Chapter 4
Earned Degrees Conferred
Historical growth in higher education enrollment has led to a
substantial increase in the number of earned degrees conferred.
Just as the unprecedented rise in female enrollment contributed
to the increased number of college students, so too has it boosted
the number of degrees conferred. Between 1984-85 and 1997-98,
the number of degrees awarded to women rose at all levels. In
1997-98, women earned the majority of associate's, bachelor's,
and master's degrees, and more than two-fifths of doctor's and
first-professional degrees. Over the projection period, the number
of degrees awarded to women will rise at all levels. While degrees
awarded to men are projected to increase at the bachelor's level,
they will remain steady at the associate's, master's, doctor's,
and first-professional levels.
Projections of earned degrees by level and sex were based primarily
on college-age populations and college enrollment by level and
by attendance status. Factors that affect future levels of earned
degrees such as choice of degree, demand for occupations, etc.
were not included in the projection models. NCES projections of
earned degrees by level that have been produced over the last
6 years are less accurate than projections of public elementary
and secondary enrollment. For more information, see table
A2.
Associate's Degrees
Between 1985-86 and 1987-88, the number of associate's degrees
decreased from 446,047 to 435,085. Then, it increased to 558,555
in 1997-98 (table 26 and figure
40). It is projected to increase to 625,000 by 2010-11, an
increase of 12 percent from 1997-98. The number of associate's
degrees awarded to men decreased from 196,166 in 1985-86 to 186,316
in 1988-89, before rising to 217,613 in 1997-98. This number is
projected to increase to 226,000 by 2010-11. The number of associate's
degrees awarded to women fell from 249,881 in 1985-86 to 245,038
in 1987-88. Then, it increased to 340,942 in 1997-98, an increase
of 36 percent from 1985-86. This number is projected to increase
to 399,000 by 2010-11, an increase of 17 percent from 1997-98.
Bachelor's Degrees
The number of bachelor's degrees increased from 987,823 in 1985-86
to 1,184,406 in 1997-98, an increase of 20 percent (table
27 and figure 41). This
number is expected to increase to 1,392,000 by 2010-11, an increase
of 18 percent from 1997-98. The number of bachelor's degrees awarded
to men increased from 485,923 in 1985-86 to 477,203 in 1987-88.
It increased to 532,881 in 1992-93. Then, this number decreased
to 519,956 in 1997-98. This number is expected to decrease to
518,000 by 1998-99 and then increase to 568,000 by 2010-11, an
increase of 9 percent from 1997-98. The number of bachelor's degrees
awarded to women increased from 501,900 in 1985-86 to 664,450
in 1997-98, an increase of 32 percent. This number is expected
to increase to 824,000 by 2010-11, an increase of 24 percent from
1997-98.
Master's Degrees
The number of master's degrees increased from 288,567 in 1985-86
to 430,164 in 1997-98, an increase of 49 percent from 1985-86
(table 28 and figure
42). This number is expected to increase to 477,000 in 2010-11.
The number of master's degrees awarded to men decreased from 143,508
in 1985-86 to 141,269 in 1986-87. Then it increased to 184,375
in 1997-98. This number is projected to decrease to 178,000 in
2000-01 and then rise to 190,000 by 2010-11. The number of master's
degrees awarded to women increased from 145,059 in 1985-86 to
245,789 in 1997-98. This number is expected to increase to 287,000
in 2010-11.
Doctor's Degrees
The number of doctor's degrees increased from 33,653 in 1985-86
to 46,010 in 1997-98, an increase of 37 percent (table
29 and figure 43). This
number is expected to increase to 49,100 in 2010-11. The number
of doctor's degrees awarded to men increased from 21,819 in 1985-86
to 26,664 in 1997-98. This number is expected to increase to 27,600
by 2010-11. The number of doctor's degrees awarded to women rose
from 11,834 in 1985-86 to 19,346 in 1997-98, an increase of 63
percent. The number of doctor's degrees awarded to women is projected
to be 21,500 by 2010-11. The share of doctor's degrees awarded
to women, which was 35 percent in 1985-86 and 42 percent in 1997-98,
is projected to be 44 percent by 2010-11.
First-Professional Degrees
A first-professional degree is one that signifies both completion
of the academic requirements for beginning practice in a given
profession and a level of professional skill beyond that normally
required for a bachelor's degree. This degree is based on a program
requiring at least 2 academic years of work before entrance and
a total of at least 6 years of work to complete the degree program,
including both prior required college work and the professional
program itself. These degrees include fields such as dentistry,
medicine, pharmacy, law, and theological professions.
The number of first-professional degrees awarded decreased from
73,910 in 1985-86 to 70,735 in 1987-88. Then, it remained fairly
steady in 1988-89 and 1989-90, before increasing to 78,598 in
1997-98 (table 30 and figure
44). This number is expected to increase to 88,300 by 2010-11.
The number of first-professional degrees awarded to men decreased
from 49,261 in 1985-86 to 43,846 in 1990-91. Then, it increased
to 45,153 in 1992-93 and then decreased to 44,911 in 1997-98.
This number is projected to increase to 46,100 by 2010-11. The
number of first-professional degrees awarded to women increased
from 24,649 in 1985-86 to 33,687 in 1997-98, an increase of 37
percent. This number is expected to increase to 42,200 by 2010-11,
an increase of 25 percent from 1997-98. The women's proportion
of first-professional degrees rose from 33 percent in 1985-86
to 43 percent in 1997-98. By 2010-11, this proportion is expected
to rise to 48 percent.
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