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Degrees in higher education in the U.S. 1950-2028
Degrees in higher education in the U.S. 1950-2028
Number of higher education degrees earned in the United States from 1950 to 2028 (in 1,000)
The graph shows the number of higher education degrees earned in the United States from 1949/50 to 2015/16. Projected numbers are displayed from 2016/17 to 2027/28. In 2015/16 academic year, about 3.89 million degrees were earned in the United States.
Number of higher education degrees earned in the United States from 1950 to 2028 (in 1,000)
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| Number of degrees (in thousands) | |
|---|---|
| 2027-28* | 3,990 |
| 2026-27* | 3,981 |
| 2025-26* | 3,965 |
| 2024-25* | 3,951 |
| 2023-24* | 3,937 |
| 2022-23* | 3,925 |
| 2021-22* | 3,916 |
| 2020-21* | 3,905 |
| 2019-20* | 3,898 |
| 2018-19* | 3,878 |
| 2017-18* | 3,860 |
| 2016-17* | 3,881 |
| 2015-16 | 3,892.49 |
| 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 | 3,093.28 |
| 2006-07 | 3,007.49 |
| 2005-06 | 2,936.1 |
| 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) | |
|---|---|
| 2027-28* | 3,990 |
| 2026-27* | 3,981 |
| 2025-26* | 3,965 |
| 2024-25* | 3,951 |
| 2023-24* | 3,937 |
| 2022-23* | 3,925 |
| 2021-22* | 3,916 |
| 2020-21* | 3,905 |
| 2019-20* | 3,898 |
| 2018-19* | 3,878 |
| 2017-18* | 3,860 |
| 2016-17* | 3,881 |
| 2015-16 | 3,892.49 |
| 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 | 3,093.28 |
| 2006-07 | 3,007.49 |
| 2005-06 | 2,936.1 |
| 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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Description
Source
More information
The graph shows the number of higher education degrees earned in the United States from 1949/50 to 2015/16. Projected numbers are displayed from 2016/17 to 2027/28. In 2015/16 academic year, about 3.89 million degrees were earned in the United States.
Show more- Show sources information
- Show publisher information
- Release date
- April 2018
- Region
- United States
- Survey time period
- 1950-2016
- 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
Source
- Show sources information
- Show publisher information
- Release date
- April 2018
More information
- Region
- United States
- Survey time period
- 1950-2016
- 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
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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 2028 (in 1,000)Degrees in higher education in the U.S. 1950-2028
- 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
- Share of all degrees granted by public, private nonprofit and for profit colleges in the United States 2013/14, by degree typeDistribution of degrees granted in the U.S., by institution and degree type 2013/14
- Number of U.S. population in 2018, by educational attainment (population in thousands)Educational attainment in the U.S. as of 2018
- Forbes ranking of the best colleges in the United States in 2018Forbes ranking of the best U.S. colleges in 2018, by overall payoff
- 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 2027, by gender (in 1,000)Undergraduate enrollment in the U.S., by gender 1970 to 2027
- Number of undergraduate students enrolled in the United States from 1976 to 2016, by ethnicity (in 1,000s)Undergraduate enrollment numbers in the U.S., by ethnicity 1976 to 2016
- Undergraduate enrollment numbers in the United States from 1970 to 2027, by full/part-time attendance (in 1,000)Undergraduate enrollment in the U.S., by attendance 1970-2027
- College enrollment in the United States from 1965 to 2016 and projections up to 2027 for public and private colleges (in millions)College enrollment in public and private institutions in the U.S. 1965-2027
- Number of post-baccalaureate students enrolled in the United States from 1976 to 2027, by gender (in 1,000)Post-baccalaureate enrollment numbers in the U.S., by gender 1976 to 2027
- Number of post-baccalaureate students enrolled in the United States from 1976 to 2016, by ethnicity (in 1,000)Post-baccalaureate enrollment numbers in the U.S., by ethnicity 1976-2016
- Number of post-baccalaureate students enrolled in the United States from 1976 to 2027, by full/part-time attendance (in 1,000)Post-baccalaureate enrollment numbers in the U.S., by attendance type 1976-2027
- Revenue
The most important statistics
- Revenue of public degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the United States in 2015/16, by source (in billion U.S. dollars)Revenue of public degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the U.S. in 2015/16
- 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 2016 (in billion U.S. dollars)Expenditure of public and private colleges and universities in the U.S.
- 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."
- Number of higher education degrees earned in the United States from 1950 to 2028 (in 1,000)
- Number of higher education institutions in the United States in the academic year of 2017/18, by state
- Educational attainment distribution in the United States from 1960 to 2018
- Number of higher education institutions in the United States from 1980 to 2016
- Share of all degrees granted by public, private nonprofit and for profit colleges in the United States 2013/14, by degree type
- Number of U.S. population in 2018, by educational attainment (population in thousands)
- Forbes ranking of the best colleges in the United States in 2018
- Undergraduate enrollment in U.S. colleges and universities from 2007/08 to 2017/18 (in millions)
- Undergraduate enrollment numbers in the United States from 1970 to 2027, by gender (in 1,000)
- Number of undergraduate students enrolled in the United States from 1976 to 2016, by ethnicity (in 1,000s)
- Undergraduate enrollment numbers in the United States from 1970 to 2027, by full/part-time attendance (in 1,000)
- College enrollment in the United States from 1965 to 2016 and projections up to 2027 for public and private colleges (in millions)
- Number of post-baccalaureate students enrolled in the United States from 1976 to 2027, by gender (in 1,000)
- Number of post-baccalaureate students enrolled in the United States from 1976 to 2016, by ethnicity (in 1,000)
- Number of post-baccalaureate students enrolled in the United States from 1976 to 2027, by full/part-time attendance (in 1,000)
- Enrollment at leading universities in the United States in 2018*
- Change in full-time equivalent student enrollment in public higher education institutions in the United States from 2006 to 2016, by state
- Revenue of public degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the United States in 2015/16, by source (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Federal funds for postsecondary education programs in the United States in 2017, by government department (in million U.S. dollars)
- Federal funds for research programs at universities and related institutions in the United States in 2017, by government department (in million U.S. dollars)
- The 20 richest colleges in the United States in FY 2018, by endowment funds market value (in billion U.S. dollars)
- 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 generated per FTE* student in private bachelor's institutions in the United States, from 2003 to 2013 (in 2013 U.S. dollars)
- 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 generated per FTE* student in private master's institutions in the United States, from 2003 to 2013 (in 2013 U.S. dollars)
- Forecast for higher education outlays in the United States from 2018 to 2029 (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Expenditure of public and private colleges and universities in the U.S. from 1970 to 2016 (in billion U.S. dollars)
- 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 FTE* student in private bachelor's institutions in the United States, from 2003 to 2013 (in 2013 U.S. dollars)
- 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 FTE* student in private master's institutions in the United States, from 2003 to 2013 (in 2013 U.S. dollars)
- 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 attendance cost* when living on-campus and studying in-state at U.S. universities 2016/17, by state (in U.S. dollars)
- Average cost for tuition and other fees at universities in the United States from 2000/01 to 2016/17 (in U.S. dollars)*
- Annual tuition and fees for full-time students at leading universities in the United States in 2018/19 (in U.S. dollars)
- Average cost to attend university per year in the United States from the academic year 2000/01 to 2016/17 (in U.S. dollars)*
- Average annual cost to attend university in the United States, by institution type 2013-2019 (in U.S. dollars)
- 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)
- Number of first professional degrees earned in the United States by gender from 1970 to 2009 (in 1,000)
- Percentage of the population in the United States who have completed high school or more from 1960 to 2018, by gender
- Number of visual and performing arts degrees in the United States from 1999 to 2013 (in thousands)*
- Number of students matriculated at public universities in Spain from the school year 2008/2009 to 2015/2017, by degree type**
- Number of students enrolled at private universities in Spain from the school year 2008/2009 to 2016/2017, by degree type**
- Distribution of educational attainment among the Hispanic population in the United States in 2013, by Latino origin
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- Percentage of university students who took student loans in the United States 2007/08, by graduate and professional degree program
- Percentage of female master's degree graduates in Canada from 2000 to 2010
- Number of university and college students majoring in education in Taiwan in 2017, by degree program
- Distribution of tertiary-educated workforce in the Middle East and North Africa in 2016, by field of study
- Number of students enrolled at private universities in Spain from the academic year 2008/2009 to 2016/2017, by field of study**
- Total number of students registered at university in France for the academic year 2017 to 2018, by degree course
- Number of students registered at public universities in Spain from the school year 2008/2009 to 2015/2017, by field of study**
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- Number of voluntary workers in Australia in 2014, by highest non-school qualification (in millions)
- Total number of applicants for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) worldwide from 2006 to 2015 (in thousands)
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