary degrees awarded at each level, the number of postsecondary degrees awarded generally increased for racial/ethnic groups at each level between 2000–01 and 2015–16.

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Figure 24.2. Percentage distribution of certificates and associate’s degrees awarded by postsecondary institutions, by race/ethnicity: Academic years 2000–01 and 2015–16

— Not available.
¹ Includes less-than-1-year awards and 1- to less-than-4-year awards (excluding associate’s degrees).
NOTE: Data are for postsecondary institutions participating in Title IV federal financial aid programs. Separate data on students of Two or more races were not available until 2010–11. Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Although rounded numbers are displayed, the figures are based on unrounded data. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Fall 2001 and Fall 2016, Completions component. See Digest of Education Statistics 2017, tables 320.20 and 321.20.

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The number of postsecondary certificates below the baccalaureate level awarded to Hispanic students more than doubled (a 146 percent increase, from 78,500 to 193,000) between academic years 2000–01 and 2015–16. During this period, the number of certificates awarded also increased by 63 percent for Black students (from 99,400 to 162,400), by 60 percent for American Indian/Alaska Native students (from 6,600 to 10,500), by 56 percent for Asian/Pacific Islander students (from 28,100 to 43,900), and by 49 percent for White students (from 333,500 to 496,500). As a result of the differing rates of increase over this period, the share of all certificates earned by Hispanic students increased by 6 percentage points (from 14 to 21 percent) between 2000–01 and 2015–16. In contrast, the share of certificates earned by White students decreased by 8 percentage points over this period (from 61 to 53 percent). The shares of all certificates earned by Black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native students changed by 1 percentage point or less between 2000–01 and 2015–16.

At the associate’s degree level, the number of degrees awarded to Hispanic students more than tripled (a 242 percent increase, from 57,300 to 196,000) and the number of degrees awarded to Black students more than doubled (a 110 percent increase, from 63,900 to 134,000) between academic years 2000–01 and 2015–16. During this period, the number of associate’s degrees awarded also increased by 89 percent for Asian/Pacific Islander students (from 28,500 to 53,800), by 43 percent by American Indian/Alaska Native students (from 6,600 to 9,500), and by 38 percent for White students (from 411,100 to 566,700). As a result of the differing rates of increase over this period, the share of all associate’s degrees earned by Hispanic students increased by 10 percentage points (from 10 to 20 percent) between 2000–01 and 2015–16. In contrast, the share of associate’s degrees earned by White students decreased by 15 percentage points over this period (from 72 to 57 percent). Meanwhile, the shares of all associate’s degrees earned by Black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native students changed by 2 percentage points or less between 2000–01 and 2015–16.

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Figure 24.3. Percentage distribution of bachelor’s degrees awarded by degree-granting postsecondary institutions, by race/ethnicity: Academic years 2000–01 and 2015–16

— Not available.
NOTE: Data are for postsecondary institutions participating in Title IV federal financial aid programs. Separate data on students of Two or more races were not available until 2010–11. Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Although rounded numbers are displayed, the figures are based on unrounded data. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Fall 2001 and Fall 2016, Completions component. See Digest of Education Statistics 2017, table 322.20.

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At the bachelor’s degree level, the number of degrees awarded to Hispanic students more than tripled between academic years 2000–01 and 2015–16 (a 202 percent increase, from 77,700 to 235,000). During this period, the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded also increased by 75 percent for both Asian/Pacific Islander students (from 78,900 to 138,300) and Black students (from 111,300 to 194,500), and by 29 percent for White students (from 927,400 to 1.2 million). The number of bachelor’s degrees awarded to American Indian/Alaska Native students was higher in 2015–16 (9,700) than in 2000–01 (9,000). As a result of the differing rates of increase over this period, the share of all bachelor’s degrees earned by Hispanic students increased by 6 percentage points (from 6 to 13 percent) between 2000–01 and 2015–16. In contrast, the share of bachelor’s degrees earned by White students decreased by 12 percentage points over this period (from 77 to 65 percent). Meanwhile, the shares of all bachelor’s degrees earned by Black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native students changed by 1 percentage point or less between 2000–01 and 2015–16.

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Figure 24.4. Percentage distribution of associate’s degrees and bachelor’s degrees awarded by degree-granting postsecondary institutions, by race/ethnicity and sex: Academic year 2015–16

NOTE: Degree-granting institutions grant associate’s or higher degrees and participate in Title IV federal financial aid programs. Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Although rounded numbers are displayed, the figures are based on unrounded data. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Fall 2016, Completions component. See Digest of Education Statistics 2017, tables 321.20 and 322.20.

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Across all racial/ethnic groups, female students earned the majority of certificates, associate’s degrees, and bachelor’s degrees. For example, the shares of bachelor’s degrees earned by female students were 64 percent for Black students, 61 percent for American Indian/Alaska Native students, 60 percent for Hispanic students, 59 percent for students of Two or more races, 56 percent for White students, and 54 percent for Asian/Pacific Islander students.

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Figure 24.5. Percentage distribution of master’s and doctor’s degrees awarded by degree-granting postsecondary institutions, by race/ethnicity: Academic years 2000–01 and 2015–16

— Not available.
NOTE: Data are for postsecondary institutions participating in Title IV federal financial aid programs. Separate data on students of Two or more races were not available until 2010–11. Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Although rounded numbers are displayed, the figures are based on unrounded data. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Fall 2001 and Fall 2016, Completions component. See Digest of Education Statistics 2017, table 322.20.

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The distribution of graduate degrees by race/ethnicity between academic years 2000–01 and 2015–16 followed a pattern similar to that observed for undergraduate degrees. At the master’s degree level, the number of degrees awarded to Hispanic students almost tripled (an increase of 191 percent, from 21,700 to 62,900), and the number awarded to Black students more than doubled (an increase of 129 percent, from 38,900 to 88,800). The number of master’s degrees awarded during this period also increased by 87 percent for Asian/Pacific Islander students (from 24,500 to 45,900), by 42 percent for American Indian/Alaska Native students (from 2,500 to 3,500), and by 33 percent for White students (324,200 to 431,900). As a result of the differing rates of increase over this period, there was an increase of 4 percentage points each for the shares of all master’s degrees earned by Hispanic students (from 5 to 10 percent) and Black students (from 9 to 14 percent).² In contrast, the share of all master’s degrees earned by White students decreased by 12 percentage points over this period (from 79 to 66 percent). Meanwhile, the shares of all master’s degrees earned by Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian/Alaska Native students changed by 1 percentage point or less between 2000–01 and 2015–16.

At the doctor’s degree level, the number of degrees awarded to Hispanic students more than doubled (an increase of 126 percent, from 5,200 to 11,800) between academic years 2000–01 and 2015–16. During this period, the number of doctor’s degrees awarded also increased by 90 percent for Black students (from 7,000 to 13,400), by 69 percent for Asian/Pacific Islander students (from 11,600 to 19,600), by 30 percent for White students (from 82,300 to 107,100), and by 15 percent for American Indian/Alaska Native students (from 710 to 810). As a result of the changes over this period, the share of all doctor’s degrees earned by Hispanic students increased by 3 percentage points (from 5 to 8 percent), and there was an increase of 2 percentage points for the shares earned by Black students (from 7 to 9 percent) and Asian/Pacific Islander students (from 11 to 13 percent). In contrast, the share of doctor’s degrees earned by White students decreased by 9 percentage points (from 77 to 69 percent) and the share earned by American Indian/Alaska Native students decreased by less than 1 percentage point over this period.

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Figure 24.6. Percentage distribution of master’s and doctor’s degrees awarded by degree-granting postsecondary institutions, by race/ethnicity and sex: Academic year 2015–16

NOTE: Degree-granting institutions grant associate’s or higher degrees and participate in Title IV federal financial aid programs. Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Although rounded numbers are displayed, the figures are based on unrounded data.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Fall 2016, Completions component. See Digest of Education Statistics 2017, tables 323.20 and 324.20.

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In academic year 2015–16, female students earned the majority of both master’s and doctor’s degrees. This pattern was observed across all racial/ethnic groups, but was more pronounced for Black students than for students of other races/ethnicities. In 2015–16, female students earned 70 percent of the master’s degrees earned by Black students. The shares of master’s degrees earned by female students of other racial/ethnic groups ranged from 56 percent for Asian/Pacific Islander students to 65 percent for American Indian/Alaska Native students. At the doctor’s degree level, female students earned 66 percent of degrees earned by Black students; the shares of doctor’s degrees earned by females of other racial/ethnic groups ranged from 53 percent for White students to 57 percent for Hispanic students.

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Endnotes

¹ For the purposes of this indicator, the term “degree” is used to refer to a postsecondary award at any of the following levels: doctor’s, master’s, bachelor’s, associate’s, and certificate. Data reported by racial/ethnic groups includes only U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
² Although rounded numbers are discussed, all calculations in this indicator are based on unrounded data.

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