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Degrees in higher education in the U.S. 1950-2029
Degrees in higher education in the U.S. 1950-2029
Number of higher education degrees earned in the United States from 1950 to 2029 (in 1,000s)
by Erin Duffin,
last edited
May 20, 2019
This statistic shows the number of higher education degrees earned in the United States from 1949/50 to 2016/17. Projected numbers are displayed from 2017/18 to 2028/29. In the 2016/17 academic year, about 3.94 million degrees were earned in the United States.
Number of higher education degrees earned in the United States from 1950 to 2029 (in 1,000s)
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| Number of degrees in thousands | |
|---|---|
| 2028-29* | 4,048 |
| 2027-28* | 4,046 |
| 2026-27* | 4,039 |
| 2025-26* | 4,022 |
| 2024-25* | 4,008 |
| 2023-24* | 3,996 |
| 2022-23* | 3,985 |
| 2021-22* | 3,979 |
| 2020-21* | 3,973 |
| 2019-20* | 3,968 |
| 2018-19* | 3,953 |
| 2017-18* | 3,941 |
| 2016-17 | 3,947.72 |
| 2015-16 | 3,892.87 |
| 2014-15 | 3,846.66 |
| 2013-14 | 3,807.47 |
| 2012-13 | 3,774.55 |
| 2011-12 | 3,740.07 |
| 2010-11 | 3,554.31 |
| 2009-10 | 3,350.68 |
| 2008-09 | 3,205.29 |
| 2007-08 | 3,093.93 |
| 2006-07 | 3,007.74 |
| 2005-06 | 2,936.34 |
| 2004-05 | 2,850.46 |
| 2003-04 | 2,755.2 |
| 2002-03 | 2,623.11 |
| 2001-02 | 2,494.01 |
| 2000-01 | 2,416.12 |
| 1999-00 | 2,384.73 |
| 1998-99 | 2,329.96 |
| 1997-98 | 2,297.73 |
| 1996-97 | 2,288.11 |
| 1995-96 | 2,247.7 |
| 1994-95 | 2,217.7 |
| 1993-94 | 2,205.58 |
| 1992-93 | 2,167.04 |
| 1991-92 | 2,108.43 |
| 1990-91 | 2,024.67 |
| 1989-90 | 1,940.11 |
| 1988-89 | 1,872.72 |
| 1987-88 | 1,834.84 |
| 1986-87 | 1,822.58 |
| 1985-86 | 1,830 |
| 1984-85 | 1,828.45 |
| 1983-84 | 1,818.49 |
| 1982-83 | 1,814.88 |
| 1981-82 | 1,787.81 |
| 1980-81 | 1,752.17 |
| 1979-80 | 1,731.15 |
| 1978-79 | 1,726.75 |
| 1977-78 | 1,743.78 |
| 1976-77 | 1,740.68 |
| 1975-76 | 1,725.68 |
| 1974-75 | 1,665.55 |
| 1973-74 | 1,654.37 |
| 1972-73 | 1,586.7 |
| 1971-72 | 1,507.69 |
| 1970-71 | 1,392.6 |
| 1969-70 | 1,271.41 |
| 1959-60** | 476.7 |
| 1949-50** | 496.66 |
| Number of degrees in thousands | |
|---|---|
| 2028-29* | 4,048 |
| 2027-28* | 4,046 |
| 2026-27* | 4,039 |
| 2025-26* | 4,022 |
| 2024-25* | 4,008 |
| 2023-24* | 3,996 |
| 2022-23* | 3,985 |
| 2021-22* | 3,979 |
| 2020-21* | 3,973 |
| 2019-20* | 3,968 |
| 2018-19* | 3,953 |
| 2017-18* | 3,941 |
| 2016-17 | 3,947.72 |
| 2015-16 | 3,892.87 |
| 2014-15 | 3,846.66 |
| 2013-14 | 3,807.47 |
| 2012-13 | 3,774.55 |
| 2011-12 | 3,740.07 |
| 2010-11 | 3,554.31 |
| 2009-10 | 3,350.68 |
| 2008-09 | 3,205.29 |
| 2007-08 | 3,093.93 |
| 2006-07 | 3,007.74 |
| 2005-06 | 2,936.34 |
| 2004-05 | 2,850.46 |
| 2003-04 | 2,755.2 |
| 2002-03 | 2,623.11 |
| 2001-02 | 2,494.01 |
| 2000-01 | 2,416.12 |
| 1999-00 | 2,384.73 |
| 1998-99 | 2,329.96 |
| 1997-98 | 2,297.73 |
| 1996-97 | 2,288.11 |
| 1995-96 | 2,247.7 |
| 1994-95 | 2,217.7 |
| 1993-94 | 2,205.58 |
| 1992-93 | 2,167.04 |
| 1991-92 | 2,108.43 |
| 1990-91 | 2,024.67 |
| 1989-90 | 1,940.11 |
| 1988-89 | 1,872.72 |
| 1987-88 | 1,834.84 |
| 1986-87 | 1,822.58 |
| 1985-86 | 1,830 |
| 1984-85 | 1,828.45 |
| 1983-84 | 1,818.49 |
| 1982-83 | 1,814.88 |
| 1981-82 | 1,787.81 |
| 1980-81 | 1,752.17 |
| 1979-80 | 1,731.15 |
| 1978-79 | 1,726.75 |
| 1977-78 | 1,743.78 |
| 1976-77 | 1,740.68 |
| 1975-76 | 1,725.68 |
| 1974-75 | 1,665.55 |
| 1973-74 | 1,654.37 |
| 1972-73 | 1,586.7 |
| 1971-72 | 1,507.69 |
| 1970-71 | 1,392.6 |
| 1969-70 | 1,271.41 |
| 1959-60** | 476.7 |
| 1949-50** | 496.66 |
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by Erin Duffin,
last edited
May 20, 2019
This statistic shows the number of higher education degrees earned in the United States from 1949/50 to 2016/17. Projected numbers are displayed from 2017/18 to 2028/29. In the 2016/17 academic year, about 3.94 million degrees were earned in the United States.
- Show sources information
- Show publisher information
- Release date
- March 2019
- Region
- United States
- Survey time period
- 1950 to 2017
- Supplementary notes
-
The numbers presented here are total Associate's degrees granted + total Bachelor's degrees granted + total Master's degrees granted + total Doctor's degrees granted.
*Projection
**Does not include Associate's degrees. - Open this statistic in...
Source
- Show sources information
- Show publisher information
- Release date
- March 2019
More information
- Region
- United States
- Survey time period
- 1950 to 2017
- Supplementary notes
-
The numbers presented here are total Associate's degrees granted + total Bachelor's degrees granted + total Master's degrees granted + total Doctor's degrees granted.
*Projection
**Does not include Associate's degrees. - Open this statistic in...
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Statistics on "Colleges and universities in the U.S."
- Overview
The most important statistics
- Number of higher education degrees earned in the United States from 1950 to 2029 (in 1,000s)Degrees in higher education in the U.S. 1950-2029
- Number of higher education institutions in the United States in the academic year of 2017/18, by stateU.S. - higher education institutions, by state 2017/2018
- Educational attainment distribution in the United States from 1960 to 2018Educational attainment in the U.S. from 1960 to 2018
- Number of higher education institutions in the United States from 1980 to 2016Number of higher education institutions in the U.S. from 1980-2016
- Number of U.S. population in 2018, by educational attainment (population in 1,000s)Educational attainment in the U.S. as of 2018
- Forbes ranking of the best colleges in the United States in 2019, by tuition cost and average debtForbes ranking of the best U.S. colleges, by tuition and average debt 2019
- Enrollment Figures
The most important statistics
- Undergraduate enrollment in U.S. colleges and universities from 2007/08 to 2017/18 (in millions)Undergraduate enrollment in U.S. Universities, 2007 to 2018
- Undergraduate enrollment numbers in the United States from 1970 to 2028, by gender (in 1,000s)Undergraduate enrollment in the U.S., by gender 1970-2028
- Number of undergraduate students enrolled in the United States from 1976 to 2017, by ethnicity (in 1,000s)Undergraduate enrollment numbers in the U.S., by ethnicity 1976-2017
- Undergraduate enrollment numbers in the United States from 1970 to 2028, by full/part-time attendance (in 1,000s)Undergraduate enrollment in the U.S., by attendance 1970-2028
- College enrollment in the United States from 1965 to 2017 and projections up to 2028 for public and private colleges (in millions)College enrollment in public and private institutions in the U.S. 1965-2028
- Number of post-baccalaureate students enrolled in the United States from 1976 to 2028, by gender (in 1,000s)Post-baccalaureate enrollment numbers in the U.S., by gender 1976-2028
- Number of post-baccalaureate students enrolled in the United States from 1976 to 2017, by ethnicity (in 1,000s)Post-baccalaureate enrollment numbers in the U.S., by ethnicity 1976-2017
- Number of post-baccalaureate students enrolled in the United States from 1976 to 2028, by full/part-time attendance (in 1,000s)Post-baccalaureate enrollment numbers in the U.S., by attendance type 1976-2028
- Revenue
The most important statistics
- Revenue of public degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the United States in 2016/17, by source (in billion U.S. dollars)Revenue of public degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the U.S. 2016/17
- Federal funds for postsecondary education programs in the United States in 2017, by government department (in million U.S. dollars)Federal funds for postsecondary education in the U.S., by department 2017
- Federal funds for research programs at universities and related institutions in the United States in 2017, by government department (in million U.S. dollars)Federal funds for research at U.S. universities, by department 2017
- The 20 richest colleges in the United States in FY 2018, by endowment funds market value (in billion U.S. dollars)The 20 richest colleges in the U.S. 2018
- Average revenue generated per FTE* student in public community colleges in the United States, from 2003 to 2013 (in 2013 U.S. dollars)Average revenue per student in a public community college in the U.S. 2003-2013
- Average revenue generated per FTE* student in private bachelor's institutions in the United States, from 2003 to 2013 (in 2013 U.S. dollars)Average revenue per student in private bachelor's institutions in the U.S. 2003-2013
- Average revenue generated per FTE* student in public master's institutions in the United States, from 2003 to 2013 (in 2013 U.S. dollars)Average revenue per student in U.S. public master's institutions 2003-2013
- Average revenue generated per FTE* student in private master's institutions in the United States, from 2003 to 2013 (in 2013 U.S. dollars)Average revenue per student in a private master's institution in the U.S. 2003-2013
- Expenditure
The most important statistics
- Forecast for higher education outlays in the United States from 2018 to 2029 (in billion U.S. dollars)U.S. - forecast for higher education outlays 2018-2029
- Expenditure of public and private colleges and universities in the U.S. from 1970 to 2017 (in billion U.S. dollars)Expenditure of public and private colleges and universities in the U.S. 1970-2017
- Average expenditure per FTE* student in public community colleges in the United States, from 2003 to 2013 (in 2013 U.S. dollars) Average expenditure per student in U.S. public community colleges 2003-2013
- Average expenditure per FTE* student in private bachelor's institutions in the United States, from 2003 to 2013 (in 2013 U.S. dollars)Average expenditure per student in U.S. private bachelor's institutions 2003-2013
- Average expenditure per FTE* student in public master's institutions in the United States, from 2003 to 2013 (in 2013 U.S. dollars)Average expenditure per student in U.S. public master's institutions 2003-2013
- Average expenditure per FTE* student in private master's institutions in the United States, from 2003 to 2013 (in 2013 U.S. dollars)Average expenditure per student in U.S. private master's institutions 2003-2013
- Attendance Costs
The most important statistics
- Average annual charges per student for higher education in public and private institutions in the U.S. from 1970 to 2018 (in U.S. dollars)Average annual charges for higher education in the U.S. 1970-2018
- Average attendance cost* when living on-campus and studying in-state at U.S. universities 2016/17, by state (in U.S. dollars)Attendance costs when studying in-state at U.S. universities, by state 2016/17
- Average cost for tuition and other fees at universities in the United States from 2000/01 to 2016/17 (in U.S. dollars)*University tuition costs and fees in the U.S. 2000-2017
- Annual tuition and fees for full-time students at leading universities in the United States in 2018/19 (in U.S. dollars)Annual tuition and fees at leading universities in the U.S. 2018/19
- Average cost to attend university per year in the United States from the academic year 2000/01 to 2016/17 (in U.S. dollars)*Cost to attend university per year in the U.S. from 2000-2017
- Average annual cost to attend university in the United States, by institution type 2013-2019 (in U.S. dollars)Average cost to attend a U.S. university, by institution type 2013/14 - 2018/19
- Average cost for room and board at U.S. universities per year from the academic year of 2000/01 to 2016/17 (in U.S. dollars)Room and board cost per year at U.S. universities 2000-2017
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Statistics on "Colleges and universities in the U.S."
- Degrees in higher education in the U.S. 1950-2029
- U.S. - higher education institutions, by state 2017/2018
- Educational attainment in the U.S. from 1960 to 2018
- Number of higher education institutions in the U.S. from 1980-2016
- Educational attainment in the U.S. as of 2018
- Forbes ranking of the best U.S. colleges, by tuition and average debt 2019
- Undergraduate enrollment in U.S. Universities, 2007 to 2018
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- College enrollment in public and private institutions in the U.S. 1965-2028
- Post-baccalaureate enrollment numbers in the U.S., by gender 1976-2028
- Post-baccalaureate enrollment numbers in the U.S., by ethnicity 1976-2017
- Post-baccalaureate enrollment numbers in the U.S., by attendance type 1976-2028
- Enrollment at leading universities in the United States 2018
- Higher education full-time enrollment change in the U.S. from 2006 to 2016, by state
- Revenue of public degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the U.S. 2016/17
- Federal funds for postsecondary education in the U.S., by department 2017
- Federal funds for research at U.S. universities, by department 2017
- The 20 richest colleges in the U.S. 2018
- Average revenue per student in a public community college in the U.S. 2003-2013
- Average revenue per student in private bachelor's institutions in the U.S. 2003-2013
- Average revenue per student in U.S. public master's institutions 2003-2013
- Average revenue per student in a private master's institution in the U.S. 2003-2013
- U.S. - forecast for higher education outlays 2018-2029
- Expenditure of public and private colleges and universities in the U.S. 1970-2017
- Average expenditure per student in U.S. public community colleges 2003-2013
- Average expenditure per student in U.S. private bachelor's institutions 2003-2013
- Average expenditure per student in U.S. public master's institutions 2003-2013
- Average expenditure per student in U.S. private master's institutions 2003-2013
- Average annual charges for higher education in the U.S. 1970-2018
- Attendance costs when studying in-state at U.S. universities, by state 2016/17
- University tuition costs and fees in the U.S. 2000-2017
- Annual tuition and fees at leading universities in the U.S. 2018/19
- Cost to attend university per year in the U.S. from 2000-2017
- Average cost to attend a U.S. university, by institution type 2013/14 - 2018/19
- Room and board cost per year at U.S. universities 2000-2017
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- Percentage of U.S. population who have completed high school or more 1960-2018
- Number of degrees in visual and performing arts in the U.S. 1999-2013
- Enrolment numbers at public universities in Spain 2008-09 to 2015/2017 by degree
- Enrolment numbers in private universities Spain 2008/09 to 2016/17, by degree type
- Breakdown of educational attainment in the U.S. by Latino origin group 2013
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- Share of university students who borrowed in the U.S. 2007/08, by degree program
- Canada: share of female master’s degree graduates 2000-2010
- Number of university students majoring in education in Taiwan 2008-2017
- France: total number of students at university by degree course 2017-2018
- Enrolment numbers at private universities in Spain 2008/2009 to 2016/2017 by faculty
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- Students views on university learning community in the UK in 2019
- Worldwide education software vendor market share 2015
- Knowledge of plants in France 2014
- Share of population volunteering Australia 2014 by highest non-school qualification
- Education: Weekly household expenditure in the United Kingdom (UK) 2014, by age
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