Rise of bachelor’s degrees

By Metro Creative

The number of bachelor’s degrees awarded by colleges and universities has increased considerably in the twenty-first century. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, roughly 1.238 million bachelor’s degrees were awarded by colleges and universities in 2000. By 2021, that figure had nearly doubled, reaching 2.066 million.

The number of students who earned associate’s and master’s degrees also grew by considerable margins between 2000 and 2021, with each nearly doubling. Doctorate and professional degrees remained a little more steady, though the number of students who earned each increased from just under 119 million in 2000 to 194.1 million in 2021.

— Metro Creative